Adventurous Spirit 29

Adventurous Spirit 29

The week vacation went too quickly. The trio had to head back home

to their regular lives. Maria was missing Nick and she and Essie

were eager to try the Melitzanokeftedes recipe for Mamas Eggplant

again. This time up in Essie's kitchen. They were thinking about

Mrs Papadoplos feelings.

Essie and Ari went out to the beach for a last night stroll.

Essie was quiet and in deep thought.

“What are you thinking about my love?” asked Ari.

“At the end of the day, its not about what you have or

even what you have accomplished in your life. It's

really about who you have lifted up, and given back.”

Said Essie.

On the way home Maria and Essie stopped at the shop

that sold kitchen towels and pot holders again. They

went in to shop while Ari went in a different direction.

He ended up in an antique shop. There was a nice

two seat bench and foot stool he had his eyes on

made of oak. He bought them on the spot and carried

them wrapped in a long red and white oilcloth.

Back at the truck he had secured them. He then went

to another shop that sold plain sturdy baskets for carrying

fruit and vegetables. By then Maria and Essie had

finished their shopping.

“Looks like brother's been doing some shopping. What did

you get besides baskets?”

He said stuff for Essie and Omegas garden and a

tablecloth for the picnic table. Rasmussen Sophia

should be making some fine barbqs and bread.

That table will need a sturdy cover to wipe.

About two hours down the road they stopped

for cool drinks and a bite to eat at a taverna.

Next door was a fruit stand run by the small children

of the taverna owners. They explained they

were learning gardening from their grandparents

and helping out while grandparents were

back at the garden.

Ari liked young entrepreneurs and decided to

give them a small lesson in salesmanship.

Quickly he found out this brother sister team

were no pushovers.

He, Essie and Maria filled the baskets with

fruit and vegetables.

The grandpa came to the stand with some

small cardboard boxes with live herb plants.

Ari said he would take them all. The Taverna

made excellent Baklava and Kourabiedes (Almond Cookies).

Maria tasted them and asked if she could buy a dozen.

The owner said she could buy all of them because they

were not selling quickly. Maria said they were delicious

Kourabiedes.

"The locals associate them with Christmas so they do

not buy and the tourists are all in a hurry and complain

the powdered sugar is messy. So take them all. I will

give you a good price and even box them up."said the owner.

You have a deal said Maria. We have many people we feed

in our village. They will be happy to eat them up quickly.

This is why we bought many fruits and vegetables from

the stand. We also bought the herb starts for our

elder neighbors who garden and donate many fresh

greens to our Share the Food program.

The owner asked for a phone number or address saying

when the figs are too plentiful and drop to the ground

she would call them to harvest for Share the Food. Often

others we know will have grains and nuts to share if you

do not mind picking.

Maria said Ari and Essie will scramble up the ladders to pick

and she would bring a folding table to pack the fruit and nuts.

The deal was made.

Back at the house of Essie the goodies were all unloaded.

Rasmussen had the grill going, Sophia her delicious breads

baking in the wood oven. Zeus and Omega in charge of

salads and Nick at the bar with alcoholic and non alcoholic

drinks on ice. The truck was unloaded with the precious

filled baskets under cover out of the sun.

Ari's surprise for Essie and Omega was a lovely two

seater bench to set near the garden for well deserved

rests and the little foot stool for Essie to use in her kitchen

or library.

“It's for the hard to reach shelves in

your kitchen and up in the library. Let's go on up

and see how it works.” said Ari.

Up the steps they both went alone. No one followed

because they all wanted them to be alone.

When into the kitchen Ari carried the stool

up to the library while Essie put packages away.

Ari pulled a package from his pocket and placed

ti on a top shelf. A note attached saying :

Open me and say yes. Inside a modest engagement

ring that had been his Mothers.

He said to try the stool she did and saw the

package opening it. A large smile and the

most wonderful kiss to seal the yes I will.

Out the open top window Ari howled

“She said yes, she actually said yes”

everyone cheered especially Maria

who had been in on the surprise.

© Julia A Knaake