Family Farewells

As she walked to the front door, she felt Quest take her arm and they walked up together. Her father opened the door as they stepped up to it. She smiled at her father and noticed that he almost glared at Quest. Quest nodded to him as he let go of her arm. He extended his hand and introduced himself.

“Hello, my name is Myke Quest.”

“Bill Schumpert.”  Her father said and then when she grimaced he took Quest’s hand and shook it firmly. He raised an eyebrow at her and said. “Come in, they are all waiting for you in the dining room.”

Fathers, she thought are as consistent as the taxman, bring a boy to your door and no matter what age they are your father will treat them a he would any boyfriend she had ever had. She was glad she never had brought Frank or Steve over. Talk about awkward.  She made sure Quest went in after her father in case he had planned to shut the door in his face. She paused in the entry way and touched Quest on the arm. He looked and her and smiled.

“Yes?”

“Myke?”

“It’s easier to pronounce than Mysti̱rió̱deis gios Michaí̱l Xénos tou Árgous.”

“Oh, I guess it is. You are going to have to tell me what all that means someday.”

“Someday I will say tell it to you in my native tongue Thessolonykan.”

“You are incredible.”

“I know, it’s what my mother was always telling me.”

She laughed.

            They were all standing around the dinner table when they arrived. Sure enough her mom had been cooking, but there was also a banner that read “Bon Voyage, Van!” strung on one wall and everyone including her father had a party hat on. She laughed as they all clapped for her. She took a modest bow and swept off her cap. For a time she forgot that she was leaving and that these people were anything but her family.