After Dinner Glow

Sybil and George Blau resting after the Saturday night dinner party

Once the last guest had left, the family found themselves filled with excitement over the events of that evening. Before the dinner was over Elizabeth had obtained a new client, one of the sparrows who had been attacked by a non-binary seagull, but she had also against her better judgement, allowed Jeremey to escort her home, with the admonishment though of ‘keep your wings off my body.’

Timmy found himself laying on the sand feeling elated after engaging both Tali and Melanie in as deep a conversation as a 12-year-old could have with two beautiful 13-year-olds. Julia found herself elated because of the rounds of applause she received for all of the dishes, she and she alone had cooked, baked and obtained. Rosa as was expected, endeared herself to one and all and especially the Buddhist family who threatened to adopt her if she didn’t stop smiling.

After everyone was gone and the children were all tucked safely in their beds, Sybil and George were finally able to relax on their beach chairs out in the open. It was then that Sybil turned to George and in the sweetest voice he had forgotten she had, blinked her eyes and said, “we have a wonderful life, don’t we?”

George would never have dreamed of using those words, because in his eyes he wished his parents had not liked Sybil when he first brought her home many years ago. But on second thoughts, and before he put his foot in his mouth, he thought os the three beautiful children they had and forced himself to reply. “Yes, my dear, you’re right. We,” and this was where he nearly choked, “we do indeed have a wonderful life. The three beautiful children……”

“There would’ve been more if you had let me hatch those other eggs!” Sybil interrupted her husband. His words triggered the remembrance of a couple of instances in their past where she had wanted more children and George, who had just started his own business after walking out on the well-paying job he had, didn’t want to take on more responsibilities. It was a sore subject and one guaranteed to change their mood. Realising this, George did what any good Jewish husband would do, and that was to say, “yes my dear, you are right.”

Sybil smiled and laid her head back down and watched the stars twinkle in the heavens above. It was a clear, warmish night. The moon had not risen yet, and all the inhabitants of the island had long gone to bed leaving just the two sandpipers to consider the world. The tide was going out slowly and steadily. The sound of the water breaking on the shore began to recede into the background and George, the ever romantic, stretched out his wing to hold Sybil’s.

“Yes, instead of three children we could’ve had five,” she remarked aimlessly watching a shooting star streak across the sky and disappear in a glorious spluttering of light as George retracted his wing realising his timing was wrong.

George had hoped his wife had forgotten that subject or at least decided not to spoil the mood, but he was wrong. Sybil needed to remind George for 100th time that she was right, and he was wrong. He tried again and extended his wing and Sybil, sensing she was going overboard slightly, extended hers and they both turned to face each other and smiled. They turned back and watched the stars.

After a few seconds of reflection, George closed his eyes and said, “that curried seaweed Pawo brought was brilliant, wasn’t it?”

“Too hot and spicy for my liking,” Sybil remarked dramatically fanning her mouth with her other wing.

“Well Julia loved it. I think she finished what was left over.”

Sybil stifled a laugh. “I loved the Ethiopian dish that Moshe’s wife Ruth brought.”

“No, Ruth is Benny’s wife. Moshe’s wife is Miriam.” George felt a little vindicated, but Sybil wasn’t going to have any of that.

“I think you’re wrong my dear, but let’s leave it at that.” The moon had chosen that moment to begin to shine its crescent self.

‘George,’ said George to himself, ‘how many times have we been through this? Even when Sybil is wrong, she’s right.’

“What was the dish called?” Continued Sybil.

“I think something like Doro,”

“What was in it?”

“It was very good, but I think it was chicken with eggs.” They both suddenly burst out in laughter.

“It didn’t look like chicken, did it?”

“But the eggs looked like eggs, didn’t they?”

“And Rosa ate it and wanted more.” Ha, ha, ha, they both laughed, until Sybil suddenly realised what they were doing. “Wait a minute George, you never told me there was chicken in there.”

“Oh, dear I thought you knew.”

“No George. I thought it was just eggs and maybe something like tofu.”

“I don’t think they eat tofu in Ethiopia.”

“Rosa will never let me forget this.”

“You’re safe darling,” replied George suddenly remembering that Rosa and his wife had had a heated discussion which was never resolved the day before the Saturday night feast. “The knishes were great.” George wanted to quickly and safely move away from something that could envelope the entire household.

“Yes, they were excellent. Where did Elizabeth get them?” Sybil agreed it was time to move on.

“I think she gets it from Knish Queen in Brooklyn. Flown in just for this event.”

“Oh yes, did you see the muscles on that vulture?” Sybil was reminded of the bird who probably worked out at the gym every morning.

“Yes, he was built. But he had a big beak, didn’t he?” George hated the way his wife talked and ogled the vulture who had come with the order. You could tell from the vulture’s body language though that he was more interested in getting back to his store than talking to a middle-aged Jewish sandpiper. He left before things got out of hand.

“Jeremey was well behaved, wasn’t he?” George began to laugh, “I can’t wait to see what Elizabeth says tomorrow.”

“Well, she knows about him, especially because she actually wore a skirt this evening.”

“She’s family though. He wouldn’t do that would he?”

“I don’t think it stopped him yet. I loved the Buddhists though they were so well behaved. The children all said please and thank you and they were the first to leave because it was their bedtime.”

“Agreed, but I think it had more to do with the fact they had a very bumpy flight from Ocean City, and I think that their daughter Dala got airsick a few times.”

“I hope they didn’t fly over any populated areas while she got sick!” They both laughed.

“Well dear,” Sybil finally said after watching another shooting star, but on this occasion, it fizzled out before its time. “Well, what do you say about going to bed. Maybe we can try for child number four.”

“You think?” replied George.

“Why not? You have a successful business now and we can afford another chick.”

“But you’re middle-aged Sybil. We both are close to become grandparents.”

“Who with?” Sybil wasn’t going to give up that easily. “Timmy doesn’t know if he likes Tali or Melanie. Julia says she never wants to get married, and Rosa is only 7.”

“You’re right. 7 going on 37.” They both laughed.

“Let’s go and clean-up,” said Sybil.

“That’s the first sensible thing you’ve said this evening my dear,” and with that, they both jumped up together and hugged. Another shooting star overshot the sky and the thin slice of moon smiled and blushed.