Olives, kids and grandparents

Margery Trask had participated in many of the events at the Manor House over the years.  As Honey Wheeler's governess, she had chaperoned the daughter of the house as well as her friends and had planned many gatherings and entertainments.

Later, after the need for a governess had passed she served as estate manager and when needed served as a co-hostess for Madeleine Wheeler's many social obligations.

Now the elegant older woman reviewed Maddie Wheeler's preparations for the days event.  She stood at the head of the mahogany banquet table covered with a dark beige linen table cloth, patiently ticking off the arrangements to make sure that everything was in place.  There were the cloth napkins that matched the table cloth, the silverware gently smelling of recent polishing, and delicate gold rimmed china were all in place.
Beside the china sat two small (hopefully unbreakable) Corelle plates as well as miniature tableware and sippy cups.  These special items were for Nellie Bean Mangan and her cousin, young Master Joey Belden. Grandmere Wheeler took great pleasure in making certain that her foster grandchildren would feel comfortable and happy no matter how formal the occasion.

"There is no doubt that Honey Wheeler Belden is going to have to set some strong boundaries to keep her mother as well as her mother-in-law from spoiling the next grandchild," the former governess reflected with a smile.

The banquet next displayed an assortment of items all of which could easily be eaten with fingers whether large or small.  There were cubes of cantaloupe, strawberries, and seedless grapes and cherries. Next came small cubes of meats and cheeses.  There was a small empty space and then the display ended with an assortment of small cookies and cakes.

Crossing the room to join Maddie Wheeler the older woman nodded towards the banquet.  "The table looks lovely.  But I thought you were going to have a relish tray on the table."

Maddie answered.  "Of course, and it includes all the children's expected favorites."

Margery returned, "But the tray is missing and the rest of your guests will be arriving soon."

Maddie moved towards the table and pointed to the empty space.  "I put it there myself. The table is too high for the children to reach, so I am sure they are innocent.  I suppose I will need to channel Trixie to find the true culprit."

Gradually, the two women became aware of a clamor of giggles  coming from the terrace outside the dinning room.  With knowing looks they tiptoed to the nearby entrance.

There they saw Nellie Bean and Joey dancing around with their hands in the air.

"Puppets!" Chortled Nellie.
"Hurry, Grapa" added Joey.

Close at hand sat Matt Wheeler, his jacket and tie laying in a heap on the stone foundation.   He labored at sucking the red pimentos out of the green olives and then handed the empty olives to the children to stick on their fingers. The pimento bits were unceremoniously thrown out of sight over the hedge.

A small clearing of the throat caused Matt's eyes to meet the glittering gaze of his wife.

"Maddie" he harrumphed, "it is the privilege of a Grapa to teach his grandchildren the best ways to play with their food. And every child needs to know how to make olive puppets."

Antici..........................pation

Originally posted on Jix on 04/05/2014 in response to a challenge by Chey (a member of Jix.  Just realized it was never transferred to the blog.

I loved Rocky Horror Picture Show, a campy cult movie favorite from the 1970's.  Not making any profit from the use of this reference in this story.


Hey, what is this? Mart was looking at a paper bag on the table in the BWG clubhouse.

Dan took the bag and looked inside. He dumped the bag on the table.

“Rice. Newspaper. Water pistol. Glow-stick. Rubber gloves. Noise makers. Confetti.
Toilet paper. Toast? Party hats. Bell. And a deck of cards.

Condoms? What the heck is this stuff?”

Mart took a strange box down from the shelf and looked inside. “I have a sneaking idea, because here is a maids uniform and a gold sequined tuxedo. But neither of these would fit any of the girls. I don’t see any corsets, do you see any corsets or fishnet stockings?”

“What the heck are you talking about Mart? What are those for, and why would there be corsets or fishnet stockings?”

“You mean to tell me you really don’t know? You have never been to a midnight showing of Rocky Horror?”

Dan blushed. “No, I couldn’t ever see any point.”

“Oh there’s a point all right. But it can’t be explained. You have to be there. Get ready Dan. We are going to the midnight showing tonight in White Plains.”

“Mart, I know it is supposed to be a campy salute to the old horror movies of the 30’s, 40’s and 50’s. Do you mean you have seen it?”

“Yeah, I went a couple of times in college and once on a dare, I even dressed up as Brad.

“I don’t know. I have heard there is other weird stuff in that movie too. Not sure I want to get mixed up in that.”

“Don’t worry Dan. Rocky virgins aren’t supposed to know a darn thing. It is just like in sex, you can only have one first time. 

We need to make the most of it. I promise you don’t have to dress up, and neither will I. And you have to be stone cold sober to get the jokes and double entendres. We can’t swipe this prop bag, or whoever it belongs to will know they have been discovered. Besides, until you’ve seen it once, if you are trying to mess with the props, you miss most the jokes.

Later that night, Mart and Dan paid the price of admission and went in to the largest theater and found seats fairly close to the stage..

“Ok Dan, there are a few things I need to tell you. Those props we saw on the table? Let me tell you about them.
The rice will be thrown during the wedding scene at the beginning of the movie. Then people will start shooting water guns and other people will put newspapers over their heads just like the girl in the movie. The glow-sticks are popped when the song, “There’s a light” starts. Rubber gloves will be snapped during the creation speech and the noise- makers at the end of the speech. The rolls of toilet paper will be tossed when Dr. Scott enters the lab. You know, scott toilet paper...get it? Ok. Those are the biggest jokes, so just sit back and relax and enjoy.”

The opening credits started rolling and during the wedding and raining scene Dan decided that it was bearable.
He was surprised a few minutes later, when the live cast appeared, to hear Mart choking in horror. He looked to where Mart was pointing to the live Frankenfurter dressed in a garish corset and fishnet stockings dancing around on stage. Then he heard Mart gasp,

“That’s Bobby!”