Silliness Makes Life Fun

I AM ENJOYING

** This story has been written for the #JUSTWRITEIT - April 2019 : Open Month challenge **

"Sarah, let's go out for lunch today. Call your cousin Joe. His family has come for a week on vacation. We'll pick him up if he wants to join us," said Sarah's mom, Betty.

"Yes, Ma. Can we go to the new restaurant, Chicken Doodle?" asked Sarah, as she called Joe.

"Sure, if it's fine with Joe as well," Betty replied. 

"Mom, Joe agreed. I'm going to get dressed," shouted Sarah and ran to her room.

The restaurant was a small, rectangular building with cut-outs of huge white chickens wearing a red bandanna and a red chef hat. The chicken's wings were folded at the waist like hands making the cutout look like a giant human wearing a chicken costume. There was a huge menu written on big boards, placed high up on the wall above the counter.

"Well kids, choose what you want. I think I'll get a Falafel sandwich," said Betty. 

"I want a burger, mom," said Sarah after pondering for a while. 

"Well, I want the mini pizza with a stuffed cheese crust, coke, chicken burger, lamb puff, cheese sandwich, chocolate cake, chocolate milkshake and ..," said Joe looking at the menu and wondering what else he could order. 

"Joe, you could possibly not eat that much! Why don't you order any one item and we can come back another day," suggested Betty. 

"Oh no Auntie, I will definitely finish it. I'm hungry," grinned Joe. 

"Oh well, if that's what you want," replied Betty flabbergasted and placed the order.

They sat at a medium-sized round table with four chairs. Once the order was ready and they brought the food to the table, they soon realized that there was not enough space for all the dishes. Immediately, they moved to a larger table with six chairs. It was a lavish spread fit for ten people.

Grinning happily, everyone dug in. Betty and Sarah soon finished eating. Joe continued to eat, but, with less fervor than when he began.

Betty was checking her mails when she suddenly realized Joe was not eating. 

"What's up, Joe? Are you full, honey?" asked Betty. 

"No Auntie, I'm enjoying," replied Joe. 

An hour passed and Joe continued to play with his food, not eating much. He continued to say that he was enjoying whenever Betty asked him if he was done. 

Taking pity on him, Betty finally asked, "Shall we pack this up, Joe? Do you want to take it home?"

Brightening up, Joe enthusiastically nodded, and they ordered a takeaway.

The three then went to the park and the children played happily for a few hours. Joe and Sarah played on the swings, tried to outdo each other on the monkey bars, built sand castles and played cops-robbers. 

After a few hours of playing, the children joined Betty under the cool shade of the Banyan tree. Seeing them all hot, tired and sweaty, Betty decided to buy them ice-cream.

At the ice-cream shop, Betty picked for herself a scoop of vanilla ice-cream while the children kept trying different flavors. 

After a few tastings, Sarah asked for two scoops of dulce-de-leche in a cone. 

Joe, on the other hand, tried all the flavors. He finally decided to have 5 scoops of ice-cream in a bowl - chocolate, dulce-de-leche, tutty fruity, bubblegum and mint. 

"Uhmm honey, I don't think you will be able to finish all that. Why don't you take two scoops and I will bring you again?" suggested Betty. 

Joe refused.

Betty and the children began walking home while eating their ice-cream. It grew cloudy and the weather was wonderfully cool and breezy. 

Sarah squealed when her ice-cream started to melt and trickle down her arm making it sticky. Giggling, she ate her ice-cream faster, crunching the yummy waffle cone. 

At this point, Joe had finished two scoops of ice-cream. 

Soon, Betty finished her ice-cream as well and threw her bowl in a trash can. 

Joe was still eating his third scoop.

A sudden outpour began, and everyone rushed to find some cover to escape the rain. A kind shopkeeper allowed Betty, Joe and Sarah to sit inside until the rain subsided. 

It was the first rain of the season and had a wonderful earthy aroma. The pitter-patter sounds of the rain were soothing and calming. The gentle, cool breeze was a pleasure after the hot, sultry afternoon at the park. All too soon, the rain stopped and everyone stepped into the slushy, wet streets.

Moaning about their soggy shoes and squealing whenever the water wet their legs, they made their way back home. 

All of a sudden, Betty realized that Joe was very quiet. 

"What's wrong honey? Are you tired?" asked Betty. 

"Oh no, Auntie. I'm fine," said Joe in a high-pitched voice. 

Betty looked at him suspiciously and found that he was still holding his ice-cream bowl with three half-melted scoops still visible. 

Betty grinned and asked Joe, "Are you full, sweetie? Do you want to throw your bowl of ice-cream?" 

"No, no, I'm enjoying my ice-cream," replied Joe and scooped a huge spoonful of ice-cream. 

Betty threw her head back and burst out laughing. 

"Hmm, it's all melted Joe and the flavors are all mixed up. Maybe it's better to throw it away," hinted Betty. 

Grinning brightly and thinking he found a way out, Joe nodded eagerly and threw away his ice-cream.

They soon reached home and the children played inside as it was too mushy outside after the heavy downpour. They played card games, monopoly, clue and finally ended up fighting each other. After sulking for a little time, they made up and helped Betty make a chocolate cake for dinner. 

Joe's parents came over for dinner bringing a few dishes with them. 

Joe being Joe, insisted on serving himself a huge portion of grilled chicken, mashed potato and quiche.

Soon, everyone finished eating and Joe remained with half of his plate still full. 

His mom threw him an exasperated look and scolded, "Joe, I told you that you cannot finish that much. Why do you waste food?"

Joe grew upset with his mom and started sulking. He was even more upset that his mom scolded him in front of his cousin. 

Sarah grinned and throwing a sly look at Joe, giggled, "Oh no Auntie, Joe's not full. He's just enjoying himself."

Joe looked shocked for a second and then wore a sheepish expression.

Laughing, Betty told the story of how Joe kept saying he was simply enjoying himself. 

From then onward, everyone always asked, "Are you enjoying, Joe?"

This continued all through school, through high-school and finally after his marriage as well.