The Saga, Part 22 -- Lamb On a Spit!

How anyone could sleep in with the hotel staff out and about, I would love to know. 7:30 am on a Sunday morning the Giggle Girls started banging on my door. Bang! Bang! Bang! Giggle, giggle, giggle. I was fast asleep, and had attached the Do Not Disturb sign on my door. In fifteen minutes they were back, Bang! Bang! Bang! As I swam to the surface of consciousness, they opened the door, giggling with glee. I sat up in bed, furious. Dont you know what Do Not Disturb means? I asked crossly. Of course not, they dont speak English I thought, punching my pillow and falling into it.

They shut the door with a thud, still giggling, and I buried my head in the pillow. After ten minutes, it was no use. I was bone tired, but unable to rest. I may as well get out to the well field, I thought. The night crew will want to go home. Like all pumping tests, I seemed to be wound on a spring

I brought coffee to the night crew, and gave them the last of the sweet rolls. John and Al were grateful, and very curious. The very first question they asked me, as I handed them the hot coffee was, Did you have fun last night?

I was startled. Did absolutely everyone know about my date/non-date with Fred? Yes, I said, I had a fabulous time! Thank you for asking! I escaped up the hill, taking hot coffee to the guardian, but no one was there, so I left it for him, next to his tree.

As soon as I got back to Well #3, John asked, Where did you go? What did you do? Did you have fun? Did you see anyone from the water company? Do you like Fred?

I had a wonderful time! Fred was really nice to me! We went to see The Poltergeist, but there was lots of entertainment going onand it was great! I mustered as much enthusiasm as possible-- for an early Sunday morning when I felt like I had been pried from my coffin. I didnt want to let Fred down, and I had had a marvelous evening! The whole world looked brighter to me, but that was really no ones business! So I said, Fred is a lovely person! He is a lot of fun to be with!

John opened his mouth to ask another question, and Al dug his elbow into Johns ribs. Good! Glad you had fun! Fred is a great guy! he said. Thanks for the coffee and rolls! Come on, John, lets go home. They left in a clatter, and the well field was silent and still among the trees, all but the HMMMMMMMM of the motor of the pumping well. Peace! At last!

The pump had slowed; again, so I picked up the giant wrench with a heave, staggered over to the pipe, and was able to drop it on the valve handle with a clang, fortunately without breaking either the valve or the wrench. Just picking it up was all I could do. It had to weigh about 50 pounds, which was near my limit I slowly fastened it around the valve, fumbling with it, and pulled and pulled and pulled. No luck. Drat! I thought. I would just have to wait for help. Since it had been so heavy to pick it up, I left the wrench attached to the valve and just wiggled around the long handle to get outside.

The samples were beginning to stack up in all three well houses, to the point that it was becoming difficult to move around. I was going to have to ask Fred where to dump them, and what to do about the glass bottles. Silver nitrate, (at these levels), is fairly toxic, even in small amounts. Disposal down a drain attached to a sanitary sewer would be best; unless they had disposal companies to come and get their waste products from their lab. Gathering boxes, I stored all the bottles, carefully packing them so that they wouldnt break, and stacked the boxes in the corners of the well houses, out of the way. As I was finishing up the last of the boxes, my watch beeped again, and I made another round of measurements. Still no guardian, so I walked up the hill even further, and carried his cold coffee back down to pour out.

After the measurements, I drove to the gas station and got a fresh cup of coffee and a candy bar. I sat in the back seat, drinking the hot liquid, grateful for the warmth, and hoping the chocolate would kick in with some energy. Golly! I was tired! I set my watch for the next measurement and stretched out on the back seat, using my coat as a cover, the car doors locked. I fell into a deep, dreamless sleep almost immediately.

Seemingly five minutes later, I slowly woke to the sound of tapping On the glass Where was I? I sat up with a jerk, catching my hair, which had gone wild in the damp, in the door handle of the car, and had to get untangled. Where was I? What had happened? My heart pounding, I looked through the fogged up window of the car Who was it?

It was Fred, calling, Wake up, sleepyhead, wake up!

I tried the handle of the car door, but it was locked and I fumbled with the lock for a moment, finally opening up the car door. Fred! I said, When did you get here?

Ive been here for over two hours. You havent moved and I was getting worried about you, he said. Youve been sound asleep! Are you feeling all right this afternoon?

Afternoon? Its afternoon? I asked, confused. I stumbled out of the car. What time is it? I put my hands up to my head, trying to smooth down my hair, which had curled in the damp and was waving around with a life of its own. What had I done?

It is 12:30 in the afternoon. Are you hungry? Fred asked. He took my arm and guided me back to the seat of the car. I sat on the edge of the seat, in a fog, trying to wake up.

12:30? Youve been here two hours? I asked. He nodded. Yes, thank you, Im absolutely ducky. I said foggily. I put my head in my hands, trying to find it, and to get my brain plugged in. I dont wake up well, I said, by way of explanation. I must look like the Bride of Frankenstein.

You look beautiful! Just sit a minute, he said. You just need to wake up, thats all. Take your time.

I leaned forward and rested my head against him. I missed the measurements, I said. Ive been asleep since the 9:30 measurement. I guess I slept through the alarm on my watch.

He put his hand on my head, smoothing my hair and holding my head close to him. Its all right. I got the last couple of measurements. Youve been working out here day and night. It is no wonder you fell asleep. What time did you get here this morning?

About 8:30, I said. I sat up, Fred, Im sorry I missed the measurements.

Dont worry about it, he said. You said yourself that the salt readings had settled down, and that the wells were stable. It isnt that important right now. I was hoping you could sleep in this morning.

I nodded. Thanks, Fred. I wanted to sleep late, but I reckoned without the housekeeping staff. They woke me up at 7:30. They cant talk to me at the desk, they have thousands of cockroaches the size of mice, they have two channels on TV, and they dont know how to read a Do Not Disturb sign. But, all is not lost, they sure can giggle!

He smiled. Greek gigglers? he asked. Do they giggle in Greek? Feeling better now? Want to go and get something to eat?

I guess they giggled in Greek! I was so dead to the world, I didnt pay any attention! I barked at them, and they went away, I smiled. Yes, please, food would be nice. I had a candy bar for breakfast, I said. Can we go someplace besides the Deli?

You barked? I would have loved to see that! he laughed, Sure, I know of a little coffee shop. He helped me up out of the car. They dont serve liver and they dont serve babies. Just your kind of place!

Sounds great! I said. Once again, Freds energy was pulling me back from the brink of exhaustion. He was, as always, freshly pressed and neat as a pin. Dapper. I lookedI didnt want to think about how I looked-- but I knew my hair was, at best, tousled, and at worst, waving around like Medusas snakes.

As we drove, Fred told me that he had opened the valve to the well a little. Did you try to do it yourself? he asked.

Yes, but that wrench is almost more than I can lift. Its heavy! I got in on the valve, but I couldnt budge it, I said.

Too much for you! Just let one of the guys do it, he said. He patted my hand, comfortingly, I was coming in this morning, anyway, but the guys could have done it for you.

I didnt even know it needed adjusting, I told him. They had left by the time I figured it out.

Fred drove us to the coffee shop, where we had soup and a sandwich, (hot soup!) , and then to a liquor store, where he found a good size bottle of Ouzo for my Greek family, a small bottle of anisette for the guardian, and a nice bottle of Irish whiskey for Danny and Sally. Then, at my urging, he picked out something he liked, a small bottle of scotch, and I found a small bottle of rum, in a brand that we had at home. For later, I told him. When all this is over, were going to have a nice cocktail.

He looked doubtful. Fred, I said, we cant have a drink at the well field while were working; I know it is company property. But once the test is over, we can surely have a drink somewheremaybe the beach? He nodded, finally. It takes someone who lives here to know how to shop, I told him. This would have taken me all afternoon and I wouldnt have found a thing on my own. I didnt even know how to spell Ouzo.

He chuckled and said, It just takes some time to learn your way around.

We drove back to the well field, stopping for coffee at the gas station, on the way. How do you drink this? Fred asked, making a face at the coffee.

I concentrate on the fact that it is handy and it is hot. Besides, if you add enough cream and sugar, you dont notice so much that it tastes like burnt rubber, I said. It isnt bad, once you get used to it this batch is just old.

We sat in the monster car, because it had more room, and talked all afternoon, stopping to take measurements on schedule. Fred was the youngest of three; he had a brother and an older sister, both of whom were married, had children, and lived nearby. He loved his job; liked working for Danny, and thought Stella was toxic, for the most part. But, she seemed to like me he couldnt figure it out. I enlightened him about Charlie, and Stellas fear that he would leave her. I told him about our brief chat at the office, and that someone had listened in. That had to be Danny, he said. Danny always knows everything.

At 4 pm, Fred said, You need to go and get ready for your party tonight. Why dont you go back to the hotel and rest up a bit before the party? Ill stay here and get the measurements.

Fred, I hate to abandon you here, I said. The party starts at 6. Are you sure its OK to leave?

Sure, he said, I dont mind. Youve been doing this for two weeks. I can stay here one evening. He leaned over, kissed me on the lips, (and yes, the sun came out, with sparkles!), and got out of the car. Have fun! he said.

Bye! I waved, Ill try to come back later!

I drove back to the hotel, wondering what to wear to a Greek family party. I hoped that slacks would do because that is all I brought with me, other than my business suit. I still had clean field clothes, but not much else. Back at the hotel, I cleaned up, rolled my hair again, and dressed in a pair of navy slacks and a bright red sweater. My good shoes didnt match, but there was nothing I could do about it. At home, we never went any place, unless we matched. Back in 1982, nice women wore skirts or pretty dresses to parties, and I hoped that sartorially, I would fit in.

Gathering up the bottle of Ouzo and the gift for the sweet baby, I walked down the street to the Greek restaurant. Just as I crossed the street, I noticed a small crowd of men milling around in front of the restaurant. There was a huge grill in front of the restaurant, smoke merrily curling up around the restaurant sign. The old man was out front, supervising, his dark robe a sharp contrast to the rest of the crowd.

The crowd parted briefly, and then, I saw it. On the spit, turned by one of the men, was the body of a small animal, minus the head, thank heavens. Was it goat? Was it, (gasp), lamb? ICK! The old man spotted me and waved me toward him. Whatever it is , I thought, Ive got to eat it, and act like I just love it! No matter what! I swallowed, hard.

Agape, kre! the old man called.

Agape, Papa! The old man enveloped me in a hug, his robe wrapping around me like wings. He called inside the restaurant, Adelpho! Adelpho!

The counterman came out of the restaurant, It is our Papas daughter! he said, and a huge crowd of people surged out of the restaurant. I dont know your name, he said. What is your name, Papas daughter?

My name is Marsha, I said, and you are Adelpho?

He pointed to his chest, Adelpho! And this is He rattled off names of the crowd, everyone was there from the kitchen, and there were seemingly hundreds of people I had never seen before, but everyone seemed to know who I was. Children raced around the crowd, getting into mischief. How are all these people going to fit in the restaurant? I wondered.

All the smiling faces gathered around me, and I turned to the old man, For you, Papa! I gave him the bottle of Ouzo. The crowd laughed and agreed. More than half of them were speaking Greek, (surely), and the few that spoke English said, A gift for Papa! A gift! Ouzo! Ouzo!

Where is the dear Mama of the baby? I asked, I have a small gift for the baby! Adelpho, please help me find the babys mother.

Terentia! Adelpho called, Terentia! Come, here, Marsha has a gift for you! Everybody, this is Marsha, Papas daughter! The crowd called out greetings to me, smiling. The children called, Hello, Marsha! Hello!

A beautiful woman with dark hair and eyes, holding a baby, came forward. Hello, Marsha! I am glad that you came! A very handsome man came from behind the grill to stand beside her, This is my husband, Minos.

Im very glad to meet you both, I said, shaking hands with Minos, patting Terentias arm gently, and trying to keep my accent to a minimum. Terentia, thank you very much for your invitation. I have a small gift for your baby, handing her the box. What is the babys name? I asked.

The crowd murmured in appreciation, She brought a gift for the baby! A gift for the baby!

His name is George! She carefully handed the baby to me, who was wrapped in a warm blue blanket, totally unconcerned about the crowd around him.

Oh, he is beautiful, Terentia. Such a beautiful little boy! I held the baby close, cradling his head against my cheek, cherishing the softness of his sweet head. The baby looked up at me, with soft blue eyesthat sweet, other-worldly look that babies have. Then, he smiled. (I dont care what people say, maybe it is gasbut babies smile!) Hello, George. Hello, sweet little baby, I said softly. Did you have a big day today?

Terentia opened the little box, and took out the silver tooth fairy box with a What is this? look on her face. I quickly explained, Terentia, when your baby grows up, he will lose his baby teeth. Every time he loses a tooth, you put the tooth in the little box, and as soon as he goes to sleep, you take the egg, and put a little gift beside his pillow in exchange. When he wakes up in the morning, he will have a present from The Tooth Fairy! I showed her the little fairy perched on top of the egg. It is a custom here. You can keep his little teeth, if you like. But every time he loses a baby tooth, the Tooth Fairy brings him a small gift!

Ah, the Tooth Fairy! The Tooth Fairy! She smiled in comprehension, What a wonderful gift for the baby! Thank you, Marsha! She hugged me, and said, Thank you! A custom from your home!

The crowd murmured, The Tooth Fairy. Terentia will be a Tooth Fairy! The babys teeth will be for the Tooth Fairy! They nodded to one another, and I suddenly hoped that they wouldnt pull his teeth, so the Tooth Fairy could visit. As he grows, he will get gifts from the Tooth Fairy!

Did they understand? Maybe I should have bought a blanket, or something else, but this was sterling silver More of a Keepsake I carefully gave the baby back to Terentia, and Adelpho said, Inside, everyone! Inside! The baby will be cold!

Adelpho put his hand on my shoulder, It was very nice of you to bring a gift for the baby and for Papa. Come, he said, come inside to the party. Papa came beside me, smiled beatifically, took my hand, and gently led me inside.

The utilitarian restaurant had been transformed. The tables had been pushed into rows in the middle of the room, covered with light blue tablecloths. There was a space cleared at the front of the restaurant. The restaurant had been decorated with light blue crepe paper streamers, and blue and white balloons. A white bassinette sat on the front table. There was one long table toward the front, piled high with foodmost of it very strange, but it looked delicious! The petits fours I had brought them were stacked on a large plate, I noticed.

Adelpho set the bottle of Ouzo in the middle of the front table, and held a chair for me, Sit here, Marsha, next to Papa!

Thank you, I said. I sat, stuffing my purse up under the table, and the old man sat beside me, Agape, kre, he said, patting my shoulder, Agape, Marsha!

Just then, the crowd roared and I looked behind me to see the goat/lamb/whatever, (I didnt want to know), carried in on a huge platter, surrounded by potatoes and other vegetables. They set it in the center of the table at the front, and the old man stood. They bowed their heads, so I did, too, standing at my place. The old man said a short prayer, in Greek, which, of course I didnt understand, but he said George, Terentia, and Minos, several times, and he said my name, twice. Both times, he patted my shoulder. At the end of the prayer, the crowd roared again, calling, Terentia! George! Minos! The baby!, and Marsha, our guest! I dont know what the old man said, but I felt warmed by his blessing and the loving embrace of a large family even if I didnt know them, they were very friendly and kind. They had welcomed me to their heart, and I was very grateful.

The old man, raised his arms again, and called, ! Adelpho told me, Let the party begin!

Terentia put the baby in the bassinette and with Minos, went to the front of the line, picked up a plate, and began to select from the vast array of dishes. A large man with a mustache began to carve the meat, carefully placing slices on their plates. I followed Papa, and Adelpho and his wife, and children, then the rest of the crowd surged toward the table. I selected a tiny bite of everything, and then got to the meat. The mustached man took a giant slice, and tried to put in on my plate

No, thank you, I said.

The carver asked in disbelief, NO MEAT?

Only a tiny bit, please, I tried to show a small bit with my fingers, then indicating the crowd behind me, There are many people hereeveryone must eat!

He nodded and put a small slice on my plate, with a questioning look. Thank you, I said, thank you!

Thank heavens the crowd believed me, because they were saying, (those that I could understand), Good manners, too! She leaves enough for us all! and nodding in approval.

I finished serving my plate with small bite-sized bits, leaving the petits fours for them, and sat back down at the table. Papa sat next to me, then Adelpho and his wife, their children across from us, and Theresa and Minos sat at the end of the table. The food was delicious! And the meat! Maybe it was lamb, maybe it was goat, and maybe it was a big bad wolf, but it was wonderful! All I can say is, whatever it was, it was good!

Adelpho, this is delicious! Thank you! I told him, and he smiled, stuffed his mouth, and said, Greek food is good! all at once. His wife, Naia, smiled at me, beatifically, and said, We are glad you are here! Eat! She was very pretty!

Toward the end of the meal, the food was moved to the kitchen, the table taken down by a crowd of men, and a small band, dressed in colorful shirts and nice slacks began tuning mandolins, a violin, and other stringed instruments that I couldnt identify.

The old man looked at me, his eyes twinkling. Music, I said, Papa, they are going to play music! Adelpho translated, and the old man said, Of course we have music! We are not barbarians! but he laughed with me. Do you dance? he asked me, Adelpho translating.

I dont know how to dance like you do, I told him, but I can try!

That is good! Adelpho said, Well make you Greek, yet!

Women began to bring small empty glasses to the tables, distributing bottles of Ouzo and opening the bottle I had brought Papa. They poured a bit into each glass. The old man stood, as did the rest of the table. He indicated the baby, Terentia and Minos and offered a toast to the baby. He drank his glass in one gulp. Opa! Adelpho told me, drink!

They drank the liqueur in one giant gulp. A little more cautious, I only drank about half of what was in the glass. It went down like molten lava, scorching my insides, leaving a searing cone of heat deep in my stomach. I gasped for air, and Papa roared with laughter. The crowd encouraged me, laughing and calling, Drink, drink, drink! I finished the bit in the bottom of the glass, hoping I could get air! Air would put this fire out! But, it was tasty, what I could taste Then everyone called, Opa!

Immediately, the band began to play music similar to Zorba the Greek. And all the men got up, stood in lines at the front of the restaurant, and began to dance, their arms in the air, kicking their feet to the music, snapping their fingers, joyous! The women and children stood, too, clapping in time to the music, calling to their men. The music played faster and faster, the men kicked higher and higher, their fingers snapping in time, smiling at one another. As soon as the music stopped, the women had another little shot of Ouzo, and cried Opa! Then, the men went back to their tables, hardly out of breath, and the women got up. Naia pulled me along to the line. The men drank a toast to the women, slamming their glasses down on the table, Opa!

The music started again, and the women danced, a bit slower, but kicking their feet, snapping their fingers, swaying to the beat of the music. I dont know how to do this, Naia! I said to her, but she shook her head, Just follow me! And we danced and danced, until I could not catch my breath! The music stopped, the crowd roared in appreciation of the band, and everyone went back to their tables, to another bit of liqueur. Opa! they called to one another. I drank a small gulp, and although hot, it wasnt as searing. (Probably, I was becoming anesthetized already).

The party continued through the night, men dancing, women dancing, children dancing, and every few minutes, someone would propose a toast, Opa! At 9 pm, it was time for me to get back to the hotel, I thought dimly. But no, not without one last toast, To Marsha, our guest! Opa! I hugged everyone in sight, thanking them for their kindness, and popped out of the restaurant and the noise and laughter like a cork out of a bottle. Standing outside of the restaurant, I breathed in the crisp April air, grateful for the sudden silence. Wow! I thought. That was some family party!

I walked back to the hotel, through the quiet streets, really unafraid for the first time since I had arrived in Great Neck. Why had I been so afraid before? I wondered as I walked briskly back to the hotel. I went up to my room, and let myself in with the key. Two channels on TV and no light. I sat down on the bed. It was quiet. It was too quiet. I had told Fred that I would try to get back to the well field and it was only 9:30 But, you see, I had reckoned without the effects of Ouzo

Thanks for coming by!

Take a hick from the sticks, who has never seen anything like this, except in the movie "Zorba, the Greek", and add shots of Ouzo, and this IS fun!!!

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

Part 4

Part 5

Part 6

Part 7

Part 8

Part 9

Part 10

Part 11

Part 12

Part 13

Part 14

Part 15

Part 16

Part 17

Part 18

Part 19

Part 20

Part 21