Arhtur's Dad

Arthur’s Dad

One of the first couples to arrive at the men’s club is a handsome retired couple. Arthur Bennet surveys the room. He sees the long head table close to the dance floor. The flowers are lovely, the two round tables on each side have a smaller arrangement, mimicking the head table. He is glad this affair is semiformal. His left hand pocket has a short acceptance speech for being elected president of the club and in his right pocket one for his engagement and a ring box for the lady on his arm, Trisha Travis.

As he seats Trisha he notices that his daughter Christina has arrived with her husband and his ninety year old dad in tow. He kisses Trisha on the cheek and excuses himself to seat the new arrivals. She thinks that Arthur will be with her in a moment. She is surprised, when her cousin Louis and Lorilei come with their daughter and her husband, and are seated with her.

Arthur greets his father warmly with a kiss on both cheeks as well as his daughter and her husband and escorts them to the table on the other side of the head table. Before dinner is served Arthur goes from table to table with his wine glass to chat up his guests. He stops quite often to whisper sweet nothings in Trisha’s ear.

The last to be seated is his secretary Mable and her husband. They sit with Arthur’s family. Mable is the only one that for sure knows what Arthur is up too.

Everyone at Arthur’s three tables is having an enjoyable time. Robert, Trisha’s estate manager and a club member jests with Christina and her husband as well as greeting everyone at the three tables before dinner.

Dinner is well prepared and elegantly presented. The band plays pleasant dinner music. When dinner is over, it strikes up a drum roll and trumpet blast to get everyone’s attention. The outgoing president announces, “Mr. Arthur Bennet please come up and take the mic as our new President Elect.”

Arthur stands up. He knows he has had way too much to drink. When the mic is placed in his hand. He gives his acceptance speech. He ends with, “Thank you my fellow club members.” ... “As you all know, my late wife has been gone for a long time.” At this he chokes up at her memory and pulls himself together. I’ve met a wonderful lady Trisha..." He starts to see black spots. His father understands what is going to happen, spryly catches him, and eases him down to the floor.

The elderly senior Bennet has retrieved the mic. “Please excuse the old man” He waves to Arthur on the floor now showing signs of reviving. “Emotion takes him down every time. He doesn’t eat when he get excited. On pourrait penser qu'il apprendrait.”

By now Trisha, Mable, Christina, Robert, a waiter, a Doctor, and the Marte’ de have all rushed to Arthur as he tries to sit up. The Doctor orders everyone to stand back.

The microphone in the elder Bennet’s hand comes to life. “Mable, I didn’t know you cared. Are you the one he is going to declare his undying love? Do you have the divorce papers? No, That is too bad.”

Mable glares at the old man and under her breath, “Arthur warned me about you.” She yells to her husband. “Dear darling don’t believe him.” Her husband picks up several papers from the table and waves them at her. “I won’t give you a divorce!” She looks at him and they start to laugh. She rushes to him, and they embrace, and kiss still laughing.

The elder Bennet goes from table to table talking to the club members and their wives like he is a stand-up comedian. Getting laughs at each table from most in the room.

When he gets to Christina and Robert, he lovingly states. “These young people, are precious to me.” He glances over and sees Arthur is glaring at him, “These two people get my greatest respect. They have gone back to the land to make their fortune. It may not be as large as some, but it will give them rewards that money can’t buy. Thank you, granddaughter, for marrying a vintner. My hats off to Robert the Earl of Carswell for following his heart and becoming a highly educated farmer, may you both prosper.” This is a direct stab at Arthur being a lawyer.

“Now I think I need to get back to the old man who has gotten to his feet with his doctors help. Where do you think you are going young lady.” He reaches for Trisha as she tries to go to Arthur. “Young lady, would you get that box on the floor.” Trisha sees it and picks it up. The senior Bennet extends his hand to receive it. Arthur is distracted by the doctor asking him questions.

The senior Bennet opens it to get a look... “Wow.”

Arthur pats his pockets and finds the box is gone.

“My dear darling Trisha would you be willing to receive this box and its contents...”

Arthur quickly has clamped a hand on his dads shoulder. “Donne-moi cette boîte ou je te ferai arrêter pour grand vol.”

“Mon fils, je suis content que tu te sentes mieux.” He hands the box to his son. He then holds the microphone for his son to speak. “Dis quelque chose.”

In perfect American English Arthur blurts out his dead mothers native tongue. “Trisha, will you marry me.” He hands her the box but forgets to get the mic. She opens it and gasps. “It is so big and brilliant.” She throws her arms around his neck. Again, Arthur says, “Will you marry me my sweet.” She kisses his neck, “Of course.” He looks at her, “A yes will do.” She breathes in his ear, “yes” She kisses his neck again. He whispers, “Don’t leave a hickey.”

She giggles. This is all caught on the mic that the senior Bennet has pushed in close to get the slightest murmur. Arthur glares at his dad. “Give that thing to the conductor.” The club patrons laugh and start to rhythmically pound the tables with their spoons and chant “Kiss her, Kiss her.” Arthur does and the band strikes up a dance tune “Misty.” He takes her hand. “Can I put it on your finger.”

“Of course,” She holds her hand out and he slips the box out of his pocket and the ring on her finger. He pulls her close and dances with her like they were love struck teenagers at a prom. Some say she was probably holding him up.

When they sit back down, the Senior Bennet is not there. “Where did your father go?” Arthur shrugs and takes a piece of paper out of the table marker. Caught cab home. Need sleep for early rise, J P Bennet. “He’s gone home.” Trisha nods, “I gave him a key to the front door.”

“Why the front door?”

“Christina has the full set.”

Arthur shrugs and pulls out of his pocket a piece of paper and shares it with Trisha. “It is the speech I was going to give before I would have called you up to give you the ring. Trisha read it. “That is so beautiful. Can we have a glass of your fathers wine to celebrate?” Arthur eases the cork out and pours them each a glass. He looks over at his friend Walter would you like to celebrate with us? Walter and his lady move over to drink a toast. A parade of people come around to the engaged couples table and congratulate them. Trisha finally loses track of who is who. They dance several more times.

Arthur looks at Trisha, “How would you like to beat the crowd home.” As he caresses her shoulder.

“Your father is there.”

He laughs, “The house is big, and our door has a lock. Oh!”

“What?”

“The Maître’ de has my keys.”

“Why?”

“Doctors orders.”

The well turned out mature engaged couple shock the cabbie by necking the whole way home.