George tries to talk to his family

“As a father,” began George rubbing his eyes to emphasise what he was about to say, “as a father, I have to tell you that I have watched the three of your grow up before my eyes and I have to tell you,” he hesitated for a second before continuing, “I’m sure your mother will agree with me,” Sybil smiled her ascent, “that we are so pleased that the three of you are growing up to be such wonderful chicks.”

“Well dad,” replied Rosa sitting uncomfortably on the new couch which was a present from Sybil’s parents when they moved into the new much larger nest. “Well dad,” continued Rosa, “we should thank you.”

George smiled. “That’s so nice of you Rosa. So aren’t you glad the three of you listened to me and of course to your mother as well,” he added smiling at Sybil who had in the meantime got up from the companion chair to the very uncomfortable couch and walked over to her grandmother’s rocking chair and sat down.

“Yes daddy,” replied Rosa, “but we only listen to you when you make sense.”

George coughed, Sybil giggled and Brenda kept sleeping in her own room after wearing herself out playing with a cricket who had decided to befriend her. The cricket had jumped up into her cot and laid down on her pillow much to the horror of Sybil, who wanted to swat it away, but Brenda objected vehemently.

It was a rather warm June Sunday afternoon, and the family had decided to take it easy as it was the first really warm day of summer. So, instead of running around on the beach chasing waves, George thought it would be a good idea to have a chat with his children.

Earlier in the day, after another wonderful breakfast made by Julia, who was constantly being interrupted by Sybil who thought it was time for her to be a real Jewish mother and to learn how to cook without burning water, especially now that George had invited a couple to dinner. Sybil certainly didn’t want Julia to be heralded as the real cook of the family, George made an announcement as soon as he had poured his third mug of coffee, over Sybil’s objections.

“I think it would be a great idea,” he began stopping to look around the entire table that included Brenda who insisted on sitting next to Rosa and sucking loudly and burping while drink juice out of her bottle. She burped because she knew it upset Sybil, though the rest giggled. “I think it would be a great idea if we all got together later and talked some family talk.”

No one was really in the mood for one of George’s lectures and made their thoughts known. However, George was determined to have his way. So, after everyone had cleaned up, Sybil took Brenda to her room and told her to stay there and to play with her toys, she left to help straighten up the dining room before returning and putting Brenda to bed with her friend the cricket who had hopped onto her pillow. She then blew Brenda a kiss and closed the door behind her. Sybil sat down next to Timmy on the edge of the couch. Julia and Rosa sat next to Timmy as they listened to their father.

“What do you mean, you only listen to us when we make sense?”

“No daddy,” Rosa felt she needed to clarify her reply. “No, we only listen to you when you make sense.” She laid the emphasis on the word you.

“What about your mother?” asked George a little perturbed by what Rosa had said.

“Oh no daddy, we never listen to mummy.”

Sybil sat up straight and George who then understood that what Rosa had said was actually a compliment smiled and replied, “I see.”

Sybil, who was now sitting comfortably in her grandmother’s rocking chair leaned forward and rolled her eyes. “What do you mean by that little one, oh sorry, young lady?”

“Well,” began Rosa ready to tell her mother that she didn’t discipline her chicks and always deferred to their father, when Julia stepped in.

“Well mummy,” she said in her strong southern drawl which immediately made everyone cringe, “well mummy you never really make any sense. For instance, you came into the kitchen yesterday and asked to make souffle, because you saw that Peppin guy make it. You can’t even spell souffle….”

“Yes, mummy,” interrupted Timmy and immediately Sybil began to regret being there. “You come into my room and say hi and then I never see you again until dinner time. You never sit with me and listen to what sort of day I had at school.”

“Or with me,” added Julia and Rosa said the same thing.

George felt his wife was under attack and knew he needed to jump in. “Wait a minute guys,” he put his wings up to stop everyone from talking over each other. “I asked to sit down with you to tell you how proud I am and so is your mother, that the three of you are growing up to be such wonderful birds. Soon, Timmy and then Julia and…” George felt his eyes begin to water up again, “and then of course little Rosa will be grow up and will fly off into the great blue yonder, and that will just leave your mother and me.”

“And Brenda,” added Rosa, “she won’t be grown up for a very long time. But daddy, we owe it to you,” and then Rosa stopped for a second and looked at Sybil who by now had sunk even deeper into the solid wood rocking chair, “and mummy for all you have done for us. We would still be living in New Jersey if you hadn’t flown us down here.”

“Actually that was your mother’s idea. She wanted to get away from the Short Hills crowd.” Rosa was perplexed, “I thought it was your idea daddy because mummy was trying to hook up with a muscular gym loving vulture, or that’s at least what we were told by Uncle Jeremy.”

“No, he is wrong. Your mother wanted to come down here because its warmer down here.” The three children smiled at each other.

“Mama!” shouted Brenda and Sybil jumped up and ran into her room. A moment later she shouted for her husband. George, believing something bad had happened, ran to the aid of his wife. He came back a few seconds later laughing. “It looks like Brenda has new friends,” and no sooner had he said that, that Sybil walked back into the living room followed by Brenda who was followed by a troop of crickets. Everyone burst out laughing.