Papa Petey's Pizza Place

“Yes, Mom. I’ll be there. I’m excited to see you, too! Yeah. Alright, Mom. I will. Love you, too. Goodbye.” Ari hung up the phone with a sigh. “Jon, we’re meeting my mother for dinner, alright? At the new pizza place in town.”

“Alright, honey,” Jon said, giving Ari a kiss on the forehead. “Have you told her yet?”

“Not yet,” Ari responded. “I can’t bring myself to do it.”

“You’ll have to at some point, dear.” Jon lectured. 

“I know, Jon. But not tonight. Let’s just enjoy ourselves tonight. Come on, I’ll drive.” The couple made their way to their red car. Ari popped the keys in the ignition and started up the car on the route to Papa Petey’s Pizza Place. Jon turned the music to show tunes, and they belted them out all the way there.

When they reached the pizzeria, Ari’s mother was already standing near the entrance, tapping her slender fingers rhythmically on her watch band. She noticed Ari and Jon coming out of the car and straightened up, and began to walk towards the edge of the sidewalk to meet them. 

“Hi, Mom,” Ari said, hugging her and accepting the kiss on her cheek graciously. Jon walked up and awkwardly hugged her, saying “Hello, Miss Demarco. It’s a pleasure.”

“Oh, no need to be so formal, my dear. Call me Kate.” Kate said with a wide smile. 

“Sorry. Hello, Kate. Shall we?” Jon said, blushing. He opened the door and let the ladies through. Kate and Ari thanked him gratefully. 

“Hello, and welcome to Papa Petey’s Pizza Place, where the pizza and service are simply perfect! How many for you today?” the hostess asked.

“Three. A booth please,” Kate answered briskly. “Laura.” She added, noticing the name tag pinned to her apron. 

“Alrighty then, right this way.” Laura said, guiding the group to their seats. “Here are your menus. Can I start you off with something to drink?”

“An iced tea, unsweetened please.” Jon said.

“A water, plenty of ice, with a lemon slice, please,” said Kate.

“A lemonade.” Ari ordered. Laura smiled and walked away.

“So, Ari, how have you been, my dear?” Kate asked.

“Well, thank you,” Ari muttered.

“You need to speak up, darling. Nobody can understand you when you mumble.” Kate said with a tinge of exasperation in her tone. 

“Well, thank you.” Ari said, more clarity in her voice.

“Wonderful. And you, Jon?”

“I have been doing well, too.” Jon responded. “Let’s decide what to eat now, hmm?”

“How about a salad for each of us and a pizza with…” Ari began.

“I know! Mushrooms and spinach!” Kate interrupted. Ari swallowed her comment, but Jon spoke up.

“How about plain cheese? Or everything, and we can pick off what we don’t want.”

“Plain cheese will do, then, I suppose.” Kate said, a bit exasperated. Laura came to the booth, placing the drinks down on the coasters. 

“Are you guys ready to order?” Laura asked, taking out her memo pad. When they nodded, she continued. “Great! What are we enjoying today? Can I recommend some Papa Petey’s Pizza Place pepper poppers?” 

“Three salads and a large cheese pizza, thin crust.” Ari said. “Thanks.” Laura headed back to the kitchen after jotting the order down in swirling cursive.

“So, Ari, we have everything set and ready for you to move back home.” Kate said. 

“That, uh, that isn’t going to be necessary Mom.” Ari said, her cheeks flushed bright pink. 

“Why not? Did you get an apartment near the shop?” Kate asked.

“Mom, um. I don’t know how to say this,” Ari began. “I want to go to college. And get a job.”

“What?” Kate asked. “I don’t understand?!”

“I don’t want to sell antiques in the shop,” Ari began. “I want to go to college and become a music teacher.”

“But everyone in our family has owned the pawn shop since it was founded all the way back in 1961!” Kate protested. “Five generations of Demarco’s have run it!”

“Why can’t Jeremy do it? He likes to go antiquing?” Ari said, thrusting her hands down on the table in frustration.

“He COULD, but you are the oldest! I want to retire soon!” Kate snapped. 

At that moment Laura was approaching the table. Quickly observing the scene, she put down the pizza and got the heck out of there.

“Goodbye then, Ari. You guys can pay. Sorry if the whole music teacher thing doesn’t work out-you could have had a well paying job at the store, but you don’t love your family.” And with that, Kate stormed out of the restaurant, but left her purse on the booth.

“That didn’t go the best way…” Jon began.

“Don’t even, Jon. It was a trainwreck, a complete and total trainwreck.” Ari complained, resting her head on his shoulder. “Look, she left her bag behind.”

“Why don’t you bring it to her?” Jon said. Ari reluctantly rose and grasped the chain on the handbag and slung it over her shoulder. 

Ari left the restaurant and saw her mother frantically checking her van for her purse. She walked up and tapped her shoulder, and when Kate saw her she began to weep. She grabbed her purse and tossed it in the back of the van. The women began to hug, sobbing. 

“I’m sorry, Mom. I can work in the antique store if you want…” 

“No, Ari, do what makes you happy. I was being a crabby old lady, and absolutely disrespectful to you and your wishes.” Kate apologized. 

“I love you, Mom,” Ari said.

“I love you too, Aro. So, so much.” Kate said. “Now, lets go finish that pizza.” Ari nodded eagerly. The mother and daughter went back into the restaurant hand in hand. However, when they reached the booth, the pizza was halfway finished.

“Jon!” Ari scolded.

“What?” Jon said. “You took too long-you girls and your family drama.” They all laughed and enjoyed what was left of the pizza together-and they split the bill.