I clicked down the phone, smiling to myself. That was the most fun I'd had without Nina in quite some time.
The day was a glorious example of spring in Spokane; perhaps the nicest time of the year in our city. Unlike Western Washington, we don't get near the rainfall and cloud cover in the eastern portion of the state. At ten minutes to four, when I headed over to the Blackmore house, the sun was shining brightly, the sky was a deep blue, the trees were blooming with fresh leaves and fruit blossoms, and the temperature was a pleasant seventy-two degrees.
I was actually sweating a little in my suit and tie, both from the warmth upon my thick clothing and from the nervousness of having dinner with Nina's parents. I wheeled to the curb, took a few deep breaths to gather my courage, and then headed to the door.
Nina answered it and she quickly made me forget about her parents. She was wearing a pretty black and white dress complete with nylons and high heels. Her face was made up and her hair was styled attractively. I felt my eyes widen as I took in the sight of her, as I saw her blush at my perusal.
"I've never worn anything like this before." She said, embarrassed. "Mom helped me pick it out."
"It's beautiful." I told her, leaning forward and giving her a peck on the lips. "Your mother has good taste."
"Thank you." Mary Blackmore said dryly from just inside the doorway. It was my turn to blush.
"You look very nice too Bill." Nina squeaked, standing aside to allow me entry.
I stepped inside to find her mother, wearing a pantsuit and a cooking apron, appraising me. We looked at each other for a moment.
"How do you do Mary?" I asked politely. "Thank you for inviting me over."
She nodded, her face forming the slightest hint of a smile. "I told you that you're welcome in our house Bill." She said. "And Nina's right. You DO look very nice. Are you hungry?"
"Famished." I assured her, telling the absolute truth.
"Well good." She said, turning and heading for the kitchen. "Because I've made enough for an army."
While her mother went to finish dinner Nina led me into the living room where Jack was sitting in his recliner, watching television. The Mariners were battling the Blue Jays and apparently getting the shit kicked out of them. Jack seemed in a foul mood because of this.
"Hi Jack." I said nervously, seeing the scowl on his face.
"Goddam bunch of pansies!" He yelled at the TV as a Mariner hit into a double play. Beside him a glass of lemonade sat untouched so long the ice was melted.
"Jack, your language." Came drifting out of the kitchen.
He shot an irritated look in that direction for a moment and then turned to me. "There's no hope." He told me.
"No?" I asked carefully.
"None." He assured me. "Well don't just stand there. Have a seat. Watch this pathetic excuse for a game with me until dinner. Maybe you'll learn something."
"Okay." I said, heading to the couch. Nina came with me. When she sat down she did it inexpertly, since she was not used to wearing a dress. It hiked all the way up to mid-thigh before she shifted and pulled it back down. It took every ounce of my willpower to keep from gazing at this directly, instead of with my peripheral vision. Somehow I managed.
Jack saw my struggle, I know he did. I think I gained a point or two with him.
He continued to explain the finer points of baseball to me as we sat there, while Nina looked bored. His conversation was peppered with the occasional "goddam", which was always answered by an admonishment from Mary in the kitchen, no matter how softly he muttered it. Each admonishment was met with an irritated stare back towards the kitchen.
When Mary called us to dinner we sat down at the table, Nina seated next to me. We dug into delicately basted and roasted chicken, mashed potatoes and gravy, corn on the cob, and homemade biscuits. It was all as wonderful as I remembered it. Many boys, when taking dinner with their girlfriend's family for the first time make the mistake of only eating one helping for fear of looking like a pig. I did no such thing. I ate until I was stuffed, refilling my plate three times. It wasn't hard to do. I knew I'd earned some brownie points with Mary for doing so.
We pushed away our plates at last and Jack stifled a burp, an action that earned him a sharp look from his wife but no verbalization.
"Great dinner Mare," He told her affectionately, patting his stomach. "Up to your usual standards."
"I agree." I put in. "Your chicken was divine."
"I'm glad you liked it." She said tonelessly, though obviously pleased with the praise. She stood up. "Let me start clearing the table."
While she began picking up the dishes Jack turned to me. "Chicken is good." He told me. "Especially the way Mary does it, but there's nothing like fresh meat you've brought down yourself. You like venison?"
"I don't know." I told him. "I've never had it."
He looked at me in disbelief for a moment. "You've never had venison?"
"Never." I told him. "My dad doesn't hunt."
"So you've never had elk either?" He asked next.
"Never."
"Boy," He said. "You've lived in Spokane all of your life and you've never had venison or elk?"
I shook my head.
"Amazing." He said, staring. "So you don't have a hunting rifle then?"
"I've never fired a gun in my life." I told him.
"Bill." He said seriously. "You and I are going to have to take a little trip one of these Octobers over to the panhandle. You're not one of those goddamn animal rights activists are you?"
"Jack." Mary warned from the sink.
"No." I told him, wondering if he was really offering to take me hunting. Was this the same man who had stormed my house on New Years Day? "I suppose I've never been hunting before because my Dad has never been hunting before.
There was nobody to show me how to do it. I'd really like to learn how if you'd teach me." I told him.
He nodded, smiling. "The first October you have free, you come see me." He said. "We'll get you a rifle and a license and we'll head up. I'll show you what it's really all about."
"That'll be cool." I answered truthfully. "I'll be looking forward to it."
"I think Mom and Dad are actually starting to like you." Nina told me as we drove towards downtown and the theater building.
"Yeah." I agreed, resting my hand on her nyloned knee. "Weird, isn't it?"
"They're starting to see you as I do Bill." She told me. "Especially Daddy."
I looked over at her. "I'm not gonna have to kiss him, am I?" I asked.
She chuckled. "Who knows?" She asked. "Maybe he's a good kisser. He's certainly done it more than I have."
"Well maybe we'll play a little catch-up tonight." I suggested slyly.
"Maybe we will." She answered back, just as slyly.
We both enjoyed the play immensely. Nina because it was the first time she'd seen a live play and because the story was both romantic and tragic, elements she loved in her art. Me because it was one of my favorite productions and because I was seeing it with Topal, the Russian Jew who played the part in the movie, cast as the lead character, something I'd never been able to see in my previous life. The acting and singing were magnificent and by the end Nina had tears streaming down her cheeks as the Jews were forced from their village. I myself had to stifle tears despite having seen the play and the movie multiple times before.
We joined the throngs exiting the theater and made our way to my car, walking hand in hand, talking about what we'd just seen as we went. Nina went on and on about the story, the plot, the acting, the thrill of seeing it live. I was glad that I was there to share this first experience with her, to hear her reactions to it.