A Whole Song and Dance by Sarvenaz Tash

Author:Sarvenaz Tash [Tash, Sarvenaz]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Disney Book Group
Published: 2023-04-04T00:00:00+00:00

Goshneh is bustling. The small curbside tables, each placed next to a heating lamp and adorned with a centerpiece of a bowl of pomegranates, are completely full. And despite the frigid February air, there’s a line of people wrapped around the white brick building, hoping to snag a walk-in seat. I stand to the other side of the gleaming gold door.

“Whoa,” Max says as he approaches me. “This place is hopping.”

I nod. “It got written up in the New York Times last week, so now it’s impossible to get a reservation.”

“So how come you got one?” he asks.

“My mom predicted its success before it opened,” I say with a smile.

“Wow,” Max says. “Thanks for inviting me.”

“Of course. Ready to head in?”

Max nods, and we walk in, braving looks of envy from the human Popsicles standing by the large picture window. I give my name to the maître d’, who shows us to a table near the back.

“Complimentary coat check?” she asks me.

“Sure,” I say, and I hand over my long down jacket.

Max takes off his navy peacoat and passes it to the maître d’ before he glances my way. “You look…really nice.” I’m wearing a long-sleeved white maxi dress patterned with bold red flowers and paired with brown ankle boots.

“Thanks,” I say. “I thought it might be a dressier sort of place.”

Max looks down at his jeans and button-down in alarm. “I’m sorry. I didn’t know….”

“You look fine,” I assure him. “Look.” I point out the rest of the dining room, where at least half the men are wearing the standard straight-guy uniform, just like Max.

Max looks relieved as he takes his seat and starts removing papers from his satchel. I catch a glimpse of numbers and data sets.

“What are you doing?” I ask.

“Oh, I’m sorry. Did you want to do the tutoring after food?” he asks.

I laugh. “I didn’t want to do the tutoring at all.”

Max looks confused for a second but then colors. “I’m so sorry. When you asked me here, I thought it was to work….” He indicates the sheets.

“Just a friendly dinner. If that’s okay?”

“Yes, definitely. That’s definitely okay.” He sweeps the papers off the table and back into his satchel.

I pick up the small laminated menu and look it over. I recognize a lot of the dishes as ones my mom makes, but with fancy names like Dried Lime and Herb Stew instead of ghormeh sabzi, and prices to match.

“My treat, okay?” I say without looking up.

“Oh, no,” Max says. “That’s not necessary….”

“I invited you to dinner; it’s my treat,” I reply firmly. “I just got a raise at work.” I haven’t forgotten what he told me about his financial situation, and besides, I get a little thrill from knowing that my acting job can, in fact, treat us to this dinner. This and a small necklace from Etsy have been my only splurges, since I’m mostly trying to put money away to prove to my parents that I can handle the difference in tuition between Tisch and Stern.

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