Chapter 81: Chapter 81
INTENSE DISCUSSION
"Hand me the carrot, open the freezer and get the chopped chicken", Mrs Parker said to Janelle.
"Mum, I can handle this myself, just leave that to me and face the cucumber, I will cut the carrot", Janelle whined.
"That's what you always say and finally end up cutting your hands, I don't want that, do the little you can", Mrs Parker said.
Janelle continued with chopping the cucumber, they wanted to make vegetable salad for the after Thanksgiving refreshments, and both family and friends were invited.
"So... the chefs, what are they making?", Janelle asked.
"They would make Taramasalata, I think so, that's what you father requested them to make", Mrs Parker replied.
"Ta-tara...", Janelle was finding it hard pronouncing the word.
"Taramasalata Janelle, it's Ta-ra-ma-sa-la-ta, just know all the beginning letters ends with an 'A' at the back of them", Mrs Parker hinted.
"But.... Mum, I haven't heard of such good before, it's a weird name, I hope it won't have a weird taste and it would be something I would love to eat", Janelle groaned.
"It's a very delicious food, it's a Greece food actually, I first had a taste of it when I went for a date with your father.
That was the first time he took me out on a date, and he had said we tried something different from the random food we eat in Jamaica.
We had a taste of it and since then whenever we go to the restaurant, the only word that leaves my mouth is Taramasalata, before I could even complete it, he had said it all.
You're sure going to enjoy it", Mrs Parker recounted.
"I just hope so Mum, isn't Diaz Parker back from God knows where he went to?", Janelle questioned.
"Not God knows where, he went to an excursion, didn't I tell you the last time we talked on phone before you came here?.
I told you they went for an excursion, and he won't be back until Saturday evening or Sunday morning, I'm not that sure.
I hope this isn't how you forget lessons that has been taught to you by your lecturers?", Mrs Parker complained.
"Haha, no mum, I don't forget it, it's just that lately a lot has been on my mind", Janelle sighed.
"Is there any problem?", Mrs Parker asked, as she strolled to the sink to wash her hands.
She went to the counter, picked up a piece of cloth and dried her hands, "You can talk to me, you know!!", Mrs Parker emphasized.
"It's not like it's something serious though, it's just about my forthcoming examinations", Janelle mumbled.
"And what's about it?", Mrs Parker asked, her brows furrowed in worry.
"I'm just so anxious about it, I have this feeling of uncertainty, like school, everything keeps bothering me", Janelle sighed.
"Janelle!!!, this is just your first year and everything is suddenly bothering you..., please take a deep breathe, try to focus more on your studies, please.... that's all what I ask of you...", Mrs Parker advised.
"Yes mum, I will do that... I am fully prepared, but you know how it usually is for me when I am about to write my papers, suddenly I begin having exam fever", Janelle related.
"I know that's why i said you should try to calm down, so that.. it won't bother you so much... and I do hope you say your prayers, most especially your rosary?", Mrs Parker asked as she raised a brow.
"Of course mum, I do so every night", Janelle replied.
"So what of Steff, won't she be coming for the Thanksgiving?", Mrs Parker asked.
"Of course, if no one else comes, eventually Steff has to come... just that she has been quite busy, but she promised me she would be coming today, probably later in the evening", Janelle shrugged.
"Alright....", Mrs Parker drawled.
"So we were talking about the Taramasalata, mum do you know how to cook it?, because I would love to learn it... how is it done?", Janelle asked.
"E-er-er-eeerm, I really don't know much about it, but from my little knowledge and from the internet, it's a mainstay of any gree meal, it has classic dips such as Tzatziki, which is a combination of yoghurt, cucumber and garlic, while aubergine and creamy split pea puree is added to the Tzatziki, which becomes Taramasalata", Mrs Parker explained, as she went back to cutting the carrot.
"I know you don't understand, the words are too big to understand, all those are meals of people, you don't expect yourself to understand it, apart from the cucumber, garlic and yoghurt, yes and the creamy split pea puree", Mrs Parker laughed.
"Also in the menu, there would be grilled meat, grilled skewers, lap and vegetable", Mrs Parker informed.
"No icecream, no pizza, no hotdog, no shawarma, no cake pies, mum!!!!..... the visitors are they vegetarians, because I don't understand all this vegetables you are talking about", Janelle yelled.
"You can make all those yourself, there would be grilled meat Janelle!!", Mrs Parker concluded.
"Ohhhhh fuck!!!", Janelle snapped.
"You say??", Mrs Parker asked.
"Nothing mum, I was only saying that we have to use fork to eat the meat, so that means I need to wash the forks... nothing else", Janelle said.
Mrs Parker looked at her, before going back to cutting the carrot.
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"You have been smiling all through, while I am sweating, you are dancing, singing and smiling, like though you aren't tired of everything", Mrs Parker said.
"Tired??, why will I be tired when...", Janelle was about to complete her statement when Steff trudged in and kept her shut.
"When she's in love", Steff barged in as she strode happily to Mrs Parker and hugged her from the back.
"Hey, who do we have here, I was thinking you would not come, I would have changed it for you", Mrs Parker snapped.
Steff began laughing, "Really!!, I would have stayed back to have a taste of your wrath though, so that whenever Janelle is complaining i would know that yes she's really saying the truth or not", Steff chirped.
"Baby girl!!, heard you were so busy that's why you could not come on time", Mrs Parker said.
"Ohhh, Janelle is already taking excuse for me?, we had lessons but Janelle could not stay back, she said she can't leave you to prepare for the Thanksgiving alone, so she left school earlier", Steff informed.
Janelle glared at her for telling her mother.
"Janelle is that true, wait... that was why you were worried in the morning right?", Mrs Parker asked.
Janelle nodded her head, "you would have told me on time, education is more important than any other thing", Mrs Parker sighed.
"It's not like I ain't being appreciative, but you ought to know and do the right things at the right time", Mrs Parker advised.
"Do not worry mum, I will still make it up, when u go back someone would teach me and I would revise everything we have done for the semester", Janelle conceded.
"Alright", Mrs Parker chirped in happily, she was happy that Janelle had to give up her lessons just to help her at home, although it bothered her, but it made her realize how selfless Janelle is.
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"So while coming in, you said something about love, who's in love?", Mrs Parker asked Steff.
"She did not inform you?", Steff asked, now she realized she made a mistake of telling her mum, she thought that Janelle would have told her mum before she spoke out.
"Mum I have a boyfriend", Janelle blurted.
"Whoaaa, why have you been keeping it away from me since?", Mrs Parker asked.
She wasn't mad at her, but she was a bit perplexed over why Janelle hadn't told her all the while, and her bestfriend, Steff, had told her instead.
"Nothing mum, I am so sorry, I didn't think you would want to hear it", Janelle simpered.
"Don't say that Jane... whosoever it is, I am okay with that, as long as he won't hurt you, I am very much okay with that.
it's your choice, afterall your grandma, my mum, never chose your dad for me, I just hope you would be okay with him, and I hope you made a very wide choice, How many times do I have to tell you that I Love You, and I respect your decisions.
I believe you have come off age, and anything you do is choice, I can only be there to guide and put you through, so you won't make a very bad decision, while would drastically change your life for bad...
I hope we are clear with that?", Mrs Parker advised.
"Yes mum, I Love you More", Janelle replied.
Mrs Parker would have argued about who loves each other more, but there was no time for it.
"Come give me a hug", Mrs Parker requested, Janelle walked up to her and engaged her in a very tight embrace.
They finally separated after Janelle had complained that she was choking her.
"So.... I guess he's a Christian right?", Mrs Parker asked.
Janelle began coughing, Steff realized what happened and rushed to the fridge to get a bottle of water and a glass cup.
"Hey sorry, hand me the bottle of water", Mrs Parker groaned.
Janelle gulped it down immediately, "Hope you are okay now?", Mrs Parker asked.
"Yeah I am", Janelle replied.
"I am sure he would be coming right?, please invite him, I would love to see him", Mrs Parker suggested.
"Alright mum, will definitely do so", Janelle replied as her heart began hammering in her chest, from her mother's question.