Chapter 3

Lunch

Anna had met Oaken at a dinner, just down the street from the apartments, called "Fred and Ethel's". No doubt named after Fred and Ethel Merts, from the old tv show "I love Lucy". Oaken had fallen in love with American tv when he moved to the states. He had written in a letter to Anna that, in his first apartment, his tv got only a few channels, "tv land" being one of them. He fell in love with the old American shows like "M.A.S.H." and "leave it to beaver", but above all "I love Lucy" was his favorite.

So of course he would chose this dinner as one of his favorite spots to come for lunch.

Anna laughed to herself as she walked inside the glass doors.

The inside of the dinner was like a time machine. Black and white checkered tile floor, stainless steel countertops, neon signs all around. Pictures hung on the walls of famous stars like John Wayne, little Richard, frank sinatra, Steve McQueen, and countless others.

"Yoo-hoo, over here!"

Anna looked over to the source of the voice to see her uncle sitting in a booth. He large body seems squeezed into the booth, but he didn't seem uncomfortable. As Anna walked closer, she could see why he chose that booth instead of a table, which would've been more accommodating to his large stature. Above the able, hung pictures of Lucile Ball and Dezi Arnez (Lucy and Ricky), and both pictures were signed by the actors. Anna couldn't help but giggle at her uncle, who often seemed like an oversized child.

"I see why you chose this place Uncle Oakie, it looks very nice" Anna said through her smile.

"Ja, it looks very much like the American shows your father and I watched when we were growing up. There is no place like this is Norway, I just love it here."

"Well if you love it here, then so will I" said Anna. "Now since you've been here so much, what should I..."

Anna paused as she looked down at the menu, and saw a picture that looked a lot lol her uncle, next to a picture of a huge sandwich.

"The Oaken" she mouthed the words as she read them.

It was her uncle! His picture was on the menu!

"Uncle Oaken, your picture is on this menu?!" Anna asked, perhaps a bit to loudly.

"Oh, Ja, you see" Oaken said, smiling wide enough for his beard to reveal his large toothy grin, " when I first came her, I ordered a sandwich, but once I finished I was still hungry, so I ordered another, and another, and another. After my fourth sandwich, the waiter lady told me 'for someone with your appetite, you deserve you own sandwich' "

"And honey we still think you do" said a voice from beside Anna, startling her.

"Sorry sweetie, didn't mean to give ya a scare" said the slim, pretty woman.

"Now Oak, ya gonna introduce me to your little friend here?"

"Oh ja" Oaken said apologetically, "Dis is my little niece, Anna."

"Name's Sandy." Said the waitress, as she held out her hand to Anna, who shook it.

"I was Oakie's waiter his first day here, and after he ordered so much food, the chef and I thought 'Hell this boy deserves his own sandwich'. So that's what we did for him, isn't that right Oak?"

"Oh yes Miss Sandy, you and da chef were very nice to make me my own sandwich." Oaken said with a grin

"Well the sandwich got noticed by a lot of people, and it sort of became a local food challenge. Not many people can take down a 5 pound meaty sandwich like Oaken her can." She said as she rested her hand on his large shoulder.

"5 pounds?!" Anna exclamed. "That's a big ass sandwich!"

"Sure is little lady" Sandy said with a smile. "Oaks here is the only one to have finished the whole dad-gum. And to him it's just another lunch," she chuckled, "so we never charge him full price, thanks to the business he brings in. He brings in the customers, so we're happy to feed him."

"And I thank you Sandy, your sandwich is most delicious."

"You're most welcome hun." Said sandy as she patted his shoulder.

"Now Anna, I know what our big friend here will have, but have you decided?"

"Ummm..." Anna said as she took another look at the menu. "I think I'll have... the BLT, extra bacon, aaaand... a large chocolate shake, please."

"No problem sugar" sandy said as she collected the menus from them. "Chef will have the food out in a few minutes, maybe longer for big boy's sandwich" she chuckled and gave a wink to Oaken, who couldn't help but chuckle.

After a short while, sandy had brought their food to the table. And sure enough, Oaken's sandwich was a sight to behold. 'Even Superman's would have trouble downing that behemoth' Anna thought. But to her amazement, her uncle wrapped his huge hands around both sides of the sandwich, and brought it up to his mouth. His jaw seemed to unclench like a snake, as he took a monstrous bite. Anna just sat in amazement, marveling in how her uncle didn't eat this dinner out of all their food. She chuckled to herself.

He ate her food at the same pace as her uncle, although he clearly had at least 10 times as much food as her. But she didn't mind, she was used to his large appetite around a table. Christmas dinner was always interesting around her families table, as Norwegians are known for their large appetites. There were never any leftovers at any of her family meals.

Soon, after both their sandwiches were done, the both sat back, satisfied with their meals. The couldn't help but just smile at each other, enjoying eachother's company.

"Another chocolate shake for you honey, my treat." Said sandy as she placed another large chocolatey drink in front of Anna.

"Oh, thank you so much Sandy. You've got a big tip coming your way." Anna's smiled as sandy took away the old empty glass from her previous shake.

"Shucks honey, 'taint nothing. Family of Oak's is a friend of mine" sandy said with a wink as she returned to the kitchen.

Anna leaned forward to take a sip of her shake, when a question popped into her head. A question she had thought of whilst eating but hadn't wanted to disturb her uncle with. But now seemed as good a time as any.

"Uncle Oaken," Anna said, quite reluctantly, "When you discovered you were...not like the other boys, well... what was it like?"

Oaken looked down to her, seemingly puzzled by the question.

"What do you mean little one?" He asked

"Well, earlier today, I saw a girl. She rode a motorcycle, and she dressed sort of like a man..."

"Oh, do you mean Miss Elsa, at the apartments" said Oaken.

"Oh, um...yes. How did you know?" Anna asked, surprised he knew instantly who she spoke of.

Oaken chuckled "I know all of my tenants, it is my job to keep them happy. I find that is easiest when I know their names."

"Elsa is a very nice girl. Very..how to Americans say...her edges are rough?"

Anna let out a small giggle. "No uncle, it is 'rough around the edges' " she let out another small giggle afterwards, as did Oaken.

"Well, I saw her today, and I talked to her. And when I was talking to her, I felt...I don't know how to explain. I felt warm, I guess. Like shivers ran down my spine, but I still felt warm. Is that normal?"

Oaken's face had become more serious now. He was still smiling, but his voice had a seriousness that Anna haven't heard before.

"My little Anna, do you think you had a feeling for this Elsa?"

"I don't know uncle," Anna blushed and looked down at her lap. "I just... ive never felt the way I did talking to her. Not even to any boys that I've talked to. I never had a boyfriend in high school. I just never felt attracted to them. But talking to her, I just was so nervous I could hardly speak!"

Oaken leaned forward, his smile widening, as he put is hand on top of hers. His palm alone covered her whole hand and wrist.

"My Anna, when I discovered I was...different, it was a very confusing time for me. What all others had told me was wrong, I believed in my heart to be right. I was unsure, until I first kissed another boy. I was your age, 18 years old, when I did. It was then that I knew."

"That you were gay" Anna finished for him.

He leaned back and smiled down to her.

"When I moved to America, I was so happy that I was viewed as normal. Not just for my large size, but for my preferences." He took in a deep breath, and exhaled long a smoothly. "If you feel as you may have feeling towards this Elsa, then you should pursue them. Do not resist your feelings because you don't 'think' they're 'normal'. Just be happy."

Anna sat in silence for a few moments. Then she placed her hand on top of her uncles, her hand barly covering his knuckles.

"Thank you uncle Oakie, it means a lot that you can help me out like this."

"You're most welcome my little Anna." He said, eyes beaming with glee. "Now where is Sandy, I should like to pay for our lunch."

"No" Anna stopped him, "you've furnished my apartment, paid for my dinner last night, and you've given me food advice to think about. Allow me to pay for your lunch."

Her uncles smile only widened, now stretching from ear to ear.

"My, what I wonderful young lady my princess has turned out to be."

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