Al peered at the letter and his eyes widened in a way one looked when suddenly surprised with a completely unexpected present.
It wasn't his birthday.
It wasn't even Christmas.
He never expected to receive a present like this, not since his parents died. Not since... everything happened. Not since the awkwardness of that one family dinner.
Al peered at the letter, grabbed his quill and highlighted 'veg' in the original note.
Mushy peas! he added underneath as a firm declaration of approval.
Perhaps this time, the dinner might be less awkward.