Part Four

Julian continued speaking to the crowd. He went over all his accomplishments and explained what led him to this moment. That was great information to know, but all I cared about was how they knew my parents. The only two heavily melanated families behind the gate and we know one another. That’s Shakespeare.

Julian concluded his speech and never mentioned anything regarding my parents. That seemed odd. I was trying to keep my mind distracted, so I looked at the menu.

The menu card presented a special meal that was for tonight only. This is a re-creation of the meal the Reeds ate on their honeymoon in Jamaica.

The hors d’oeuvres were Stamp and Go (Salt fish fritters) and Solomon Gundy (Pickled fish pate).

Course one was Fish Tea (a spicy soup made of Jamaican Doctor Fish, vegetables, and green bananas).

Main course was Fish Escovitch (Pan Fried Red Snapper, garnished with pickled carrots, onions, peppers, pimentos, and chayote), paired with bammy (grated cassava root, dipped in coconut milk, fried golden brown).

Desert was Gizzada, locally known as ‘pinch me round’ (a small, round coconut custard-like tart with pinched edges), and Coconut Drops.

As I was reading the menu, I looked up to see Beatrice walking in all dressed up. She looked beautiful. Come to think of it, I have never really seen her outside of our house.

We have a driver that takes us places, and she orders everything to be delivered to the house. I know she leaves out sometimes but we never go with her. There are other helpers in the house that watch over us when she is out. She is never gone too long though.

She came and took a seat at our table and we all greeted her graciously. My parents introduced her to the other guest seated around as our aunt and not our nanny. That made me feel good as I only see her as family. It was such a surprise to have her there that night.

The food started coming out from the kitchen, and was placed on the table. The table where we were seated had a booth style bench on one side with a wall of windows behind us and individual chairs on the other side. Alissa was sitting at the end of our table on the bench side and I was across from her. Marcus was seated on the bench next to her but at his table and Malcom was across from him.

All the adults were busy conversing with one another and Alissa with Marcus. That gave Malcom and I a chance to catch up. I had to know if he knew our parents knew one another.

“Malcom,” I called out in a semi hush tone.

“Hey Aub, what’s up?”

Aub? That’s different I thought. It’s cool though, I have a nickname. I have never had one from anyone outside of my family before.

“Did you know our parents knew each other?”

“Nope.” “I just found out tonight, like you did.”

I knew I wasn’t going to get any more information form Malcom, so I left it alone.

“Bruh, I knew we would be cool but this is so dope.” “We even have the same taste in clothes,” Malcom said.

“I know right.”

“How long is this dinner supposed to last?”

“I am not sure,” replied Malcom.

I turned and glanced around the dining room. There were people seated at tables and some standing by the bar. It wasn’t packed but it was a good crowd. I saw how cozy Alissa and Marcus were in their conversation. I was definitely going to tease her about that later.

I spent most of the night talking to Malcom, and eating some amazing food. It was all so good. Kind of like some of the dishes Beatrice makes. I wonder if that is where she is from. I’ve never bothered to ask her.

I could tell by how comfy My parents and the Reed’s were, this was going to be a long night. Once people started leaving Beatrice gathered Malcom, Marcus, Alissa and I, and we went home.

-Part Four-

Back at home, Beatrice gave Malcolm and I permission to go sit at the fire pit. She brought us down some chocolate-covered pretzels, cinnamon popcorn, and her signature homemade cucumber and lime soda – all of my favorites. Marcus and Alissa came and joined us for a bit. They enjoyed our spoils and then eventually moved to the lounge chairs facing the ocean. It was obvious they liked one another. They hadn’t separated since the restaurant.

“Do you think they are going to start going out?”

“I don’t know, my brother talks to a lot of girls. I have never known him to have a girlfriend though.”

“I can tell my sister really likes him.”

“Yeah, I think he really likes her too.”

We engaged in conversation about the two of them for a while as we finished our snacks. I started getting bored and was ready to go do something else. I asked Malcolm if he wanted to go swimming, making sure to mention we had a heated salt water pool. He was definitely into the idea. We were still dressed from before, so we went to my room to get changed. I gave him a pair of my swim trunks, and we went and got into the pool.

We were having so much fun doing cannonballs and dunking one another, I hadn’t even noticed how late it got. Beatrice came out and said it was time for us to get out of the pool. She told us our parents hadn’t made it back yet and Malcolm could stay the night. My room was pretty big. I had two beds and a lounge area for sitting and playing video games and watching TV.

Beatrice also called Marcus and Alissa in. She set Marcus up in one of the guest rooms on the lower level, far away from Alissa’s room. That is also where her area is, so he couldn’t sneak out.

The next morning, Malcolm and I came down for breakfast. Beatrice had prepared a nice spread with fruit and all the American classics. Marcus was already at the table eating. Alissa came down after us, and then my parents followed. Not long after we were all seated, the doorbell rang. In walked the Reeds. They joined us at the table, and we enjoyed an amazing breakfast.

“I know last night was a lot to take in,” my dad announced, breaking the silence.

Alissa and I glanced at one another, nodding in agreement.

“We know the Reeds from our college days. Julian and I are frat brothers and long-time friends. They have been away out of the country for a while, that is why you guys have never met them before.”

My dad went on to explain how they were all college friends, and Mrs. Reed and my mom were also sorority sisters. That is actually how my parents met, in college at a step show. Apparently all of our parents did their undergrad at Howard University. I know my dad went to medical school at Harvard and my mom went to business school at Stanford. They are always fighting about who went to the better school.

“It is nice to see that our kids are getting along also,” my mom said. “I wondered how our reunion was going to go.”

I was definitely happy to have met Malcolm. I had the best of all worlds – a friend my parents approved of, and they know his parents, and they live next door. What could be better than that?

“Now tomorrow is their first day at school,” said my dad. “Please make sure to show them around and introduce them to people you know.”

That won’t make for many introductions for Malcom. I don’t know that many people. Well I know them, but they don’t know me. No one ever believes I am Alissa’s little brother.

Marcus hit the jackpot with Alissa; everyone knows her. She is like high school royalty. Malcolm however, is not so lucky with me. I am afraid he may no longer want to be my friend once he sees how unpopular I am at school.

to be continued.