13

Vinnie’s dad and Vinnie are sitting at the dinning room table. Rupert is sitting on the table smiling at Vinnie’s dad. Dexter is lying on the floor snug against Vinnie’s chair. Vinnie’s mom is in the kitchen. She calls out, “I’ve got a big surprise for my men tonight. You’re going to love dinner.”

Vinnie looks across the table at his dad, “Dad, it’s going to be one of Mom’s healthy meals, right?”

Vinnie’s dad shrugs his shoulders. He doesn’t want to say something to Vinnie that Vinnie will use in the forthcoming conversation between Vinnie and his mom.

“Dad, it’s going to be terrible. I know it.”

Vinnie’s dad feels he has to answer Vinnie although he thinks Vinnie’s might be on to something. He says, “We haven’t seen the meal so we don’t know what it is or if we’ll like it.”

“I can smell it, Dad. It smells like the time we were riding by the pig farm . . .”

“Vinnie, don’t go there. Mom worked hard on making a healthy meal. Suck it up and eat it and tell her how great it is. Can you do that for me?” asks Vinnie’s dad.

“I thought you and Mom said lying is wrong, Dad. You want me to lie to Mom?”

“It isn’t exactly lying. Think of it as making Mom feel good,” says Vinnie’s dad knowing this isn’t the end of Vinnie’s questions.

“Is this what you tell your mob clients to do in court, Dad? Do you tell them to lie so the judge will feel good?” asks Vinnie.

Vinnie’s dad clears his throat, ” I never advise my clients to lie. If I did it would be crime. I could go to jail for five years.”

“How many of your clients go to jail, Dad? Is jail food better than the food Mom cooks?”

Vinnie’s dad glances over toward the kitchen. He says, “Mom’s coming. Be polite.”

Vinnie’s mom walks toward the living room carry a large dish piled high with an exotic looking meal. Her smile is as broad as the bowl is wide. She sets the bowl on the table and says, “Gentlemen, this wonderful healthy meal is called Yummy couscous, vegetable chicken salad with dates, raisins, and rosemary mixed in to it. I know you both are going to be begging for seconds.”

Vinnie’s mom sits down at the table and joins hands with Rupert and Vinnie’s dad. Vinnie holds Rupert’s paw and his dad’s hand. Vinnie’s mom says, “Vinnie will say grace?”

Vinnie’s dad knows this is the worse case. When Vinnie prays, even God doesn’t know what Vinnie is going to say.

Vinnie says, “Lord, please bless this food so we won’t die after we eat it. Forgive me for having to lie and tell Mom it is delicious to make her feel good. Make sure the police don’t find out that Dad asked me to lie so he won’t have to go to prison. Amen.”

“Vincent. You haven’t tasted it. You are going to love it,” says Vinnie’s mom putting an extra large scoop on Vinnie’s plate. “Every bite, Vincent. Every bite.”

Vinnie says, “I can’t wait to eat it, Mom. It smells great and I bet it tastes as good as it looks. Can I take a plate of it to Joey’s house. They never eat healthy. They’ll probably think it’s the best food they ever ate.” Vinnie winks at his dad.

“What’s that supposed to mean?” Vinnie’s mom says to Vinnie’s dad.

“Mom?” Vinnie interrupts his mom.

Vinnie’s dad is happy for the save.

Vinnie’s mom turns her attention back to Vinnie, “What? Let me see your fork moving from your plate to your mouth.”

“I can’t eat and talk at the same time, Mom. What am I supposed to do?”

“What did you want to say?” asks Vinnie’s mom.

“Two things, Mom. The first is Joey, and Larry, and me are going to start a band. We’re going to be the Grizzlies. Rupert thought of the name. It’s a great name for the group, right, Mom? We’re going to ask Sara to sing and play piano.”

Vinnie’s mom says, “We need to talk about this. What is the second thing?”

Vinnie is picking around his plate. He says, “I found four small pieces of chicken. Can I trade Dad all my stuff but the chicken for all his chicken?”