by Ryan Scott
Chapter 26
After Ella was elected President of her Chapter of the Native Daughters of the Golden West, Violet secretly arranged a party to celebrate her victory. She had contacted many of Ella’s old friends to come early to the Ravioli Palace in Occidental. When Ella and her family arrived, ostensibly for a small get-together with Violet and Pete, they all yelled, "Surprise! Surprise!"
Ella threw up her hands and shouted, ""Oh you guys! I can't believe this, but what’s the occasion?"
"We’re celebrating your ascendancy, Madam President," Violet happily replied.
After Ella’s friends greeted her with hugs and well wishes, Violet announced, "Our dinner is ready. I suggest we retire to the dining room. Tonight, you can order roast duck or New York steak. The appetizers include pickled, garbanzos, anchovies, cheese, salami, spiced beans, ravioli, pasta, roast beef, and chicken cacciatore."
When everyone was seated, Violet tapped a glass with her spoon, saying, "Hey, everyone, I'm going to propose a toast. Ella has just been elected President of the Native Daughters of the Golden West. Let's drink to the new President! Long live the President!"
They all lifted their glasses, drank their wine and shouted, "Speech! Speech! We want a speech!"
Ella stood up, saying, "No, I don’t have a speech, but I want you to know how glad I am to see each of you. I think of you as my family. Now, let's sit down and eat this amazing meal."
As chatter resumed around the table, Juanita, with her pigtail coiled around her head, leaned towards Ella and asked, "What happened? You used to be so shy."
"Well, I got sick of being shy. I told myself I'm as good as anybody else. You know, it's funny. The more I believe that, the more people react that way to me. Of course, John still thinks he's the boss just because he's a man."
Juanita's eyes twinkled, saying, "Let them think that. They don't know any better."
As Ella tasted the soup, she listened to snatches of conversation around the table.
Luigi was talking to Violet, saying, "That’s a right. Mr. Carlini, he justa disappear. Nobody knows a what a happen to him."
Pete listened politely to Florence as she described her affluent family. "This banquet reminds me of the simply marvelous feasts my family have on Thanksgiving. We would all gather at the lake house with a gorgeous view of the mountains."
Gloria, who was glassy-eyed from her fifth cocktail, sat Next to Alfred, her new husband and former employer.
He looks like a baby pig with his pink face, bald head and supercilious grin, Ella thought.
Danny Smith, Ella’s former brother-in-law, sat with Rose, his second wife. She doesn’t look anything like my sister. Maggie was much prettier
James sat across the table from Ella’s husband, arguing, "John, why don't you quit your job and go to work at the shipyards where they pay real money?"
John didn’t respond, but Sophie said, "John, James is right. Everything cost more now. You could do a lot better in the shipyards."
Bristling, he replied, "Well, sure I could make more money, but what happens if I got fired? At least, I have security with the State."
One of the Italian waitresses, a long-time resident of Occidental, reached over Ella’s shoulder to place a platter of ravioli on the table. "How are you, Ella?" she asked.
"Mary, it’s good to see you! I’m fine. How are you doing?"
"I guess I'm doing all right. Have you heard Rico has joined the army and is station in Texas, getting married to a Mexican woman?"
Ella grimace. "I don’t care what that asshole does, but I just heard that Mr. Carlini has disappeared. Do you know anything about that?"
"No, I sure don't, but I'll let you in on a little secret. According to gossip, he's Rico's father. You know, Rico’s mother was pretty wild. Well, I've got to get moving. It's busier than a bitch."
Ella looked at Tommy, thinking, So Mr. Carlini could be Tommy's grandfather. That would explain a lot.
Tommy was sitting at the children’s table with Kenny, swaying back and forth gleefully with their arms linked. Ella noticed that Kenny's hair was still blond while Tommy's hair had turned brown. She studied the other children. Daryl, Maggie's son, was a little older than Tommy, but he was much shorter. Florence's son, Robert, who was already more than six feet tall, looked helplessly at his mother and mouthed the words, "These kids are driving me nuts."
Ralph, Kenny's younger brother, smelled the flowers in one of the vases. Joey, looking intimidated, sat next to his big brother.
Mr. Mueller nudged Ella’s arm and asked, "Could you pass the spaghetti, please?"
Ella thought he looked the same, big yellow teeth and bald head. He had married a twin sister of his former wife. "Now, Lester, watch what you eat. You know how you always get gas," she warned.
He grinned sheepishly, but took a large serving of pasta anyway.
While Gloria signaled for another cocktail, Ella heard a commotion at the front. Martha and her family entered the restaurant. Martha shouted, "Hi everyone! Sorry we're late!"
Clifford ran to the children's table and punched Tommy’s shoulder, saying, “Hey pal, those glasses look keen!"
John shook hands with his hunting partner, saying, "Hey Ernie, I plan to come up there this fall and get that really big buck you missed."
After introductions, Martha wedged between Mr. Mueller and Ella, whispering, "He said to tell you hello and that he still thinks of you. He's going to China."
Ella didn’t trust herself to speak, so she nodded and stared straight ahead.
At the end of the meal, the waiters burst into the dining room, carrying a huge cake and singing a Puccini aria.
After the party, John was driving home. Ella looked over the rolling hills covered with apple blossoms and thought about Baxter's lovely green eyes. I wonder why he’s going to China.