ARROW - 219. Chapter 219

The aromas in James’s kitchen awoke the hunger in us, at least in me. Charles was making his soup, smiling all the time. James wanted to know why he was smiling. He told him to ask Dad. I think James suspected something particularly when he saw Richie and Henry leaving the kitchen with a cup of coffee.

I sat at the table with the boys. We chatted about fishing as we smelled the roasted fish. James had the right idea, fresh herbs, no preservatives all natural foods. I smiled thinking about Ivan’s potato patch next year.

Ann and I chatted about our Italian group. She wanted to know how did I ever fall in with them. That led to my summers in Europe. She knew from previous conversations how and when I was in Europe now she wanted to understand the family connection.

“Ann, there isn’t a family connection as one would expect. Colin isn’t related to any of these friends. When I went to Europe between semesters, I spent time with families that lived there. A lot of the people I met didn’t speak English, so if I wanted to be friends with them I had to learn their language. I think being young and willing to learn, created a bond of sorts. One of my new friends wanted to know if all Americans were like me. I had to think about that and then I remembered a classmate whose father attended Carnegie Mellon and had made significant contributions to the school. He had a chip on his shoulder and treated a lot of the students as beneath him. When he would pick a student to harass, we would become friends with that student and we’d tell him to ignore the loudmouth. Remember he puts his pants on one leg at a time just like we do. I carried that thought through Europe. It opened a lot of doors. We have friends from Spain who visit every year in the Spring and our friends from Italy visit in the Fall. We travel in the Summer. These friends have enriched our lives.”

“That’s remarkable. When Henry and I went to Europe there were other Americans we met. I saw the ugly American and was embarrassed.”

“My mother had a saying, 'People react favorably to a smile and terribly to a sneer.’ It took me a long time to understand what a sneer was,”

Our conversation ended when Richie and Henry joined us. Henry maintained a sober face it was Richie who gave it away. He was smiling while looking at Pierre. I was watching Charles, he knew we were going to attempt to adopt him. I think I mentioned that but I knew Carl knew and so did he. Pierre knew we wanted to adopt him. I think I may have told him when he thought I was going to send him to the Home. And now I have a date.

Henry whispered something to Ann, she smiled looking at the boys.

I was watching Charles, he looked at me, then Richie, then back at me. He put his ladle down and he was on my lap.

“Why are you crying?”

“I can call you Dad.”

“Soon, Thursday it will become official. Go hug Pop.”

He did and now Pierre was looking at me. I smiled, he looked at Charles and then he was in my lap.

“Thursday you will officially become my and Pop’s son.”

There were tears in his eyes, I hugged him that much more. “I don’t have to go back to France?”

“Not unless you want to visit France.”

It seemed Charles no sooner left Colin’s lap when someone else took his place.

I think the boys knew by Charles and Pierre’s actions. “Good job, Dad, Pop.”

“Thanks, Ronnie.”

A family dinner became a true family dinner. Somehow Henry and Ann became a part of our family that night.

Even Jimmy got into the festivities with an ice cream cake that was swimming in fresh fruit.

All the way home, Pierre was smiling. He didn’t say a word, he just smiled.

On Monday, I met Roger and Jean at JFK and I dropped them off at Roger’s apartment. Jean wanted to see the painting. I told him we hung it in the gallery and we couldn’t open the doors until morning.

After the boys went to school, Charles and Pierre came with me to the tailor. I also had two little tails, Lil Geno and Lil Angela.

The tailor I used for all of the boys knew exactly what I wanted before I said anything. He had Charles stand on a platform and with his assistant he started to measure him for his suit. When he was done with Charles, he measured Pierre. Now he had to measure two more. They stood very still as he measured them.

With the measurements done, the next step was to select the shirts, ties, and shoes. The shirts were easy, the shoes of course were black but the ties were something else. Pierre wanted a red tie whereas Charles wanted a yellow tie. I agree they could have whatever color tie they wanted.

We took the shirts, ties, shoes, and socks with us. The tailor made a bow for Lil Angela’s hair and a tie for Lil Geno, it was a clip on child size tie,

As I did in the past, we headed to the ice cream parlor. I was watching the time, Charles had to be at Home to start the soup.

If I had known what would walk into, I would have stayed home until the boys arrived from school.

“Leave your packages in the van, I’ll drop you off at the Home and I’ll take your packages and put them in your room. I wanted to take a nap.

Arriving home, guess who was waiting for me. “The gallery is open, I thought for sure you would be there.”

Jean left and Roger followed. I went for a nap.

The boys returning from school woke me from my nap.

“Dad, we have Mark with us. His mom said she will come later.”

I called Tommy and asked him to send Pepe with the bus.

“I picked up Roger and Jean this morning, then took Charles and Pierre for suits. I need to wait for one of the guests for tonight’s dinner. I’ll be over about 5;30.”

After hanging up I told the kids Pepe would be coming for them.

I was hoping to get a little sleep but it wasn’t going to happen. Roger came in “You have to see this.”

I went to the gallery, walking to the Arrow section, and there was Jean. He seemed like he was in a trance.

“He said the painting talks to him.”

“It’s a painting. I hope he isn’t ill. Arnaud said Michael talked to him.”

“I think it’s a projection but the painting is beautiful. Is there a reason Carl’s symbol is first?”

“Yes, most of the work on the painting he did. I truly believe in a few years he will be better than me. We are having paella at the Home tonight, if you can get Roger away from the painting, join us. I’m waiting for some guests, I’ll stop by when I leave.”

It was 5:30 when Mark and his mother showed up. I asked about her husband. She said he had work to do.

With everyone in the van, I stopped at the gallery, Roger was ready and with Mary’s help, we were able to get him in the van. I waited until Mary locked up, she went and got Marie, seated in the van we headed to the Home.

I knew Marie, Mary, and Roger had been at the Home but I wasn’t sure about Jean.

Arriving at the gate, we waited until two of the boys came to unlock the gate. Driving in, they locked the gate and opened the van door. From fishing, they knew Mark so it didn’t take them long to take Mark and head for the kitchen. I yelled, “The front door.”

Walking to the front, I noticed Roger looking at the Angel.

“The bluebirds weren’t there the last time I was here.” Just then the birds in the trees started to fly around. The noise disturbed them.

I think Jean didn’t even notice until Roger spoke. Looking up, “Is that the same angel on Arnaud’s boys home?”

“I don’t think so. I painted this one right after we moved in. I think that Carl designed the angel in Paris. I know he drew the outline.”

Walking into the hall, one could smell the various aromas from the kitchen. This meant the door from the kitchen to the dining room was open and the door from the dining room to the living room was open.

Tommy came entered the living room with Henry and Ann. “I see you made it.”

“We had some help.”

Pepe entered with Carl, David and their wives. Introductions were made. I introduced Elizabeth to everyone telling them she is the mother of my boys friend who fishes with us.

I knew she had a lot of questions and Tommy asked her if she wanted a short tour before dinner. She agreed and Jean tagged along. That answered my question concerning

If Jean had ever been to the Home.

It seemed as soon as the tour came back we headed to the dining room. Tommy showed everyone to their seat, The adults sat at the head table except our guards and their wives. They sat at the table next to the head table. I hadn’t noticed but the head table had leaves on the end that when raised extended the head table to accommodate 4 more people. I went down to the game room and told the kids to wash their hands and to take their place in the dining room. The smells in the kitchen kicked my appetite up a few notches.

Seeing Colin, he smiled but somehow I knew something was wrong. He was talking to Geno and didn’t look happy.

I went to my usual seat, my dinner guests were waiting.

I’m sure I would be asked about the girls and boys. I knew most of those knew I was Dad to these kids and Colin was Pop. I watched our security guess they heard the children calling Colin and I Pop and Dad. I would bet any money the next time at the club they would call me Dad.

The first course was a vegetable soup. Charles outdid himself. It was served with crotons made from leftover homemade bread. By the time the paella was ready, I still had soup to finish. It takes time to feed five kids and one adult. I saw those at the head table as well as our club guards watching me as the girls fed me and as I fed the boys.

The soup dishes cleared, and then the cart with plates arrived. Plates were placed in front of everyone, then the carts came with paella.

The head table was served first. The kids were getting excited. The aroma had permitted the room.

Starting at the head table working toward the kitchen, plates were filled with paella. Tommy stood and thanked the cooks particularly Charles for the soup and James, Peter, and Billy, the club chefs for the paella. He thanked the boys who went fishing for providing the shrimp and lobster.

The kids clapped, I fed a spoon full to the boys and I fed a spoon full to Pierre.

Now I had a spoon put to my lips. Everyone was eating, but were where the chefs? The cooks were sitting at the end of the tables eating. I caught Colin’s eye and mouthed, ‘Where are the chefs?’

He looked toward the kitchen.

As the children were finished eating, after being offered a little more, they took their plates and silverware to the tubs at the end of their table and then returned to their seats. When the head table was finished, Charles and Billy came out and collected their plates. Everyone was finished eating except my girls and boys who had been eating off my plate. The girls were the first that say they were full. The boy who shared my seat, took two more bites before he said he was full. The two boys I was feeding finished my plate.

Now with the paella eaten, we wondered what was for dessert. After that meal, I teased them, telling them how they still had room for dessert. The girl, Angie, said she saved room for dessert.

Desert was a fruit compote and coffee for those adults who wanted it and very cold milk for the children. When I said very cold, it had ice chips in it. Now I wanted coffee but also milk. I asked for a glass of milk. For a strange reason, my dinner party kissed me on the cheek or patted me on my back. Except for the lad who sat on the stool between my legs, He patted me on my stomach. I looked at Colin. He was laughing so hard I thought he would fall off his stool. For some reason, he thinks the kids feeding me and now patting me very funny. This will have to be discussed tonight.

Have you ever noticed when everything goes well, something happens that upsets the mood. I was waiting for it, and nothing happened. I think I was more bothered by nothing happening than if something had happened.

As our guests left, Pepe got the bus to take the kids home. Mark went with them. I had Roger, Jean, Mary, Marie, and Elizabeth, Mark’s mother. I stopped at the gallery to let Mary and Marie off. The next stop was home.

I beeped my horn as Pepe and the bus was leaving. Donnie with Julia, Richie, Anne Marie and Maria beeped as they past us heading home.

“Jean, tomorrow we will crate your Angel for shipment. Get some sleep tonight. Your Angel will be in Paris in the next 36 hours.”

With all of the boys in sleeping bags on the floor, I turned the light on over the living room door and then went to bed.

The aromas in James’s kitchen awoke the hunger in us, at least in me. Charles was making his soup, smiling all the time. James wanted to know why he was smiling. He told him to ask Dad. I think James suspected something particularly when he saw Richie and Henry leaving the kitchen with a cup of coffee.

I sat at the table with the boys. We chatted about fishing as we smelled the roasted fish. James had the right idea, fresh herbs, no preservatives all natural foods. I smiled thinking about Ivan’s potato patch next year.

Ann and I chatted about our Italian group. She wanted to know how did I ever fall in with them. That led to my summers in Europe. She knew from previous conversations how and when I was in Europe now she wanted to understand the family connection.

“Ann, there isn’t a family connection as one would expect. Colin aren’t related to any of these friends. When I went to Europe between semesters, I spent time with families that lived there. A lot of the people I met didn’t speak English, so if I wanted to be friends with them I had to learn their language. I think being young and willing to learn, created a bond of sorts. One of my new friends wanted to know if all Americans were like me. I had to think about that and then I remembered a classmate whose father attended Carnegie Mellon and had made significant contributions to the school. He had chip on his shoulder and treated a lot of the students as beneath him. When he would pick a student to harass, we would become friends with that student and we’d tell him to ignore the loud mouth. Remember he puts his pants one leg at a time just like we do. I carried that thought through Europe. It opened a lot of doors. We have friends from Spain who visit every year in the Spring and our friends from Italy visit in the Fall. We travel in the Summer. These friends have enriched our lives.”

“That’s remarkable. When Henry and I went to Europe there were other Americans we met. I saw the ugly American and was embarrassed.”

“My mother had a saying, “People react favorably to a smile and terribly to a sneer.’ It took me along time to understand what a sneer was,”

Our conversation ended when Richie and Henry joined us. Henry maintained a sober face it wa Richie who gave it away. He was smiling while looking at Pierre. I was watching Charles, he knew we were going to attempt to adopt him. I think I mentioned but I knew Carl knew and so did he. Pierre knew we wanted to adopt him. I think I may have told him when he thought I was going to send him to the Home. And now I have a date.

Henry whispered something to Ann, she smiled looking at the boys.

I was watching Charles, he looked at me, then Richie, then back at me. He put his ladle down and he was on my lap.

“Why are you crying?”

“I can call you Dad.”

“Soon, Thursday it will become official. Go hug Pop.”

He did and now Pierre was looking at me. I smiled, he looked at Charles and then he was in my lap.

“Thursday you will officially become my and Pop’s son.”

There were tears in his eyes, I hugged him that much more. “I don’t have to go back to France?”

“Not unless you want to visit France.”

It seemed Charles no sooner left Colin’s lap when someone else took his place.

I think the boys knew by Charles and Pierre’s actions. “Good job, Dad, Pop.”

“Thanks, Ronnie.”

A family dinner became a true family dinner. Somehow Henry and Ann became a part of our family that night.

Even Jimmy got into the festivities with an ice cream cake that was swimming in fresh fruit.

All the way home, Pierre was smiling. He didn’t say a word, he just smiled.

On Monday I met Roger and Jean at JFK and I dropped them off at Roger’s apartment. Jean wanted to see the painting. I told him we hung it in the gallery and we couldn’t open the doors until morning.

After the boys went to school, Charles and Pierre came with me to the tailor. I also had two little tails, Lil Geno and Lil Angela.

The tailor I used for all of the boys knew exactly what I wanted before I said anything. He had Charles stand on a platform and with his assistant he started to measure him for his suit. When he was done with Charles, he measured Pierre. Now he had to measure two more. They stood very still as he measured them.

With the measurements done, the next step was to select the shirts, ties, and shoes. The shirts were easy, the shoes of course were black but the ties were something else. Pierre wanted a red tie whereas Charles wanted a yellow tie. I agree they could have whatever color tie they wanted.

We took the shirts, ties, shoes and socks with us. The tailor made a bow for Lil Angela’s hair and a tie for Lil Geno, it was a clip on child size tie,

As I did in the past, we headed to the ice cream parlor. I was watching the time, Charles had to be at the Home to start the soup.

If I had known what I will walk into, I would have stayed home until the boys arrived from school.

“Leave your packages in the van, I’ll drop you off at the Home and I’ll take your packages and put them in your room. I wanted to take a nap.

Arriving home, guess who was waiting for me. “The gallery is open, I thought for sure you would be there.”

Jean left and Roger followed. I went for a nap.

The boys returning from school woke me from my nap.

“Dad, we have Mark with us. His mom said she will come later.”

I called Tommy and asked him to send Pepe with the bus.

“I picked up Roger and Jean this morning, then took Charles and Pierre for suits. I need to wait for one of the guests for tonight’s dinner. I’ll be over about 5;30.”

After hanging up I told the kids Pepe would be coming for them.

I was hoping to get a little sleep but it wasn’t going to happen. Roger came in “You have to see this.”

I went to the gallery, walking to the Arrow section, and there was Jean. He seemed like he was in a trance.

“He said the painting talks to him.”

“It’s a painting. I hope he isn’t ill. Arnaud said Michael talked to him.”

“I think it’s a projection but the painting is beautiful. Is there a reason Carl’s symbol is first?”

“Yes, most of the work on the painting he did. I truly believe in a few years he will be better than me. We are having paella at the Home tonight, if you can get Roger away from the painting, join us. I’m waiting for some guests, I’ll stop by when I leave.”

It was 5:30 when Mark and his mother showed up. I asked about her husband. She said he had work to do.

With everyone in the van, I stopped at the gallery, Roger was ready and with Mary’s help, we were able to get him in the van. I waited until Mary locked up, she went and got Marie, seated in the van we headed to the Home.

I knew Marie, Mary, and Roger had been at the Home but I wasn’t sure about Jean.

Arriving at the gate, we waited until two of the boys came to unlock the gate. Driving in, they locked the gate and opened the van door. From fishing, they knew Mark so it didn’t take them long to take Mark and head for the kitchen. I yelled, “The front door.”

Walking to the front, I noticed Roger looking at the Angel.

“The bluebirds weren’t there the last time I was here.” Just then the birds in the trees started to fly around. The noise disturbed them.

I think Jean didn’t even notice until Roger spoke. Looking up, “Is that the same angel on Arnaud’s boys home?”

“I don’t think so. I painted this one right after we moved in. I think that Carl designed Angel in Paris. I know he drew the outline.”

Walking into the hall, one could smell the various aromas from the kitchen. This meant the door from the kitchen to the dining room was open and the door from the dining room to the living room was open.

Tommy came entered the living room with Henry and Ann. “I see you made it.”

“We had some help.”

Pepe entered with Carl, David and their wives. Introductions were made. I introduced Elizabeth to everyone telling them she is the mother of my boys friend who fishes with us.

I knew she had a lot of questions and Tommy asked her if she wanted a short tour before dinner. She agreed and Jean tagged along. That answered my question concerning

If Jean had ever been to the Home.

It seemed as soon as the tour came back we headed to the dining room. Tommy showed everyone to their seat, The adults sat at the head table except our guards and their wives. They sat next to the head table. I hadn’t noticed but the head table had leaves on the end that when raised extended the head table to accommodate 4 more people. I went down to the game room and told the kids to wash their hands and to take their place in the dining room. The smells in the kitchen kicked my appetite up a few notches.

Seeing Colin, he smiled but somehow I knew something was wrong. He was talking to Geno and didn’t look happy.

I went to my usual seat, my dinner guests were waiting.

I’m sure I would be asked about the girls and boys. I knew most of those knew I was Dad to these kids and Colin was Pop. I watched our security guess they heard the children calling Colin and I Pop and Dad. I would bet any money the next time at the club they would call me Dad.

The first course was a vegetable soup. Charles outdid himself. It was served with crotons made from leftover homemade bread. By the time the paella was ready, I still had soup to finish. It takes time to feed five kids and one adult. I saw those at the head table as well as our club guards watching me as the girls fed me and as I fed the boys.

The soup dishes cleared, and then the cart with plates arrived. Plates were placed in front of everyone, then the carts came with paella.

The head table was served first. The kids were getting excited. The aroma had permitted the room.

Starting at the head table working toward the kitchen, plates were filled with paella. Tommy stood and thanked the cooks particularly Charles for the soup and James, Peter, and Billy, the club chefs for the paella. He thanked the boys who went fishing for providing the shrimp and lobster.

The kids clapped, I fed a spoon full to the boys and I fed a spoon full to Pierre.

Now I had a spoon put to my lips. Everyone was eating, but were where the chefs? The cooks were sitting at the end of the tables eating. I caught Colin’s eye and mouthed, ‘Where are the chefs?’

He looked toward the kitchen.

As the children were finished eating, after being offered a little more, they took their plates and silverware to the tubs at the end of their table and then returned to their seats. When the head table was finished, Charles and Billy came out and collected their plates. Everyone was finished eating except my girls and boys who had been eating off my plate. The girls were the first that say they were full. The boy who shared my seat, took two more bites before he said he was full. The two boys I was feeding finished my plate.

Now with the paella eaten, we wondered what was for dessert. After that meal, I teased them, telling them how they still had room for dessert. The girl, Angie, said she saved room for dessert.

Desert was a fruit compote and coffee for those adults who wanted it and very cold milk for the children. When I said very cold, it had ice chips in it. Now I wanted coffee but also the milk. I asked for a glass of milk. For a strange reason, my dinner party kissed me on the cheek or patted me on my back. Except for the lad who sat on the stool between my legs, He patted me on my stomach. I looked at Colin. He was laughing so hard I thought he would fall off his stool. For some reason, he thinks the kids feeding me and now patting me very funny. This will have to be discussed tonight.

Have you ever noticed when everything goes well, something happens that upsets the mood? I was waiting for it, and nothing happened. I think I was more bothered by nothing happening than if something had happened.

As our guests left, Pepe got the bus to take the kids home. Mark went with them. I had Roger, Jean, Mary, Marie, and Elizabeth, Mark’s mother. I stopped at the gallery to let Mary and Marie off. The next stop was home.

I beeped my horn as Pepe and the bus was leaving. Donnie with Julia, Richie, Anne Marie, and Maria beeped as they passed us heading home.

“Jean, tomorrow we will crate your Angel for shipment. Get some sleep tonight. Your Angel will be in Paris in the next 36 hours.”

With all of the boys in sleeping bags on the floor, I turned the light on over the living room door and then went to bed.