Chapter 8 - Happy Wedding Anniversary

The week just flew by. On Sunday morning, Nicky, Tumi and I had a wonderful half hour at the park on the swings, the monkey bars and the merry-go-round. It felt so strangely liberating. We got our Math results and believe it or not, we all got A+ s! The four of us looked at each other and performed a soundless fist-punching-air. Ms. Honey saw us and rewarded us with her dazzling Julia Roberts-like smile.
On Monday, Nicky, Jaden and I received e-mail from Tumi:

From: tumimont@hotmail.com
To:deedee@hotmail.com,dare_devil_nicky@hotmail.com, jaden_g@hotmail.com
Subject: It’s over. Let’s not talk about it.

Dear Dee, Nicky and Jaden,

My parents have officially separated. I guess I have been very selfish and thought only of myself. I didn’t think of how uncomfortable it is and how unhappy a person could be when living with a person they are not that fond of and can’t stand.I remember the time I was at my aunt’s ranch when my mom was in labor with Brian and I had to stay with a cousin of mine who was visiting for a week. Remember Amelia? I will tell you all about her, Jaden. I couldn’t wait to get out of there and you all know how much I love the ranch!
But this is different. This is my Mom and Dad. We all expect our parents to love each other forever, the last thing that would ever pop into our heads for even a microsecond is something disrupting that institution constructed of reinforced concrete.
I have been naive. That institution is only seemingly constructed of reinforced concrete. It’s actually just ordinary concrete, which cracks easily under the tiniest amounts of stress.

The cracks become deeper and more fatal as the stress increases and ultimately the ostensibly invincible institution is shattered. No more.
As you said, Nicky, it is not the ultimate divorce. There is still hope, though I must admit, the chances of them reconciling are very bleak.
Life is definitely different, but it’s not like I am never going to see my father again. But I don’t think it would be easy to get accustomed to them pairing up with other people. Anyway, I will worry about that when the situation comes up. I will survive somehow but I am worried about Brian. This is going to be a major blow to him. He’s so young.
Well, the main purpose of this mail is to inform you all, that I am going to move on with my life and not let my parent’s problems affect me. I know that finally, when it comes to Brian and me, they will always do the best they can.

Since I have already come to this conclusion, there’s really nothing more to discuss and nothing more to talk about. So let’s not mention it for that will make it much easier for me to go on with my life. So lets’ pretend that nothing’s happened, ok?
I know I can depend on the three of you for all the support and co-operation I require to handle this situation. I also want to thank the three of you for all the moral support, help and encouragement you offered me. I could never have been able to come to terms with everything if not for you.
Thank you, Dee for the sleepover. It made me realize that I could yet enjoy myself and have fun and that things can be like the old times.
Well, I guess that’s it. I have decided to leave everything behind and go on with my life along with my best friends.
Loads of sweet love, bear hugs and wet kisses,
Tumi

P.S.: Since the whole idea of this mail is to forget the whole situation, replies to the same are not required.

Wasn’t I glad to receive this letter! It was such a relief to me. Tumi had finally decided to put it behind her and not let it affect her. I was so happy for her. And, I hope her parents do everything in their power to resolve their issues and bring the lives of their children back to normal.
For the next two days, class went on as usual. Tumi and Jaden were elated about their Music classes; they were having storm sessions on the drums. The sound was so deafening that I heard the racket in the library. Nicky was complimented by Mr. Collins on his programming skills. I was given the title of ‘Young Biologist of the Month’ by Ms. Martha because of a neat diagram of the heart and conducting the food tests excellently.

And before we all knew it, it was already October and my parents’ wedding anniversary was on Thursday, the 29th. So Tumi and I went to Shopper’s Promenade after school on Wednesday, while the guys had a basketball game at the park. I ended up getting a pretty, dainty looking fountain with water flowing through what looked like a forest, down a waterfall into a tiny pond below. Tumi bought a crystal ornament of a ballerina in the midst of performing a pirouette. The both of us also dropped in at the Italian restaurant ‘La Italia’ and made a reservation at 8 p.m. on Thursday for my parents. A romantic evening and a tiny get together were taking form in my head. In the evening before Nicky left for his father’s, I informed my pals about my plans and they agreed ardently.

On Thursday morning, I woke up early and spent an hour and a half preparing breakfast. Garlic bread, bacon, sausages, scrambled eggs and fried tomatoes. Fattening, yes, but delicious! I knocked on the door and entered my parents’ bedroom.
"Happy Wedding Anniversary!" I greeted them. Mom and Dad were yet drowsy but they managed to smile and thank me for the wonderful breakfast-in-bed.
I presented my mother with a card after snuggling under the sheets between them.
"Thank you, Dee," she said turning to me. "It’s a beautiful card. I must say you have got exquisite taste."
"Let me see," said Dad. "Yeah, it’s really pretty."
I handed my mother another envelope.
"What’s this?" she asked, opening it. "A reservation at La Italia for 8 p.m. this evening! Wow!"
"That’s great, Dee," my father said, hugging me. "And, may I ask, what about the bill?"
"Well, Dad, this is a treat from the four of us. You see, we know the manager. He’s also the manager of the Exotica. So, you won’t be getting a bill. We’ll collect it tomorrow and pay it ourselves. Be free to order anything. I heard the food’s really good."
"Thanks a lot, Dee, you sure made our day," my Mom said, landing a kiss on my forehead.

I left the room thinking of everything else lined up for the day. I whiled away my time doing my homework and blowing red and white heart-shaped balloons which were to serve as decorations, in the privacy of my room. My room was a mix of ruby red and white, an eye-catching combination.
By 7.45 p.m., my parents were ready to leave for their dinner reservation. Mom was dressed in a dark teal satin calf-length dress with a mandarin collar and her hair put up in a chignon and Dad looked deceptively casual in a white shirt open at the collar and a black blazer and pants combination.
"Enjoy yourself, you two," I said, herding them towards the door.
"We sure will," Mom said, stuffing tissues into her purse.
"Now, Dee, lock the door and I hope you are not planning to go out," said Dad, taking the car and house keys off the hook near the door.
"No, not planning to go out. Bye, now."
"Lock the doors," Mom said climbing into the car.
"Yeah, yeah," I mumbled, on the brink of losing my patience.
At last, with a ‘Bye’ said in unison, my parents finally left.

Yeah right!!! By 8 p.m., the house was in utter chaos with the four of us, Nicky and Jaden hanging the decorations and Tumi and I, in the kitchen, preparing pizza, lasagnas and salads. That’s all we seemed to be eating these days.
By 9 p.m., the house was even more chaotic. Nicky’s, Dee’s, Jaden’s families (of course, Tumi’s father wasn’t there, but he had wished my parents on the phone in the morning) as well as Aunt Cathy and Uncle Ralph were all in the living room. Vincent and Brian were getting along well and making a big din. We introduced Jaden’s parents to the rest of the grown-ups and they were having a heated discussion about pregnancies.
By 9.15 p.m., I was at the window looking out for the car with the lights in the living room switched off. Everyone was seated on the floor of the living room behind the massive settee.
By 9.30 p.m., I saw the headlights of the car around the bend.
"Quiet, everyone. Here they come," I said, running and taking my position behind the sofa.
Everyone fell silent immediately. We heard the engine being switched off and doors of the car being closed. We then heard the key in the lock and the door being opened.
"She must be up in her room," said Dad, and then the room was flooded in light.

"SURPRISE!!!"
You should have seen the look on my parents’ faces.
"Oh my God," my mother exclaimed her hand covering her mouth.
Everyone moved forward to wish them. I went to the kitchen and wheeled in the tea- cart carrying the cake. My parents were now accepting gifts and thanking their visitors profusely.
"Happy anniversary!" I said, handing the knife to my mother. She cut the cake and fed it to my father who did the same, amidst the laughter and the applause. They looked so adorable together!
Tumi and I disappeared into the kitchen to get dinner ready while Nicky and Jaden set the table. The adults seemed to be having a grand time catching up on each other’s lives for they never actually got the chance to get together like this with their busy lives. Vincent and Brian were sitting at the bottom of the stairs, busy trading cheats.
"Everyone, dinner’s ready!" I announced.
"Diane, you prepared dinner?" my mother asked, surprised. "I thought that it was just a casual get together."
I enjoyed seeing my father’s eyes almost popping out of his sockets when he saw the wholesome spread on the mahogany table.

It was evident that everybody enjoyed the food; the platters were practically wiped clear of the food. Although my parents had already had dinner, they stuffed themselves generously. It felt so satisfying to see a group of happy people, gorging themselves on the food you prepared. I don’t know why, but I love feeding people, food I so lovingly prepare.
After dinner, everyone settled themselves in the den and talked about not-so-important topics such as the recent garage sale or the premiere of the new musical being held the next weekend at the Paragon Theater.
I supplied numerous pots of black coffee and slices of cake. The ambiance in the den was cozy and heavenly with dimmed lights and comfortable couches and pouffes of a warm caramel brown.
"Mr. and Mrs. Constantine, how did the both of you get together?" queried Tumi with a very distant look on her face.
"Oh, now that’s quite a story," my father replied, looking at my mother with his twinkling dark brown eyes.

"Ok, Ok, I know you can’t simply stop yourself from humiliating me," my mother laughed.
"Humiliating?" I asked curiously. I had never known that there was a story to them getting together. I guess I never gave any thought to the matter. When I came into this world, they had been together and that’s the way it had always been.
"Let me tell you all how it happened, how we happen to be sitting together at this moment on this couch, sharing our lives with each other." My Dad. The eloquent storyteller. "Well, Doris and I had been dating for over a year and one day, we went boating with some friends from college. We spent a better part of the evening out on the river and when we returned to the boathouse beside my friend’s summer cottage, it was pitch dark except for the pretty colored, but dim garden lights."
"Oh, how romantic," Aunt Cathy said breathlessly. Uncle Ralph looked at her and rolled his eyes in mock exasperation. Aunty Cathy punched his arm playfully. Tumi still had that faraway look in her eyes. Jaden and Nicky were listening with rapt attention, probably trying to pick up helpful tips for the future. Surprisingly, Vincent and Brian were listening too. I guess it’s never too early to begin. Everyone else was absorbed in my father’s narration.

"I used to smoke back then," my father continued. "About two to four cigarettes a day, not more that that. So, we were standing on the porch of my friend’s summer cottage and I took out my pack of cigarettes to light one. But, unfortunately, I dropped my pack and was on my knees groping for it and due to the lack of light, I asked April to help me. Well, that’s what I wanted to mean. My exact words: "Would you..."
And, before I knew it, April was all over me and said, "Oh, yes, Daryl, I will."
Everyone in the room burst out laughing, including my mother who had tears of joy in her eyes.
"And then it dawned on me, oh my God, she thought I had proposed. I had been planning to do so the coming week when I was more confident. Anyway, I pulled out the ring I had in my wallet and to this day, I haven’t smoked a single cigarette. Since then, I have felt that nicotine betrayed me.
The room exploded in laughter again.
Tumi couldn’t stop herself. She even fell backwards off her pouffe. She was simply hysterical. Well, I found the love story extremely funny too. Nicky and Jaden were pretending to pray and were doing so loudly.

"Please, dear Lord, don’t let such atrocities happen to us. Please let us live a life free of hassles and reside in Bachelor Ville till we go to our grave."
"Jaden, you will be the first to get married among the four of us and Nicky, you will have about a dozen girlfriends before you get hitched and strap on the ball and chain," I said, amused.
"I agree," said Tumi, her giggles having yet not subsided.
"We’ll make a move then, Daryl," I heard Uncle Ralph saying, "After all, Cathy has an appointment with her doctor tomorrow for her routine check-up."
Aunt Cathy came walking towards us. "Why don’t the four of you accompany us? It would be fun and then we can all go shopping at Mother care for baby necessities. I know it’s still early but I just can’t control the urge," she said, looking like a happy young schoolgirl.
"We’ll be glad to," said Jaden. "I am sure none of us have anything lined up for tomorrow. Right?"
"Yeah, we’ll be there," I confirmed.

Aunt Cathy left us and I turned to my pals.
"Then, we can meet at Exotica for an ordinary lunch. Won’t that be cool?" I said, stressing on the word ordinary.
"Yeah, that’s good," said Nicky, sounding thoughtful. "After that, you can hang at my place."
Jaden, Tumi and I exchanged glances. Actually, it was Nicky’s birthday tomorrow. But we were pretending as if we had forgotten the whole affair. In reality, we had planned his birthday extensively.
"Aunt Cathy, stay for a few minutes. I have an unveiling of sorts to do," I told her with a wink.
"Could everyone assemble in the landing, please?" I addressed the gathering. After I made sure that everyone was there, I indicated the form covered with the red velvet cloth.
"Now, what’s that?" my mother asked, not being able to stand the suspense.
I unveiled the present.
"A fountain!" my mother exclaimed, her hands flying to her face in amazement. She came forward and hugged me. "Thank you, Dee. This has been the best anniversary ever."
My father squeezed my shoulder. "Thanks for a great, memorable day."

Everyone applauded and I beamed with the pleasure of making people’s lives happy. Slowly, everyone left. Nicky, Jaden and Tumi offered to stay and clear up the house but I told them that I could handle it on my own.
I stayed up late after my parents left for bed; I had to shoo them to their bedroom. Mom had already begun to clean the dishes. I tidied up the house thinking of the great day it had been. My father’s story made me chuckle to myself. And, best of all, the fun wasn’t over yet. It was Nicky’s birthday tomorrow.