Page 16 - Qavah

Artist : Victoria Simykana

At the Dinner table

The table was set. It was the first time the children of the family had their Take chances, make mistakes, throw it all in for a spin, that's how you grow
own Thanksgiving dinner. As soon as everybody was seated, Daniel got up Rachel, that’s how you grow! added an excited and proud Maria. The table
from his seat and addressed the family, “Given that our generation has broke down hysterically. Amidst the roar of laughter, Annie continued, “We
thought about making Thanksgiving special, why not add something of got some delicious meals delivered to us, almost every day thanks to Sarah,
ours?" Everyone clapped and shook their heads. They figured Daniel would thank…hey don’t cry '' Sarah was already up and hugging Annie, crying her
bring some silly games to the party. eyes out. All her brothers mocked, “Oh SARAHHHHHH, not again!”

“So, guys, every year one of us will host a Thanksgiving dinner for the rest of “David, our darling brother has been….” David walked up to Adam’s seat,
the cousins in their houses and during the dinner, the host will give a toast for making a failed attempt at juggling a couple of oranges he’d picked up from
something that they are grateful for and thank each one of us….kidding, just the vase nearby. He picks up Annie’s glass clinking it with a soup spoon in an
the grateful part! Since the eldest of the clan, Adam and Annie are our hosts attempt to draw all the attention “Adam and Annie are two of the most
for the first “Young-Gen” Thanksgiving dinner…” he held the cup and deserving people to live and have a life in this world. They are the good ones.
pointed at the lovely couple perched on the front end of the table, “one of They are what the world needs, the family needs and what I need.” David
you will sum up all that I said and (pausing) please….flatter us!” winked tugged his brother while gently tapping on Annie’s hands reassuring her of
Daniel at the hosts as everyone applauded.” every word he said.

Hesitantly, Annie got up and took a glance at her husband, she looked at his Annie sat there fumbling, weak and overwhelmed by all the love and care “I
eyes….exhausted eyes, and in came everything that they had been through think Annie won’t be able to continue,” said Adam as he stood, resting his left
in the past eleven months- the chemo, the sleepless nights, the waiting, the for support, on David’s shoulder. "Annie and I have had to face a lot of
uncertainty. challenges in our journey, it was nothing short of a nightmare, including
chemo, check-ups and the pain of the aftermath. But those weren’t the
She took a deep breath and began, “This year has been nothing less than an worst of all, rather we found hope in our fear, strength to survive, a blessing
adventure. I….We are grateful that we were not alone in this and had each that was made possible through your presence. When I was ready to give up,
one of you by our side.” The table was silent, Adam looked away trying to Daniel, Elena, Hannah and Jerry would take turns, just to make sure I don’t
control the waterworks “We are thankful... to you, Simon and Rachel, the call quits they would show up unannounced with random games and books I
youngest of the clan, for capturing every moment, each day of our lives as haven’t touched in years, they’d give their best to fight for me, leaving me a
we counted and lived ‘One day at a time.’ We're thankful for Maria, the will to seek another door in my life.
queen of positivity, ” the whole table applauded and roared as Maria stood
up taking a clumsy yet elegant twirl, “she collected all our dirty clothes every We are thankful for Nancy because after college she would babysit for us,
day…” Adam interrupted “And you did a good job! surprising for someone skipping events and book fairs she could have attended, you sure are the
who forgot to separate her reds and whites, just a few months ago.” Rachel dearest to our children. Adam smiled and paused, gently caressing Annie's
sure met her epiphanic moment and exclaimed “Oh that’s how the curtains palms and holding it tight, his voice broke as he continued “when the doctors
turned pink, I thought it was all Ikea, I kept looking for it and never found the told Annie ’Pray for Hope’, I thought it’s just another wait for a miracle, but
right shade". what I didn’t realize was Hope for the future are not signals, they are the