So sorry it's taken so long to update. This week has been a mess and I'm not feeling so well. But, no worries, the story will go on. On to the chapter!
Chapter 37: Feasting
Later on into the day, the feasting began. Everyone had helped in setting the table in the HQ, and preparing the various goods from Atlantis in appealing ways. Jack and the Atlantean women had left to join the festivities in their own city.
Mort, Maurice, and the rest of Julien's family had come to the HQ. Mauve, not surprisingly, looked completely unimpressed. Jazlene was very excited and gave each of the penguins a hug before circling the table numerous times to examine all of the excellent food they had.
Johan cupped his flippers over his beak. "Everyone! Go ahead and take a seat! We're going to start now."
Everyone crowded the table, making sure they were sitting next to their favorite. Julien sat at the end of the table, and Skipper sat at the opposite end. In a way, Skipper was in charge of all the penguins there, and Julien was in charge of the lemurs, so this seemed fitting. Isobel sat to Julien's right, and Jazlene to his left. Skipper's father sat to his right, and Kowalski's dad sat to his left. And from there, everyone else fell into place.
They all looked down at their empty plates, eager to fill them up.
Isobel looked around, happy to see Jazlene's and Private's big smiles. They were the most innocent out of the groups, and it made her smile to see them content. She then began eyeing the food, her heart swelling with nostalgia as she saw the Atlantean delicacies that flooded the table: Seven Treasures seafood dish from Canton; skewered, spicy shrimps; exotic fruits like kiwis, pomegranates, and dragonfruit; beds of fragrant jasmine rice; mounds of betel nuts for digestion; and so much more.
"This is making me homesick, your Majesty." Maurice whispered across the table to his king.
Julien nodded. "Yes, Maurice. But do not be sad! We have a home right here for now."
He smiled at his siblings, so glad that they could be here.
Skipper cleared his throat, and stood up on his chair so everyone could see him over the mounds of food. He cleared his throat again. "Attention!"
Private giggled at him. "Skippah, we're not in military school! It's Thanksgiving."
"Right." Skipper looked up and started over. He was not quite sure how to get a crowd's attention without saying, well, "attention". "Friends and family!"
Now everyone stopped their chatter to look up at Skipper. There were patient smiles on their faces. He swallowed and looked at Isobel, who smiled in encouragement at him.
Skipper looked to everyone and resumed his speech. "This has been a…mixed reunion."
Jazlene, Rafa, and Julien shot glances towards Mauve.
"But I would not ask for a different one." Skipper continued. "True, we were all anxious about our parents visiting us and seeing how we really live. But it turns out that we had nothing to be worried about from the start."
He looked down to his mother, who smiled at him, and then he looked to his father, who nodded in approval.
"But, anyways, enough with all this mush!" Skipper chuckled, "I can see I'm making Rico and Rita sick."
Everyone looked over to the mother and son, who were trying not to retch. They all laughed and clapped for Skipper.
Kowalski's dad clinked his flute glass, and stood up as well, overcoming his shyness. "Now, let us all give thanks!"
And so everyone, even Johan, took their turns saying at least one thing they were thankful for. Private was thankful that he was finally able to visit with his mum and dad; Jazlene was thankful to be with her other big brother, Julien; Kowalski was thankful that he had had a year of (nearly) successful inventions; and Isobel was thankful for having found true friends.
Afterwards, they all dug in. There was plenty of food, and they had all day to eat as much as they wanted. Luckily, it was a joyous occasion, with constant conversations and pauses for one person to tell a story to everyone. Even Mauve seemed a little less high strung, and her complaints were minimal.
Evening began creeping around, and Isobel and Private began to light the candles that Jack had brought earlier that morning. It was Atlantean tradition to eat the final half of the feast by candlelight. They set the candles down the middle of the table and on empty shelves. Soon, the HQ smelt slightly perfumed, like sandalwood and jasmine.
Isobel went back to sit by Julien, who was poking at some soft-shell crab. He looked up at her and smiled. "You are looking very lovely in this lighting."
Isobel smiled back. It was true, the candlelight softened everyone's features, and it made everything mellower.
The sun had not yet fully set, and Skipper came around to the lemurs' side of the table. He stood between Isobel and Julien. He leaned down and said to them, "Hey, me and the boys were going to head out on patrol; want to come?"
"Yes." Isobel nodded and stood up.
Julien shoveled the rest of his food into his mouth and quickly stood up, not wanting to get left behind.
And then, without much notice, the four penguins and two lemurs were out into the evening.