Dinner Party
Page 10
Chapter 9
I was cooking up some scrambled eggs in the morning when Jenny came down.
“Good morning sweetie.”
Jenny had almost a guilty sort of seriousness to her expression and composure. She looked like she wanted to say something but couldn’t find the words.
“What’s wrong Jenny?” I said turning off the stove and crouching down and sitting on my heels.
“I’m sorry Grandpa,” she said and hugged me. I could feel he face clinching to fight off crying.
“You know I’m not mad at all… really. In fact it is better to be able to share this with someone, and if I could share it with anyone in the world it would be you.”
“But I saw the party last week when I was supposed to be in bed.”
“And now you can help me remember what was said… there was a lot that was shared.”
“Grandpa,” she said as if I was sugar coating things.
“Let me tell you a story. Let’s go sit at the table.” I stood up and we then we both sat down at the table. This is the story of a little girl. Now, I might sound like Hugo when I say that I don’t know the end of this story, but that’s because it’s not mine, it’s yours.
I remember the day you were born. I remember your first step, because grandma and I were helping you. I remember the first time I watched you for the weekend after Grandma passed away. You were four years old. Do you remember that?”
“I don’t think so.”
“It’s okay, I’ll never forget it. I ask you if you wanted to play hide and seek. I remember I hid first. I didn’t want you to not be able to find me and feel bad, so I hid just behind the couch. I didn’t know exactly where you went looking for me, but it seems you looked everywhere. You probably would have found me if I would have hid in the best place I could have found.
That was just the thing, when you finally found me behind the couch you seemed disappointed that the hiding spot wasn’t very clever. That was my conclusion later at least.
Anyway, next it was your turn to hide and it had to have been almost two hours before I found you. I looked everywhere I could think of, and started to panic. I called out your name and you didn’t make a sound. I started to panic even more.”
“Where was I?”
“You were hiding on top of the shelf in the spare room closet behind folded clothes. I figured there was no way you could have climbed up there, but finally though I couldn’t see I reached my hand up and was so relieved to hear you laugh. I didn’t know I could feel that many seemingly contradictive feelings so strongly, and all at once for that matter.
My voice was almost completely hoarse from calling for you, and I was so scared, and relieved and happy all at once.”
“I’m sorry,” Jenny apologized.
“That isn’t why I bring it up. Why I am telling you this story is to show you that you are very special, very smart and very capable. You have always looked at things deeper, and you are not scared of doing hard things. You’re a lot like Rani actually.
I knew your life was going to be different ever since you were so persistant at learning to walk and also the questions you would ask as soon as you could speak. But never in my wildest dreams would I have thought you, or I for that matter, would be in the situation we are in now. I know I am to write about what happens at the dinner parties, but I have no idea what is in store for you.
There will be times when you will wish you could forget the dinner parties, but always remember that feeling you had that made you want to come back. You might be too young to understand this, but a good foundation is solid and straight, which is not ground that is soft or forgiving. What I am trying to say is just do your best and don’t worry too much.”
“Can I come back to the dinner party next time?” Jenny asked.
“I wouldn’t have one without you.”
She jumped out of her chair and gave me one of the sweetest hugs I have every gotten.
My stomach began to rumble, “Was that you grandpa?”
“Yeah, I don’t know how my tummy isn’t still full from last night.” I said and we both laughed.
“You hungry too?” I asked.
“Yes,” she replied.
“Alright, I probably shouldn’t have started cooking without you help, but I think you can help me fix the eggs I started.”
She just smiled.
We salvaged the eggs and on finishing I asked Jenny, “You want to help me fill in my notes from our evening?”
You should have seen her eyes light up at that. I took her gasp and elated giggles as a yes.
“What was your favorite part, we can start there.”
There wasn’t much hesitation, “Rani!”
I figured she would just talk about the dress Rani gave her, but to my surprise, she replied, “Rani believes in herself more than she fears anything else.”
Just then there was a knock at the door. Jenny groaned, “We just got started.”
“Don’t worry, we’ll both write down everything we remember, and we can go over it together later.”
“Okay.”
“Now go get your stuff and I’ll go open the door for your mom and dad.”
“Alright,” she said and hurried up the stairs.
It was Marie at the door; David was still in the car. “Thank you so much for watching Jenny for the weekend. It was a real life saver, and Jenny just adores her grandpa,” Marie said giving me a hug.
“Well I adore her. You’ve raised an amazing little girl.”
“We all did, she looks up to her dad and grandpa a lot.”
“Oh thanks. Speaking of raising children, why didn’t David come in to say hello?”
“He left the lights on in the car most of the night, till he went outside halfway dressed to turn them off. The car barely started so he didn’t want to turn off the motor. He did tell me to send my thanks and a hug though.”
“Alright, tell him I’ll cut him some slack this time, but in my day cars didn’t start with batteries, and I will have to mock him if he tries to use that excuse again.”
Marie laughed, “I will be sure to tell him that.”
Just then Jenny came down with her little purple suitcase all packed up. I crouched down and gave her a hug and said good bye.