(Continued from March 13, 2010)
“Evidently, the vintage from this bottle has the anticipated flavor,” Thea stated. “It brings a smile to your face; and, I imagine, it also brings back a number of goodtime memories.”
I told her that she was right on both counts, which prompted her to fill some of the other glasses. I foresaw her intention; so, I emptied my glass to be ready for the tasting process of the next bottle.
During the pouring of the wine, the server waited just outside the kitchen entrance for a signal from aunt Dorothy, which she received the moment the last glass had been filled. Two minutes later the girl arrived with a two-level cart; there were three bowls of minestrone on each level. Apparently, aunt had brought in an Italian chef for the occasion.
Since the soup was hot, we had to spoon carefully. Alphonse simply waited for it to cool down; I knew that he preferred to eat quickly. His temporary idleness gave Alice the idea that he could possibly commence the narration of his experience with Bob and she didn’t hesitate to make the request.
Alphonse had been waiting for the opportunity to tell his story, which I knew was interesting in its divergence from the anticipated development. So, I was happy that my young friend moved right into the thick of the action.
“I was lifting my weights at a certain distance from Bob and I could see from the corner of my eye that he glanced at me occasionally. I was not surprised by his interest in my efforts; I usually draw the attention of novice bodybuilders. Since I have worked with equipment for more than a decade and have been taught by a good instructor to do so correctly, I can safely start with what would be the maximum for guys like Bob.”
“I can almost visualize Bob’s amazement as you kept on adding more weights,” Alice uttered as she burst into her familiar contagious laughter.
“He was so fascinated by what I was doing that he stopped his own routine; and, when I took a breather from my exertion, he came over for a chat.”
Alphonse stopped his narrative to spoon down his minestrone. He had stopped at a suspenseful moment for the girls. They were curious about Bob’s opening remarks.
“Did he introduce himself properly or did he skip conventionalities and start by expressing his amazement?” aunt Dorothy joked.
(To be continued)