The Lives That I Have Lived

Lessons Learned PT.2

Very quickly the sheer size of this house began to make me uncomfortable. Pillars of marble, painted pure white, stretched up the fifteen foot walls. The floor, that had been freshly shined, reflected the unease on my face with mirror like accuracy. Before I could open my mouth to even begin to describe the amount of discomfort I was in for being so overwhelmed by Father Domascus' home, I found myself being led towards the family room.

It was the width and length of a two car garage, the floor was covered by a comfortably cushiony ruby red rug. The walls where a light tan color and had a white trim running up the wall every few feet. The couch was up against the far wall near a double length window. In the center of the room sat an old hardwood table. Stained with a dark lacker that complimented the smooth oak grain, the table pulled the room together.
I sat alone for a few minutes. It was a beautiful home. The feeling and warmth it gave off was evident as soon as you stepped through the threshold. I hadn't known a home like this one since my own house from my childhood all those years ago.

Father Domascus came into the room with his family. His wife, Maria, daughter, Elizabeth, son, Anthony, and young german shepherd mix, Bruiser. They all stood in the door frame. Father Domascus had the same gentle smile he had when he met me on the sidewalk. His wife complimented his warmth with her own kind face. Both children where quite dumbfounded however.
"Who brought the wet dog inside father. Miscreants and criminals sleep outside." Anthony spoke in a harsh tone. He chuckled as he spoke. Elizabeth and Maria both shot him a deadly glare as Father Domascus swatted the back of his head with brute like force. I rose to my feet, turned to the family, and spoke with gentle conviction. "Please dont be to alarmed by how I look. My name is Robert. Robert Vasilia Conraid. Father Domascus  saw me as I made my way home from a personal friends house. As you may be able to tell from the way I am dressed, I am without. But i am in no way shape or form an animal, nor criminal. The life i lead isn't easy, but i am an honest man. If you are unsettled by me or how i am being presented to you please just say and i will leave and not return. Again i am only here on your fathers and husbands request."

They all stood there for a moment. Father Domascus gave me a respectful look, the same one that his wife was giving me. Elizabeth stood there with awe and wonder in her eyes. As for Anthony, he was still giving me a spiteful stare. For a few moments, we all just stood there, in partial silence. Not one person spoke a word, or even made a sound, but I could tell they were all internally shouting. By the looks on their faces, the mother and daughter instinctively felt the need to hold me in a close and sentimental embrace. Father Domascus wanted to say how proud he was for my being so honest. The son, Anthony, however, wanted nothing more than to start a fight with me.

After a few more seconds of awkward silence, Father Domascus ushered everyone to the dining room for dinner. I was seated, given a soft cloth napkin that I put on my lap, and was played the most incredible dish I, to this day, have ever eaten. Maria, the wife, had made a delicious marinated grilled chicken  and penne vodka from scratch. She told me how she neaded the dough to make the penne, how she had the chicken fresh from the butcher shop on main street brought in and tenderized the meat, then let it sit for 8 hours before cooking it. That was the first home cooked meal that I had eaten in a very long time. 2 years, 12 days, 9 hours and 43 minutes to be exact.

I was almost overwhelmed by excitement as I watched the food being placed on my plate. Any other person would more than likely have taken such a minor thing as just another motion. But as I sat in awe amongst total strangers, in a house that had never been a place of refuge to me, I felt as if this where my home. The warmth of those gathered around, though we had only met moments before, felt like we had known each other for years.

Before our meal was enjoyed, Father Domascus stood at the head of the table, his wife in the chair to his left,  his daughter next to her, his son to his right, and opposite him was me. Father Domascus raised his hands with a joyful smile, and gave a heartfelt welcome into his home. After this introduction we began to eat. I was hesitant at first, not wanting to devour what was given to me. But after the first forkful of chicken my body couldn't help itself. Though this came as no surprise to Father Domascus, Maria, his wife was pleasantly impressed by the massive portions of her cooking that I was eating.

After dinner, the family sat in the living room, everyone had their own cup of tea, and a slice of cake. I had never seen such a after meal gathering such as this. One of the many butlers in the house offered tea, but I preferred not to intrude on what seemed like a family ritual. It was only moments after noticing that I had declined to partake in the commodities that Father Domascus approached me. He grabbed hold of my shoulder, put his other hand gently on my cheek, and said "Now, Maria and I have been talking. I told her of your situation and we both have come to the conclusion that it is only right that we have you spend the night." He gave a short pause, but before I could give him an answer he spoke softly, "Also, young man, it would bring me great joy to invite you to stay here, I see much of myself in your eyes and I do believe you can help my world prosper. I would put you to work under my family business, but you'd never go hungry, nor go without much of anything. So what do you say?"

In that moment, I had no words. The only motion I could bring myself to do, was fall to a knee, as it was customary to when in the presence of a man of his stature,  and hold out my hand, waiting, hoping that the Father would understand my actions.
I heard him give a slight chuckle, then felt a gentle warmth, followed by a soothing voice. Father Domascus had grabbed my hand, and said "Welcome home my son. You've been gone for too long."
As I stood from the floor, Maria, and the Fathers daughter, were both blushing, and had tears running down their faces.