Chapter 11 – Eat All You Want 2031
The extended family gathered at the steakhouse buffet for Anthony's fourteenth birthday; Ziva had reserved a separate room for the group of twenty-two people. The teen chose the steakhouse for his birthday dinner; afterwards, the family planned to go to the indoor neon miniature golf at the nearby mall.
"Remember that you can eat all you want," Ziva reminded the group.
John and Anthony exchanged looks; they grinned at each other as the family headed out to fill plates at the buffet. LJ and Charles high-fived; the challenge was on to see which of the four boys could eat the most.
Katie and Tali rolled their eyes at the antics of their siblings and cousins.
"I'm betting on Anthony," Katie noted to the other girls. "John can pack away the food, but I think Anthony still can out-eat anyone here."
Beth nodded, "I wouldn't bet against my brother. John, LJ, and Charles will put up a good fight, but Anthony will win any food contest hands down."
Tim nudged Tony and Jimmy, "Think we can out-eat the boys?"
"I'm gonna give it my best," Tony grinned at his brothers of the heart.
Jimmy nodded, "Ditto. But I have to tell you that I'd place my money on Anthony any day."
"That's my boy!" Tony snickered as Ziva rolled her eyes to the other women.
Ziva patted her husband's belly, "Someone's eyes are as big as his belly." The others all laughed as Tony pretended to be offended by her remark. "And it shows…"
"Hey!" he put on a puppy-eyes face and batted his eyes at his wife. "Someone's cooking contributes too…"
"You are not a growing boy anymore; the only way you can grow is wider," Ziva smirked at him as she grabbed a plate to fill. "It would do you good to remember that."
Delilah patted Tim's stomach, "You should listen to Ziva as well, dear."
"Geesh, these women take all the fun out of eating," Tim whispered to Tony as the two grabbed plates from the pile. "So what if we indulge once in a while?"
Tony nodded and replied, "Let's show these boys how real men eat!"
"Right, Abba," Anthony walked past his parents with two plates piled high with all sorts of food; he had meats on one plate, and vegetables and other sides on the second plate. "I'm just getting started!"
"What he said," John grinned at his father and uncle as he passed by with two plates similar to what Anthony had. "LJ's plates are piled high like ours, too. Charles has two plates of salads to start…"
Not to be outdone, Tony, Tim, and Jimmy all returned to the table with two plates each, also piled high like the boys' plates. Delilah, Breena, Ziva, the girls, and Gibbs just shook their heads. Abby, Leon, Clay, and Ellie declared that they were staying out of the food battle and just going to enjoy their meals. Savannah and Jason watched the older boys as they ate.
An hour later, Tony and Tim were loosening their belts while John and Anthony were still eating. LJ and the others had given up trying to out-eat the teens. Anthony had a plate full of cakes and cookies plus a bowl of ice cream with all sorts of toppings; John had a bowl of peach cobbler with vanilla ice cream on top and three cookies on a plate. The two had kept tally of the number of plates of food they brought back to the table. Both were at fifteen plates of food. John finished his peach cobbler as Anthony got up to get one more plate of food.
The teen returned with a plate of assorted fruit, some vanilla pudding, and a small bowl of chocolate candies. John looked at his cousin and groaned.
"You win," he exclaimed. "I don't think I can eat another bite!"
Anthony grinned and gave a thumbs' up as he devoured the fruit. He sat back with a sigh as he finished the candies and gave his best DiNozzo grin to the entire family. Tony put his arm around the young man's shoulders.
"Honestly, did you see the food bar as a personal challenge?" the father asked the son.
"Yep!"
"That's my boy; DiNozzo food gene strikes again!"