( inspired by a writing prompt ” the burnt smell in the kitchen would not go away” )
Audra and Gannan were excited about their upcoming dinner. They felt blessed that all eight of their grandparents were able to join them for a meal in their modest abode. The youngest was 75 and the oldest knocking on 90 and between them they had amassed 220 years of wedded bliss. Audra and Gannan had just hit one year and were looking forward to their elders sharing some tips. Six of them had met briefly at their wedding but one pair had been on an around the world cruise and unable to make it back.
Audra had her mother’s eye for style and she had collected unmatched but complimentary flowered dishes and stemware for an elegant table. Fresh flowers and some candles made a strung out centerpiece down the length of the make shift table that Gannan had engineered from saw horses and planks. They had borrowed folding chairs from their church. Her goal of style yet simple had been pulled off.
As for the meal, Audra was a bit concerned about cooking for such a large group. Her circle of friends were so picky about gluten, lactose , and meat and so many other ingredients. She had asked for preferences and the only thing she got from the seniors was four who said ” low sodium , please” Audra had breathed a sigh of relief. Holding back on the salt shaker would be easy compared to the hoops she often jumped through to fix a meal for her 20something friends.
They had found turkey on sale and Audra’s mom, Tami had assured it that would be easy to fix. As for the rest of the meal cheesy potatoes, a colorful cole slaw made with red cabbage , dinner rolls , and bowls of fresh fruit topped with crystalized ginger would be a light dessert.
The guest all arrived on time and got cozy in the living room. The traveling pair kept the other six entertained with some of their adventures while Audra and Gannan finished up in the kitchen. Then they gathered around the table. Grandpa Daryle insisted on everyone joining hands for the prayer that he would say. Audra groaned quietly, thinking how long her mom’s dad could make a prayer. She could feel the food cooling. Finally a hearty AMEN, echoed down the table from every set of lips.
Gannan began passing the serving dishes and that is when disaster number one occurred. Grandma Janet dropped the bowl with the cole slaw in it. It did not break but the jolt sent purple cabbage into a yard wide display across the table and into laps. She was so embarrassed. But everyone assured her that it was no big deal. They could relate that Arthur’s pain haunted them all and weak thumbs are part of life. Grandma Janet allowed Grandpa Ken to fill her plate after that. With the worst of the mess cleaned up the meal continued with laughter and sharing.
Then disaster number two A occurred. The smoke alarm went off. It surprised everyone since there was no hint or smell of smoke. Gannan cursed under his breath. He had been after the landlord to fix the temperamental device for weeks. Grandpa Randy and Grandpa Carol had moved out of the way so Gannan could place the step stool under the blaring alarm. That is when disaster number 2 B happened. Six foot 4 Gannan only needed the first step to reset it. But he tripped stepping off and he landed in the lap of 5 ft nothing Grandpa Randy. No permanent harm but it did take Grandpa Randy sometime to get his breath and composure back.
The meal resumed and Grandma Brenda asked Grandma Nancy to pass the dinner rolls. That lead to disaster number 3 A. The rolls were in a basket lined with a floral fabric that complimented the setting. Grandma Nancy handed the basket across the table and in a flash the fabric ignited from the candle in the centerpiece. Despite his 89 years, quick thinking Grandpa Donley grabbed the flaming basket and threw it out the window. No one even commented that silenced fire alarm had not gone off even with the smokey haze in the room.
They resumed eating minus the dinner rolls and the candles extinguished. Audra presented the bowls of fruit in time for disaster 3 B to show itself. Quick thinking Grandpa Donley had thrown the basket into the dry leaves outside the window and flames were licking at the window pane. The menfolk rushed outside and reconnected the garden hose to douse the fire before it melted more of the siding.
Audra normally stoic and not easily perturbed broke down in tears. The womenfolk gathered around her to console the frazzled newlywed. They assured her that the years ahead would be filled with disasters of all sizes and part of the secret of a long healthy marriage is to ride them out and laugh them off.
The menfolk ribbed Gannan about the disaster filled dinner party , but also assured him that learning to ride out hiccups was key to a long marriage.
Regathered around the table Grandpa Daryle prayed one of his shortest prays ever thanking the Lord for a memorable meal that they all survived.
The burnt smell did not leave the kitchen for weeks but the memories of the grandparent’s feast stayed with Gannan and Audra until they grandparents themselves.
Closing remarks. As far as I know Audra and Gannan did not host all 8 grandparents and I only know the names of two of them , Brenda and Daryle, my first cousin and her hubby. The other names are borrowed from other cousin couples . The ignited bread basket did happen at Mom’s dining room table when I was dating someone. Our joke after that was ” no lit candles when Ellen is here”
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