The VIP Dinner

“Damn it, Jane, I can’t find my tuxedo on the rack. I left it there”.
“It’s in wardrobe silly!” Jane called back chidingly from the kitchen below, “you put it there yourself”.
Frank sighed. He never did have his way with his little sister, but he couldn’t dally, tonight was for Uncle Larry and the guests it had to be well fulfilled.
Later on, donning his bow tie, he ran down the stairs into the hall. Everything looked set as far as he could see. Jane with the help of the maid was transferring the banquet flower vase from the side of the video shelf to the top of big dining table. It didn’t really look right to Frank.
“Why that?” he asked coolly “it really looks good at the side of the shelf, you should leave it there”
“Gosh, big bro”, Jane whined with disgust uncle has really invited half the members of the board from his place of work. You really think they should meet that vase there? They obviously don’t share your odd tastes”.
Frank was still thinking of a suitable harsh reply, when the doorbell rang.
“Quick, Get uncle from his room. They are here. I will get the bell”.

He watched Jane disappear up the stairs momentarily.
The ringing persisted.
Swallowing hard, he moved towards the door in a purposeful gait. The peep hole revealed two comely faces of a clean shaven elderly man and a woman with red lipstick. He opened up gracefully.
“This number forty seven Jefferson Avenue?” the woman asked casually, making her way into the foyer
Yes ma’am frank answered stepping aside.
“Then this is where we are invited to dinner” she concluded.
“No – I mean yes-yes ma’am”, frank mumbled uneasily, stunned by her daring.
The man was more conservative and said not a word. He looked penetratingly at frank who said. “This way sir and ma’am my uncle has been expecting you. He will be joining us soon”.
The couple followed him into the hall, staring absolutely passively at almost everything in their way.
“Nice house”, the man said at last, after taking the seat offered, “I wouldn’t mind living here myself”.
“Thank you sir”, Frank murmured, not knowing what to say. He was finding it more difficult playing host than expected. “Would you like some drinks sir and ma’am” he asked nervously after a while, “perhaps orange juice or some spirits: scotch, bourbourn or a glass of champagne”.
“Champagne would be fine”, the woman answered not looking at frank, “but Tunny here does not use spirits so….”
“Orange juice will suit me”, the elderly man muttered gravely.
“Alright, I would be right back”, frank said retreating politely.
Moment later Laden with a wide tray filled with corked bottles and glasses, he returned.
“I will like mine with ice”. The woman murmured indulgently as he uncorked a bottle.
“Yes ma’am”
“And in a tumbler, not in a flute”
Jane arrived with Uncle Larry while he poured the drinks.
“The old boy!” the man guffawed standing from his seat to give a hug, while Uncle Larry danced into his arms.
“Mr. Chairman”, Uncle Larry muttered breathlessly, losing the embrace “it is good to see you”.
“And you too”, the man boomed, patting him on the shoulder. He turned momentarily to his partner. “Mr. Lawrence, meet Kat kit – my wife, Kat-kit meet Mr. Lawrence”.
“Good to see you,” Mrs. Red lip stick purred, placing aside her drink.
“It is a pleasure – Kat-kit”, Mr. Lawrence boomed, dancing to an armchair.
The duo burst into laughter.
“Actually, it’s Katherine”, red lipstick explained in between giggles.
“Oh I see,” Uncle Larry spurted ,“pet names”
“Sweet names as it is”, Mr. Chairman chirruped.
The doorbell snapped the laughter short.
“Get that, Frank”, Uncle Larry rapped, “and you Jane, check the kitchen will you? My guests must be famished”
“Precisely”, Tunny boomed “especially if you’ve got fish casserole on the menu.
The door revealed a lightly bearded middle aged man in European style clothes. He looked distortedly at Frank. “And who are you?”
“Come in sir”, Frank mumbled “your coat sir”
“Make way fellow, I am sure this is where I am invited to dinner”, the man retorted.
“With all due respect sir, you’ve got to leave your coat and hat in the hall”, frank moaned
“I guess your uncle didn’t calmly teach you some manners, hmmmn?”
“What is happening over there?” Uncle Larry boomed from within. “Frank?”
“This-this man-” frank stammered.
“Oh Larry the old gun! Is that you?”
“Patrick! The real Patrick!”, Uncle Larry boomed, “come on, come on in and give the coat to the boy he’s just trying to help”.
Frank looked confused.
“Oh I can see there’s quite a party here” Mr. Patrick guffawed, entering the room, “the real king Ahab and Jezebel herself”
Frank gaped at the statement, but the elderly trio seemed composed. There was momentary silence in the room.
“Have a seat Patrick” Uncle Larry said grimly, “we are here for dinner, not a speech combat”
“That is right” Kat kit added, lip pursed. A mistake of course.
“I will rather sup with the devil”, Patrick rapped carelessly.
“That’s enough uncle”, Larry whined, voice rising. Then facing Frank “assist your sister in setting the table we’ll be having more guests, but I guess I will handle that myself.
“Yes sir”, Frank mumbled, he could hear the high pitch reprimands and arguments from the elderly folks as he left them behind.
“You think Uncle Larry invited that party pooper?” Jane asked as soon as he entered the kitchen. Frank frowned. “You weren’t supposed to be eaves dropping” he muttered.
“Well”, Jane snapped.
“Well, there are different types of people who make up a board of directors in a firm as large as uncle Larry’s and most of them aren’t pleas – what is that smell?”
“The soup!”
Moments later
“Well, is it that bad?” Frank asked.
“It’s ruined”, Jane muttered near tears, she dumped the charred dish in the sink. “What do we do now?”
“Well I guess we would have to do some re-cooking”, frank mumbled.
“Re-cooking?” Jane cried, “the maid cooked the soup before leaving for her mother’s and we are out of fish”
“And?”
“She isn’t retuning until tomorrow morning – we’ve ruined uncle larry’s dinner”.
Frank shrugged, “well, like I said, we could still do some re-cooking- change- the menu-anything like that”.
Jane slapped her hand on the cabinet top for emphasis. “Mum is out on business with Dad, we’ve ran out of most of our food stuff while cooking this meal. There is no way out!.”
“Yes there is—”.
“What is going on here”.
Frank jumped and turned to the bewildered Uncle Larry. He recovered quickly “the soup got burnt up”.
Uncle Larry frowned. The least of reactions expected. “Good luck explaining that to the guest”, he mumbled curtly, then left.
“What do we do now?”, Jane asked, almost sobbing.
Frank shrugged. “I will go to engage the guests, while you call any of your friends who can help”.
He left the kitchen.
The living room seemed just like before, safe for two couple in safari suits and dinner gowns the quo seemed lively and contented while Mr. Patrick seemed to be a lesser worry than before ,at his terrible best.
Frank coughed, drawing attention
“Well,” he started “due to some complications, there may be a little bit delay with the dinner, but we would try to make up to you as best as possible. We are very sorry”.
“Apology accepted,” Kat-kit purred with mirth,” what do you think Tunny?”
“Yeah”, the elderly man said, smiling.
“There we go”, Patrick scoffed.
Frank, sensing an outburst, acted quickly. “Would you all like some music?,” he proffered quickly, “we’ve got some cool stuff: classical, highlife, reggae —- just any “. He stared lamely at his uncle, who winked an eye.
“Oh I love the Beatles,” Kat- kit mumbled,” Do you have them?”
“I prefer reggae better,” Patrick snapped
Frank winked, confused.
“Alright, alright,” Uncle Larry said, coming to his rescue “we should have a vote – how about that?”
A bunch of approval thundered from the guests.
Uncle Larry smiled. “Alright, who wants to hear the Beatles sing?!”
Four hands came up.
“We win! Kat- kit screamed, excited “we win!
Back at the kitchen
“Alright lets go over it again – a kilo of onions, two kilos of tomatoes, six lobes of fresh mackerel, a gallon of stock —– what else do we need?”
“Well you might get some salt along with them if you’ve’ got extra bills”, Nora said, smiling.
“Thank you, you are such a good friend”, Jane mumbled giving her a hug “I will be right back”.
“And get some pastries if you can, you will need them for dessert!” Nora screamed after the departing Jane.
“Alright!
Back in the living room
“I think we should do some dancing” Mr. Lawrence suggested, presently tuning up the volume of the home theatre set.
“Good idea” Kat-kit purred, “we should ease our bodies Tunny, shouldn’t we?”.
“Not bad,” Tunny boomed.
The couple stood up gracefully from their seat.
“Come on guys, on the dance floor”. Uncle Larry urged the others.
Patrick snorted. “Ain’t this dinner coming he groaned, “I think I would leave after all”.
“Good riddance to good trash, “Katherine mumbled coyly.
“What – what did you just say?” Patrick snapped
“You asking me?” Katherine retorted, “You seem not to know your betters!”
“Watch your mouth scarlet woman!”
“Did you just call me—–“
“Yes I did”
“How dare you?!”
Back to the kitchen
“Bring me the stock cube”
“Have it”, Jane said handing over the cellophane wrapped packet. “I just hope they eat this”
“Oh my God,” Nora muttered in between giggles, “they will, why won’t they?”
Jane shrugged “well it is just more of them do more shopping at the city mall more than we do at the grocery store down the street.”
“I know how that is, trust me, “Nora said emptying the sliced up carrots into the steaming broth, “but I know people like that too well not to know their ways. Now get me those bread rolls from the oven, before they burn-up, will you.”
“Hey Nora what is up”
The girls turned to the voice.
“What are you doing back here big bro?” Jane moaned, turning to Frank who plopped himself down on a chair beside the kitchen island cabinet, “You were supposed to hold the guests”
“Yeah I did” Frank said, “smell’s nice Nora – came to check on you guys, though there is a world war going on out there”.
“Well the soup is just ready to be served” Nora announced loosening her apron, “but …”
“But what!” Frank and Jane chorused.
“It is nothing” Nora giggled, “just the garnishing.
Back in the living room
“Would you guys just calm down please” Mr. Lawrence pleaded moving towards the hot headed pair.
“You tell her to calm down!” Patrick snapped.
“Tell him to piss off !” Kat-kit squirmed, he hit at me first.
“Oh where’s that dinner,” Tunny groaned “Kat-kit leave him alone- you are just trying your best to hurt my grumbling tummy”.
There was a light laugher.
“Hungry man has got a point” one of the men in safari suit added jokingly, “we should all focus on the dinner”
“Oh here they come,” Mr. Lawrence announced heartily.
“Oh let me help with that,” Katherine said trying to grab a filled tray from Jane who accidentally trips on Patrick’s leg in the process.
The tray came over with a crash on the tile floor.
“Oh, the soup!”
“You ruined my dinner!”
Five minutes later
“Oh where’s my hat?” Tunny groaned, “I have to leave”.
“Honey you brought no hat” Kat-kit moaned “and besides it’s too late for dinner elsewhere”.
“Well you just saw Mr. Patrick march out, didn’t you?”
“I did,” Katherine said,” Mr. Lawrence went after him He’ll be coming back”
“How do you know that?”
“I know”
“She’s probably right Mr. Chairman”, Mr. Safari suit cut in, “we should bear with Mr. Lawrence”.
“That’s right,” Katherine added.
Frank who had been watching all the while was confused and was trying to console weeping Jane. “We’ve still got a nice Yorkshire pudding from the baker’s in the oven and some bread rolls” he suggested hopefully, “perhaps, we could make some omelet and have it with dessert”
“Good idea!” Katherine chirruped, “perhaps, I can help you kids with getting that done can’t I, Tunny?”
“Yes you can,’” Tunny replied dreamily, “I am hungry”
Mr. Lawrence entered at the moment
“ I tried getting him to agree to my terms,” he said with a weak smile “ he put up quite a drama, but agreed later on to come back though he says he wants to pull himself back together”.
“Poor Patrick, I will make it up to him”, Katherine moaned. “You know what, Mr. Lawrence. I am gonna help the kids make some nice cheese omelets for dinner,” she announced proudly, then facing Jane and frank, “come on guys”.
“Do, do Tunny groaned “I am hungry”.
And what a nice dinner it was after all. The day was fulfilled.