✝️ The Church at Hiraeth: Freedom is important in every context and Martin Mole makes his debut
Welcome to another The Church at Hiraeth online service.
After visits to three ex-Communist countries in recent weeks – Montenegro, Hungary and Moldova – there was plenty of inspiration for the theme of freedom.
Martin Mole – written by Bryan Jukes – makes his debut this week.
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Martin Mole : Mr Mole’s special dinner
Martin stared at his father in horror. “But Dad, Mum never does it like that!” he exclaimed. Mr Mole turned towards Martin and gave a chuckle. “Mmm, maybe not, but I think you’ll like it.” Martin shook his head, sighed, and left the kitchen.
Mrs Mole, Martin’s Mum, had gone to see her sister who hadn’t been well. She would be away for two days and, although she had left plenty of food for Martin and his father, Mr Mole had decided the time was right for him to do some cooking. Tonight they were to have worm and beetle casserole.
Earlier that day Mr Mole had told Martin to go into the woods and the nearby fields and collect whatever root vegetables could be found. Martin had been quite excited and, taking a large bag with him, had walked to the edge of the woods where he had collected dandelion and nettle roots. But it was in the fields just outside the woods that he had dug up parsnips, potatoes, carrots and turnips. And, joy of joys, on his way back through the woods he had found some small mushrooms which he had carefully placed in his bag. Dad would be pleased.
By the time Martin returned home his father had already begun his preparations. Mr Mole had been delighted with the produce Martin had brought home and Martin settled down happily to watch his father demonstrate his cooking skills. It suddenly occurred to Martin that he had never seen his father cook before. In fact, thought Martin, had his father ever cooked before?
This thought grew stronger in Martin’s head as he watched his father roughly chop the dandelion and nettle roots, parsnips, potatoes, carrots, turnips and mushrooms and put the pieces into a large saucepan of water. Martin was about to say “But Dad, you haven’t washed the soil off”, when Mr Mole put up his hand and said “Don’t say a thing”. Martin decided it would be wise to say nothing.
Next, Mr Mole shook out a handful of dried beetles and worms that had been kept in a jar, and added these to the vegetables. It was when Mr Mole crumbled a Wormo cube into the saucepan that Martin had said “But Dad, Mum neverdoes it like that!” and left the kitchen.
Martin wandered disconsolately down the path from his home and into the woods. He wished his Mum was at home preparing his evening meal. There was no doubt in his mind that his father’s efforts would be horrible. Should he refuse to eat it? No, that wouldn’t be a very nice thing to do. Should he pretend to like it? No, that wouldn’t do, either. His father might give him some more! Or should he just swallow it down and concentrate on finishing it without tasting it? Martin decided that this was probably the best option.
By the time he had reached this conclusion he found that he had walked in a circle and was back at his front door. He also realised that he was very hungry. As he opened the door he was met by a delicious smell. He’d never smelled anything quite as delicious before. He ran into the kitchen where his father was sitting quietly, drinking a cup of nettle tea. “Wow, Dad. That smells great. What did you do?” Mr Mole smiled and said” Oh, just a few herbs and spices. And you can’t beat a Wormo cube.”
When the meal was ready Martin ate it in silence. Not because of his earlier decision to swallow it down and concentrate on finishing it, but because the taste and the texture was like nothing he’d had before. When he’d finished, he looked at his father with new respect and said ”But you didn’t make it the way mum makes it”. “No,” said Mr Mole thoughtfully, “You mustn’t think that there is only one way of doing things, and because it’s always been done that way it must be the right way”. It was Martin’s turn to look thoughtful “Will you tell Mum how to do it your way?” Mr Mole looked even more thoughtful “Mmm. One day. Perhaps.”