When Sinitra hit the FM with a static-filled rendition of When You're Smiling, Merlin dropped his dishtowel on the drying rack, ran over to where Hunith was sorting through piles of bills at the kitchen table, and pulled her to her feet.
"When you're laughing, when you're laughing!" Merlin falsettoed as he sent Hunith into a twirl. Neither of them had a single dancing bone in their bodies, but over the years they had pieced together a step sequence that could smoothe Hunith's deepening worry lines.
"I'm going to have to find another strapping young man to take me dancing."
"No fair, Mom! You can't replace me! Besides, you'll be coming out, won't you?"
"As if anything could keep me away." Hunith hid her face in Merlin's shoulder. "My baby's all grown up and going on national television."
"Mom!" Merlin whined. "Don't cry! You can't! Frank says you can't."
"I'm proud of you, Merls. You'll find your way in the world and not need your old lady any more."
"Rubbish," Merlin said heatedly. "You're my queen, and I can't have you talking about my queen that way!" He attempted a dip and almost dropped Hunith on the floor. Hunith caught herself on the counter and pulled herself up to drop a kiss on Merlin's cheek.
"We should do something special before you go."
"Special as in trim-the-bushes special?" asked Merlin fearfully, and Hunith laughed.
"What do the kids do nowadays for fun?"
"I'm just a momma's boy. How would I know?"
Cause when you're smiling, the radio sang as Hunith held on as tight as she can to Merlin, the whole world smiles with you.
"It'll be okay," Merlin said. The Charm slipped unbidden into his voice. "I'll come visit a lot."
"Do no such thing," Hunith scolded. She grabbed the abandoned dishtowel, swatted Merlin across the bum, and handed it back to him. "You've got a fine opportunity, and you're going to focus on it. That means no Charming. You've got to get into the habit of concealing it."
"I can!" Merlin insisted.