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Colin was telling his family of his newest hobby, pickling. BUT every single one of his siblings kept telling him to stop talking about it, because what he pickled was inappropriate.
Colin really didn't understand what was so inappropriate about pickling this particular exotic fruit. He had learned about the fruit and the different ways to prepare and eat this fruit while he was in the Philippines. It was almost like a wild mango, but with lemony, puckery tang.
The next time he saw Penelope, he decided to ask her opinion about the situation. When she asked him what was going on, Colin replied, "Everyone seems to be quite upset about my new hobby. It's really quite silly."
"How so?" Penelope inquired.
"Well, I'm sure you remember, I was in the Philippines several years ago. While I was there I tried this amazing fruit called libas. I had never tasted anything like it before, nor anything after. I regretted not bringing any of it back with me, but honestly, I wasn't quite sure how to do that. With the time it took to travel, it would have gone bad before I had gotten home," Colin mused.
"Oh, go on, Colin, you know you would have eaten it, before letting it go bad!" Pen teased.
Colin laughed and inclined his head, for sure was absolutely correct. "You do have a point there. Well, when I was traveling to Thailand, I met an older gentleman and we got to talking. Oh, Pen, you would have enjoyed his stories of his homeland so much. I'll have to regale you some of them later. Anyhow, he invited me to stay with his family, and I could not refuse. On our first night, his wife served us that same fruit! It was as amazing as I remembered, lemony, sour, but sweet, as well. They have a different name in Thailand, but it is the same fruit. His wife noticed how much I enjoyed it and we spoke about the different ways of preparing it and she offered to teach me. Pen, you know I was so excited that I didn't even think about the fact that I'd never be able to duplicate them here, or share them with you.. I .. I mean, my family, of course." He hurriedly corrected himself.
Pen, eyes wide, noted his mishap and decided to give him an out. "Oh, yes, of course, I have been here many times when your cook has made the recipes you have brought back with you to share with your family, Colin, as Eloise's guest. But I believe we have gotten off course, how does this fruit tie in with your new hobby?"
Colin seemed to relax and continued, "Ah, I was just getting to that, thank you, Pen. His wife mentioned that she could teach me how I could take this marvelous fruit with me, back here, to England."
Pen waited for him to continue, but it seemed he was waiting for her. "And? How were you able to do this, Colin?"
"By pickling it, of course! Why I had never thought of that I will never know, but it made so much sense once she said it. So, I learned. Now, I have picked up a new hobby. Pickling," he said with pride in his voice. "And when I returned to England, I had three jars, Pen!".
"Okay? So, why would anyone be upset by that? That really doesn't sound like such a bad hobby," she asked, seemingly very confused.
"Apparently, they all want me to pickle something else. I didn't realize that they didn't like makok."
"Wait. WHAT did you say?" Pen asked in horror, hiding a grin behind her gloved hand.
"I said they didn't like makok," Colin said. Now remember that Colin pronounced this in his very proper English accent. Muh-kok.
"Um, okay, and what is that?," She asked, trying her hardest not to laugh.
"Oh, did I not say that makok is what the people of Thailand call the libas fruit?" Colin questioned.
"No, you certainly did not," Penelope murmured. "Colin, you probably should not call it by that name. I don't know if it is just your pronunciation or not, but have you not listened to what you just said?"
"I'm not certain what you mean, Penelope. I only said that my family doesn't like mako-..... Oh. Oh my!" Colin turned red as a tomato and his eyes were wide as he stared at her. "Penelope, pardon me, I am so sorry, that does sound improper. Please, let me…"
"It's okay, Colin!" Pen let out a laugh and an indelicate snort. "I'm sure your family is going to give you a hard time about this, for the foreseeable future.". She kept laughing and he finally joined in. They laughed until tears were running down their cheeks. "You know, we could play at their game too." And she proceeded to tell him her idea.
"Penelope Featherington, I didn't think you had it in you. I am impressed. And I'm in, let's do it!" Colin says, thoroughly impressed with how devious Pen can be, and how naughty.
So, the next time Pen came over for tea at No. Five, Colin decided to join them. Actually, it seemed like most of his siblings were there, which was perfect, in Colin's estimation. Colin grabbed a plate of biscuits and sandwiches and sat down next to Penelope. During a lull in the conversation, he said, "You know, I have finally figured out why you all have been giving me a hard time about my new hobby. If you'd have just told me from the beginning, I would not have droned on and on about it. So, I have decided that instead of pickling, I am going to start a new hobby."
"That's lovely to hear, Colin. And what shall be your new hobby?" Violet Bridgerton asked, with a mother's adoration and naivety.
"Ah, yes, brother, do regale us with your spectacular ideas," Eloise said sarcastically, rolling her eyes.
Colin looks at everyone in the room, then while looking at Penelope, he says with a grin, "Well, I believe that I would like to try jamming makok, ins-"
"COLIN BRIDGERTON!" Violet shouts.
"I was just going to make jam instead of pickling the fruit." Colin says with a grin and a wink at Penelope.
Benedict looks at Penelope and asks Colin, "And where exactly are you going to jam it?"
"BENEDICT CUMBERBATCH BRIDGERTON!" Violet, again shouts.
