Mom's Tea Party

Stifling a yawn, Thea placed Little Women face down and glanced at the clock. Two-thirty. Only. When would the day ever end? Saturdays were fun in general, but this one day was unendurable for some reason. She didn’t exactly know why, but plain languid and restless suited her mood exactly.

Thea sighed. “Doesn’t the heat bother you, Regine?”

Regine looked up. “No,” she replied, vigorously brushing her doll’s hair. “I didn’t notice it. Wanna play?”

“No, it’s all right.” Thea walked over to the kitchen. Klink, klink, klink. Thea poured lemon iced tea into a jug and sent the ice cubes swirling. “Tea, girls.” She carried Mom’s glass to her.

“Why, thank you, Thea!” Mom gratefully reached out for the proffered drink. “This sure is refreshing. How’s your afternoon going?”

“Boring.”

Mom raised an eyebrow. “Oh, really. How come? Besides, you know bored people don’t exist in this household.”

“I wish Dad were here. Weekends are more fun with him around.”

Mom smiled sympathetically. “Yeah, I miss him too. Don’t worry, the pastors’ conference is only a couple days, you know. He’ll be back by tonight.”

“I know; but it’s like, with Dad gone, plus this awful heat, the day’s not going right. And I don’t feel like reading anymore.”

Mom pinched Thea’s cheek. “You funny girl! Sounding like you’re already sixteen; finding so much to complain about. Not that it’s a good attitude; but enjoy being thirteen for a bit longer, and play with your sisters, eh?”

Thea couldn’t help laughing; Mom had always poked good fun at her grownup ways. Mom spiced up life. Always had.

Mom snapped her fingers. “Tell you what. Let’s have a little tea party, us four.” She pulled herself up with some difficulty. “Us five, I should say. Um, let’s see….” She threw open a kitchen cabinet. “Hmmm…ah, let’s lay out this pretty yellow tablecloth. It’s linen, too, so that’ll be elegant.

“Now, what shall we have?” Mom wondered aloud. “How about a yellow tea party? You know, to spruce up our mood. Yellow’s like sunshine, so let’s see what yellow food we have. Mightn’t exactly be a healthy option, but it’ll be fun anyway.”

Mom’s pantry produced a much finer meal than expected. Regina and Lenore soon stopped their play, in their wonder what the clattering in the kitchen was all about. After thirty minutes, they all stepped back to admire the table. The main meal consisted of curried rice, with a sunny side-up beside each scoop, served up on yellow plastic plates (the girls had wanted to use the white porcelain plates, but Mom mischievously insisted in using the yellow plastic ones). These were accompanied with matching yellow plastic spoons and forks (“Just imagine they’re sparkling silverware,” Mom had teased). One thing Thea had persuaded Mom on was that the fresh mango shakes were served in glasses; so in glasses they stood, just beside each plate. In the center of the table, Mom had arranged a large yellow platter of bananas, sliced pineapple, quartered New Zealand kiwi, and cheeks of ripe mango. These all complemented very nicely with the yellow linen tablecloth and sunflower placemats.


“Look, Thea!” giggling, Lenny pointed to the fruit platter. Thea laughed. Mom had just had to add those yellow capsicums! By now, Thea had even forgotten that the word “bored” ever existed.

Regine sat down with a sigh of contentment, plopping her elbows on the table. Lenny wriggled in excitement. Being the oldest, of course Thea merely folded her hands in her lap; but secretly she wouldn’t have minded giving a little squeal of delight herself.

“Where’s Mom? I’m getting hungry!” Lenny eyed her plate wistfully.

“Ta-da!”

Thea twirled around in her seat. Lenny bounced up and down in six-year-old glee, and Regine clapped her hand over her mouth. Despite this, the giggle escaped her.

There in the archway Mom stood, grinning with girlish pleasure. Her yellow Sunday dress fell in soft, sunny folds about her and her large tummy, and fluffy yellow slippers peeped out from underneath. Mom’s chestnut hair was daintily tied with a silky yellow ribbon, which Thea thought was pretty. But what completed the outfit was something that was typical Mom. Her dangly, yellow capiz shell earrings that were shaped like little T-shirts!

Thea couldn’t believe Mom had taken her tea party that far. But then, that was just like Mom: she spiced up life. Always had.