Rescuing Barnabas by Elissa Strati

Author:Elissa Strati [Strati, Elissa]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2020-07-10T05:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 10 – Dinner

Dinner was delightful and Barnabas was surprised how comfortable and at home he felt almost at once. There was a casual acceptance from these people, as if he'd always lived here.

An older woman who, Barnabas later discovered, was Tom's mother, Mrs. Emilene Kenner, had hustled everyone into the dining room where they circled around the table joining hands in roughly a boy girl seating order. Tom had nudged him between Suzanne, whom he had also not yet met, and Dorothy.

Everyone bowed heads and Barnabas was touched to see that Charles and Mary had laid their clasped hands upon an infant laying between them on the table. Tom led them in a simple prayer, blessing the company and the food, and thanking the Lord for providing a safe journey for their new friend Barnabas, whose arrival they were celebrating.

After a chorus of amens, the children took off for a separate table and Mary tucked the baby into a cradle not too far from where the children were sitting. She made quick eye contact with the girls who both nodded and smiled, before returning to the table and her place next to Charles.

Barnabas could not remember later what he had eaten, only that it was plentiful and delicious. Mostly he was just aware of a feeling of contentment such as he had not enjoyed since before he'd gone off to war.

Once everyone had been served, Mrs. Kenner introduced herself to Barnabas by saying, “Since there are two of us with the title, we avoid confusion by letting Suzanne be Mrs. Kenner, and I go by Ma Kenner or Ms Emilene. I know you've met the youngsters at the next table and most of the gentleman present, and apologize that last minute preparations kept a few of us in the kitchen instead of meeting you properly earlier. But we figured that like most men, you'd rather have a good meal than proper introductions. You’ll just have to kiss our hands later.”

This quip was greeted with a general approbation and a great deal of laughter.

“Come to think of it, I think Suzanne and I are the only two that didn't run out to say hello!” Ma Kenner continued. Turning toward the children's table, she called over, “Hurry up and grow up, you two gals, so you can take over the kitchen and your aunt and I can go play when folks come to visit.”

At this the children all doubled up in laughter.

“Now y'all just enjoy your dinner. We'll have plenty of time to catch up. By the looks of you, you'll be sticking around a bit, I think, son. Welcome to Green River.” She cocked to her head, making direct eye contact for a moment, then added, “Welcome home!”

Trying to swallow down the huge lump which had formed in his throat, Barnabas half rose in his seat and bowed to Ma. “Thanks to your warm welcome, I feel at home.”

As he resumed his seat, he reached for Suzanne’s hand and loudly bussed it, grinning at Tom with a wink, as he did so, to more general laughter.

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