Congrats to Sam!

Humbled, the embarrassed Sam mumbled a barely audible "Thanks," while looking at his shoes. He shouldered his way to the buffet table, where it quickly became obvious the crew had already come by, for the table was utterly cleaned out. Only some grey, dull, lifeless blob remained. Was it food? Was it here to eat food? Had it already eaten food and was waiting to be eaten in it's own turn in the great circle of life? Sam chose not to test this theory, but set his plate down and looked out across the room. Strange banners cried out "Happy Birthday!" and "Joyous New Year!" from the rafters. Even stranger people milled about the room, draining the last of the Yum down their insatiable gullets. "Speech, speech!" came the cry from someone near the back of the crowd. Reluctantly, Sam meandered over to the podium. He raised his head and looked across the sea of expectant faces. Bonnie Anne smiled and nodded encouagingly. Virtuous Anne hoisted a baked yum tart in his general direction, or maybe she was just keeping it out of Ratbeard's reach. Chrissy the Blesser gave yet another pastry to yet another orphan. The room slowly grew silent. The hush became expectant, as if some great wisdom was about to be imparted. "My friends, let me be brief," Sam started. At this a great hooping and hollering commenced. Cheers and whistled ensued and soon no one could be heard at all over the raucous din. Just then the yum pizza arrived and the stampede back to the buffet table was audible two counties over. "Great speech," Sam was told by more than one partygoer. "If this is for a Petty Officer, spiral help us if you ever make Admiral," Sarah Steele consoled poor Sam.

Sam Underhill on Sep 11, 2013 wrote:

Humbled, the embarrassed Sam mumbled a barely audible "Thanks," while looking at his shoes. He shouldered his way to the buffet table, where it quickly became obvious the crew had already come by, for the table was utterly cleaned out. Only some grey, dull, lifeless blob remained. Was it food? Was it here to eat food? Had it already eaten food and was waiting to be eaten in it's own turn in the great circle of life? Sam chose not to test this theory, but set his plate down and looked out across the room. Strange banners cried out "Happy Birthday!" and "Joyous New Year!" from the rafters. Even stranger people milled about the room, draining the last of the Yum down their insatiable gullets. "Speech, speech!" came the cry from someone near the back of the crowd. Reluctantly, Sam meandered over to the podium. He raised his head and looked across the sea of expectant faces. Bonnie Anne smiled and nodded encouagingly. Virtuous Anne hoisted a baked yum tart in his general direction, or maybe she was just keeping it out of Ratbeard's reach. Chrissy the Blesser gave yet another pastry to yet another orphan. The room slowly grew silent. The hush became expectant, as if some great wisdom was about to be imparted. "My friends, let me be brief," Sam started. At this a great hooping and hollering commenced. Cheers and whistled ensued and soon no one could be heard at all over the raucous din. Just then the yum pizza arrived and the stampede back to the buffet table was audible two counties over. "Great speech," Sam was told by more than one partygoer. "If this is for a Petty Officer, spiral help us if you ever make Admiral," Sarah Steele consoled poor Sam.

x Walks over to Sam and taps him on the shoulder. Hands him a plate piled high with all sorts of delicacies saved and set aside for the guest of honor. x