While Jesús and Carol and I launch into the clean up, Carl and Melissa are seated at the kitchen table with Melissa's laptop. We hear the maddening ding dong of the Skype ring tone. Carol is washing, Jesús is drying, and I am wiping down and putting things in their place.
"Hello, mother", says Melissa. "Carl is here, so we can all talk about things."
"Good morning, Carl"! chimes an effervescent Dutch accented woman's voice. She sounds sweet and mellifluous.
"Hi Mom", says Carl. "It must be your dinner time right now."
"We have just eaten, dear. And you must have already had your breakfast."
"Oh, yes. Granola, toast and fruit. It's your recipe for homemade granola . Everyone loves it."
"I am honoured. and so, it looks like we'll be seeing you in a few days."
"We?"
"Frida and John. They have been an incredible help here at the community, and they're both looking forward to meeting both of you."
"Why are you bringing them?"
"Carl, I hear other people in the room with you. Could you two maybe move to a private room so we could talk more openly?"
"Here is good", says Melissa.
"But, could you ask them please to leave the room?"
"They are not going anywhere. In fact, we want them here as witnesses."
Their mother begins to speak in Dutch.
"We are having this conversation in English, Mother", says Carl, sharply, "or we are not having this conversation at all."
"As you wish", says their mother, defeated...
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