25

Some short time later, Relevance, Kitts, and Lolli walked in the door in time for a breakfast of sausage, bacon, eggs, broiled toast, and mango juice for lunch, where Relevance discussed the corrosion of plastics, and Curly and Kitts shared thoughts on genres of music and senses with OLeif.

Later, Old Blue dropped in for Good Eats and games, before OLeif, Collette, and Puck shoved off for home, Rose and Francis came over to put Puck down for the night, and Collette and OLeif left to meet Dad, Mom, Nicodemus, Ivy, and Carrie-Bri at the house where they next departed for Collette’s birthday dinner at the Greek restaurant: Momo’s.

The lights were glittering on Delmar — all so beautiful in the eve of Christmastide.
When they arrived at Momo’s, Judah and Evangeline were already arrived.
“Happy birthday!” Judah announced, throwing his arms up in the air.
And as soon as he and OLeif were seated next to each other, they began bellowing out ‘oopah!’s to each other.
There were gifts here and there before the food was ordered. This included, from Judah and Evangeline — a handmade card from Bangladesh, a set of beautiful Guatemalan napkins and placemats, and a Spanish Bible. From Relevance and Kitts — a book of Norse sagas and poetry translated by Tolkien, which promised to be a great read. A nice set of mandarin body scrubs from Gloria and Theodore. And a gift card for Border’s from the Salthouse family in an amount to match her age.
Then the party began with arrival of the first dishes and drinks. Everyone passed around Greek cheese, beef tenderloin, shrimps, etc., and even a flaming cheese. And there were various other mezes and cocktails.
Somewhere in this mix, Collette saw him — Elezar Moss’ double — maybe six inches taller. But he was unmistakably Elezar’s twin. Collette and Carrie couldn’t stop staring. It was so uncanny.
And then the entrees — lamb and steak kabobs, gyros spilling over in lamb and chicken, etc. Collette and Carrie split a lamb gyro, which was pretty amazing.
Shortly later, Lebanese music began to blast from the tin tiled-ceiling where rattan fans rolled above their table. A belly dancer emerged with a ring of candles on her head and began her performance. After her first session had finished, Theodore looked around a little.
“Is that all the belly dancing we’re going to get?” he asked.
There was great laughter.
“Can I quote you on that?” Relevance guffawed.
About this time, Carrie pointed out that one of the servers looked like Rose from Doctor Who. And then OLeif commented that he also thought that their own server and the belly dancer looked familiar.
“What’s up with this place?” Carrie laughed.
And in the midst of the conversation, laughter, and wailing music, dessert was served: baklava, creme brulee, bread pudding, and an amazing chocolate phyllo. This was followed with a repeat performance by the belly dancer, this time balancing a long sword length-wise on the top of her head.
Just before leaving, Nicodemus did his own little dance to contribute to the activity of the evening. Another good laugh.
And at the end of the night, everyone sang a loud Happy Birthday to Collette just outside in the biting cold. And then Judah called for a ‘Speech! Speech!’, which, of course, did not happen. Followed by the handover of the large chocolate cake that Gloria had made for her that afternoon.
On the way home, Carrie explained that belly dancing had originally been a male-only dance.
“Well, there you go, honey,” Ivy teased Nicodemus.
“The market’s wide open,” said Carrie. “Although I’ve only met two male dancers, and they’ve both come from a certain district in California…”
“Oh, well, there goes retirement,” said Ivy.
“Unless I advertise myself as The Straight Belly Dancer,” Nicodemus joked. “Likes to dance with female belly dancers.”
Another good laugh.
As they piled out of the van back at the house, Nicodemus said, “We should do this again next year.”

A good, and memorable, night.