Excessive Celebration

Excessive Celebration

Petrach took the lift up to the top of the hotel and then walked across
the gravel roof to his home. For the first time in a while there was a
spring in his step.

"Get out your best pots, Ninny," he called going through the door,
"tonight is a night for excessive celebration."

Ninny appeared from the kitchen with baby Psigor in a sack around her
neck. "You mean?"

Petrach merely nodded and gleefully Ninny returned to the kitchen
where she put on lobster, baked beans and frog, three of Petrach's very
favourite foods.

"I thought you'd forgot," said Ninny from her side of the candle as
she and Petrach contemplated the food.

"Forgot?" said Petrach wondering what this had to do with helicopters
and the new contract he had yet to announce.

"Psigor's four week birthday," said Ninny.

"Oh Ninny," said Petrach and then Ninny knew. She started to
cry.

"But a four week birthday," said Petrach. "I've never heard of such a
thing."

"When you are so very small," said Ninny, "time must seem so awful
long."

"I'm trying to love him," said Petrach. "Do you really think he'll
grow?"

Ninny sniffed. "I don't think he'll ever be full-sized but I'll love
him nevertheless."

"Perhaps you're right," said Petrach and he reached for the larger of
the two lobster claws.

Later, while Ninny did the washing-up, Petrach dandled little Psigor
on his knee and told him the news he had never gotten around to telling
Ninny.