Chips With Everything: Civitatai, #2

By Ian J. Kennedy

John Green is enjoying life.

He's is now married, something he never really expected, but then, lots of things in John's life are 'unexpected'.

One thing is certain, if John wants to stay married, he needs to complete the work on his Civitatai CPU design. Otherwise, there is a distinct possibility that his wife will disappear from his life forever.

Then there is the slight problem of what to do about his discovery of Time Travel. Is the world ready for that?
Life is never easy, but then, if it was, would John enjoy it?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Ian J. Kennedy
• Release date: Jul 1, 2021
• ISBN: 9798201104498

Ian J. Kennedy

Ian J. Kennedy started working with Computers when at school, but was advised there was no future in it, so studied Materials Technology at University. After initially working in an Inspection Laboratory, he switched disciplines to Computer Science, progressing from PC support to Systems Administrator. It became obvious in the process that most computers had a sense of humour. How else do you explain the fact that he and the end users could do the same things, but get different results?

Book preview

Chapter 1 – Countdown to a New Year

In the first book, Theophilus, I wrote about how I discovered Time Travel, accidentally; got myself hanged, accidentally; and got married, accidentally! But enough of that, and anyway, I’m ‘Saint’ John, not Saint Luke! What do you mean, you haven’t read the ‘first book’? Go and do it now, I’ll wait...

Oh, you’re back already? OK, moving on...

All of that makes me sound as if I am a little ‘accident’ prone. That wasn’t usually the case, but the last year had proven to be full of surprises. I was hoping the next one might provide slightly less excitement.

As you will recall, it was a couple of days before New Year. I wasn’t really a fan of celebrating New Year. In fact, I wasn’t really a fan of celebrating, but New Year was especially problematic with its requirement to partake of great quantities of alcohol before finding someone to snog at midnight. After Sonia ‘adopted’ me, I was required to celebrate New Year with her and Simon, which wasn’t too bad to start with. After we sold Civitatai, and acquired the Civitatai HQ, Sonia had started hosting the Christmas celebration for our staff, and the extended families. Attendance varied from year to year, but Sonia’s family was almost always well represented. As a result, they felt obligated to return our hospitality, which meant they hosted a New Year’s Eve celebration. After Kelvin came to live at Civitatai HQ, he was usually invited to come along; but, unless his family had visited us for Christmas, he usually spent New Year’s Eve with them. Coping with Sonia’s family when I had ‘home advantage’ was stressful enough. Being a guest in their home was an order of magnitude worse. It wasn’t that I was made to feel unwelcome, in fact it was quite the reverse. I was accepted as a member of their family without, in my opinion, having any right to such a privilege. Alison, in particular, was always very welcoming.

After Sharon was born, I came up with an escape plan. How would it be, I asked, if I moved into the guest room for the night (Samantha had been promoted to ‘my’ room in Simon and Sonia’s house after Sharon had been born) and looked after the children whilst you and Simon go to your parents to celebrate the New Year.

Are you really saying that you would prefer to change Sharon’s nappies than snog my sister? asked Sonia.

That sounded like a trap.

No, of course not, I said, but you and Simon do so much around the estate all year; and then you organise our magnificent Christmas celebration. I just think one way I could say ‘thank you’ for all you do for me is to give you a day or two to just relax and enjoy yourselves with the rest of your family!

Sonia gave me a suspicious look. That almost sounded sincere! she said. If I didn’t know you better, I think I would believe you!

I was right, it had been a trap, but it looked like I might still be able to wriggle free.

Of course it was sincere. You know how much I like spending time with your children, and this is a perfect opportunity for me to do something for you for a change. Of course, if you don’t trust me...

Two could play at that game.

Sonia looked thoughtful. Of course I trust you. Let me think about it, and discuss it with Simon, Samantha and Sharon, and I’ll let you know.

So, for the last two years, I’d spent New Year’s Eve, and most of New Year’s Day alone on the estate with Samantha and Sharon.

This year, I wasn’t sure what was going to happen. Firstly, Alison had a ‘boyfriend’, Kelvin. Secondly, I had a wife, Urni. So I was probably covered on the Midnight snog front. Thirdly, I had a feeling I was still on probation with Sonia because of my behaviour on Boxing Day. She’d said I was forgiven, but I suspected that her forgiveness was conditional on my not making any more mistakes for a while. Of course, added into the mix was that it wasn’t just a matter of what I wanted to do this year. Urni was also entitled to decide how she wanted to celebrate the New Year.

I wasn’t even sure how to start the discussion, but it turned out I didn’t need to. Now that Sonia and Simon had portable URNIs, all Sonia had to do to arrange a meeting was to say Urni, can you ask everyone to meet in the small conference room in one hour please? and, of course, we were all instantly notified. Alison was out of the loop at the moment. I was sure that was something we’d fix in the not-too-distant future (no pun intended), but in the meantime, Kelvin would inform her.

So, an hour later, we were all in the conference room drinking tea and eating biscuits.

I thought it might be an idea for us to get together to discuss our plans for New Year said Sonia. Such a lot has changed in the last twelve months that I wasn’t sure whether the usual arrangements were still appropriate. Urni, has John discussed New Year with you?

Not yet said Urni. She and Sonia looked at me.

I sat quietly.

Sharon and Samantha also looked at me.

I said nothing.

Kelvin, Alison and Simon looked at me.

I cracked. I wasn’t sure how to raise the subject. After my behaviour on Boxing Day, I thought I might have some ground to make up with Urni, and with you and your family, so I didn’t know what to suggest. Of course, I would love to spend the day with Sharon and Samantha as usual, but I don’t know what Urni wants yet.

Well, said Simon, I’m more than happy for Urni to spend New Year’s Eve with Sonia and me at Sonia’s parents. After all, I’m still owed a snog. He was joking. I think.

What do Samantha and Sharon think? asked Urni.

We like spending New Year’s Eve with Uncle John said Samantha, but we understand if you and Uncle John want to go to the party together this year.

Yes said Sharon.

I might be wrong, but I was beginning to smell a stitch-up. Some of these responses didn’t feel spontaneous to me.

Alison, what are you planning to do this year? asked Sonia.

I’ve invited Kelvin to spend New Year’s Eve with me and the rest of the family this year, and he’s accepted my invitation.

Here it comes...

How big is your Parent’s house, Sonia? asked Urni. If John, Samantha and Sharon don’t usually join you for New Year, and you’ve got Kelvin and me in addition to the normal guests, won’t they be a little crowded if we all go?

Don’t worry, they’ll find room for us all somewhere.

Wait for it...

Oh, I know said Urni, why don’t we invite everybody here for New Year’s Eve. We’ve got plenty of room for everybody!

What an excellent idea, Urni said Sonia. Samantha, Sharon, would you like a sleepover with Uncle John and Auntie Urni in their mini-house?

YES! shouted Samantha and Sharon together.

And there it was. How could I get out of this one? And did I really want to?

So, that’s agreed then said Sonia. I’ll call my parents to discuss the arrangements.

SONIA’S PARENTS WERE a little reluctant, at first. After all, part of the New Year’s Eve party was a return of hospitality for the Christmas party, but Sonia brought out the heavy guns and asked Urni to talk to them. When Urni explained how reluctant she was to impose on their hospitality after such a short introduction, and how much she was looking forward to hosting her first New Year’s Eve party as a married woman, they had found it impossible to refuse her request. The only condition that they had imposed was that Sonia’s Mother and Aunt be allowed to help Sonia, Alison and Urni prepare the party food. As a result, it was agreed that we’d host them all from mid-morning on New Year’s Eve.

Urni was really excited. As I think we’ve already established, Urni didn’t tell lies, so she was being honest when she said she was looking forward to acting as hostess for the New Year’s Eve party. Samantha was tasked with minding Sharon and me, Simon and Kelvin were tasked with sourcing appropriate supplies of liquid refreshment, whilst Sonia, Urni and Alison went in search of food.

I managed to earn some credibility as an active participant in the party planning by suggesting that maybe a Champagne punch would make a good ‘party drink’ for the adults, with either a fruit punch, or assorted mocktails, for our younger party-goers.

My suggestion was enthusiastically welcomed and Urni wrote up a shopping list of all the Wines, Spirits, Soft Drinks and Fruit Juices she recommended that we purchase. Kelvin and Simon added some Ales and Lagers, and one or two other items to the list, replenishing items that had been consumed over the Christmas festivities.

Surprisingly enough, when we checked, we had two large punch bowls in our canteen pantry. I couldn’t remember us ever using them, so I assumed we ‘inherited’ them when we acquired Civitatai HQ.

As Urni was partially responsible for the food shopping, I had a quiet word with her to remind her that Samantha, Sharon and I were usually ‘alone’ for New Year’s Eve, so that the restrictions on ‘sweeties’ before, during or after meals were relaxed. I gave her a list of the usual staples (Smarties, Jelly Babies, Marshmallows and Maltesers) and suggested she add an assortment of any additional items she liked the look of. I didn’t see why Samantha, Sharon and I should be deprived of our New Year sugar rush just because there would be Adults present this year.

So, on Thursday December 30th, I found myself sitting with Samantha and Sharon in our favourite seats in the conservatory, reading Kenneth Grahame’s The Wind in the Willows. Surprisingly enough, although I was familiar with parts of the story, this was the first time I’d actually read the book. I was enjoying the story as much as the girls, but it was too long to read in a single sitting, so I was looking for a suitable cliff-hanger to break for lunch. Mr Grahame didn’t disappoint.

"The gaoler nodded grimly, laying his withered hand on the shoulder of the miserable Toad. The rusty key creaked in the lock, the great door clanged behind them; and Toad was a helpless prisoner in the remotest dungeon of the best–guarded keep of the stoutest castle in all the length and breadth of Merry England."

I snapped the book shut. Time for lunch, I think.

Nooo! cried Sharon. What happens to Mr Toad!

You can’t stop now, Uncle John said Samantha. We need to know what happens next!

And you will, I promise. We’ll read some more either later today or tomorrow, but I need a rest from reading, and we should have some lunch. Urni, are you home?

My Urni beeped. I read the message on screen. Not yet John, we’ve got most of the shopping finished, we should be home in around half an hour.

I’m making lunch, do you all want to come down to the canteen when you get home?

OK, John, we’ll see you shortly.

There were definite advantages to the fact that there was only one Urni. Especially now that I had my improved contactless charger so that my portable Urni didn’t need to stay in power conservation mode all of the time. Of course, there were disadvantages as well. Urni now knew where I was and what I was doing pretty much 100% of the time. (I think, after the ‘Boxing Day Incident’, she saw that as a major plus...)

OK girls, time for lunch. I’m thinking ‘cheese on toast’ what do you think?

Yes please, Uncle John.

Yes please, Ucl John.

OK, let’s go down to the canteen, because I think your Mommy and Daddy and the others will be joining us in a few minutes, and it will be easier to prepare lunch for everybody with the big grill...

I LIKE TO GET A LITTLE imaginative with my cheese on toast, so I got the Cheddar and Red Leicester cheese out of the fridge, together with some red onion.

We’d got a selection of sliced breads (still fresh) left over from Christmas, so I started by grilling one side of the bread, then flipping it over and adding a little onion and alternate strips of Cheddar and Red Leicester.

At the same time, I brewed up a small pot of tea for me, and started making hot chocolate for the girls.

When the first batch of cheese on toast was ready, I sliced it into triangles and took it through to the girls and gave them each a side plate.

They helped themselves to the triangles of toast that they found most appealing, whilst I finished preparing their hot chocolate and my tea.

I joined them at the table and helped them finish the remaining cheese on toast.

My Urni beeped.

We’re here. Simon and Kelvin are about 10 minutes behind us.

I got up and started another batch of cheese on toast, and made a large pot of tea. Urni, Sonia and Alison came into the canteen, laden down with the food shopping. By the time they’d put it all away, the tea was ready, and I’d prepared a large plate of cheese on toast triangles, so they took the plate, and a cup of tea each, through to join Samantha and Sharon, whilst I cooked up a few more slices.

Kelvin and Simon joined the others at the table, so I took them each a cup of tea, and some more cheese on toast, and joined them.

I always enjoy your cheese on toast, John said Sonia. I don’t know why, but it never tastes as nice when I cook it for myself.

Food always tastes better if someone prepares it for you I suggested.

Maybe that’s it. Or maybe it’s because you put as much effort into the presentation as you do into the cooking?

I don’t think you’ve ever cooked me cheese on toast before said Alison, but I can see what Sonia means, this is a really enjoyable lunch.

I’m guessing the majority of that is down to the quality of the company I said. For goodness sake, I’d only made some cheese on toast. Maybe I should have called it fromage sur pain grillé and applied for my Michelin star?

You still haven’t got over your issues with being complemented, have you, John? asked Urni.

It’s that obvious, is it? I asked.

Everybody, including Samantha and Sharon, nodded. Most took another triangle of toast.

There were still a few triangles left, but people seemed to be slowing down.

Would you like some dessert? I asked. I think there’s still some Christmas cake and cookies left?

Yes please! said Samantha and Sharon.

The adults all had their mouths full, but the majority nodded, so I went to check out the cake supply.

The Angelas had left us with a choice of Christmas cake. One was a ‘traditional’ rich fruit cake with marzipan and royal icing, which I really liked. The other seemed to be mainly fruit, with very little cake. It was also covered in marzipan, but instead of icing, it was coated in dark chocolate. That one I REALLY liked. The bitterness of the dark chocolate contrasted nicely with the sugar in the marzipan and the fruit. I cut enough small slices for us to each have one slice of each, plus a few extras, and added a separate plate of spiced Christmas cookies, again something the Angelas had prepared for us.

Thank you, Uncle John said Samantha, taking one of each type of cake and a cookie.

Thank you, Ucl John said Sharon, doing the same.

Yes, thanks John, you’re a saint! said Kelvin, grinning, and taking 3 cookies, two slices of the iced Christmas cake and one of the chocolate coated cake.

There were only two triangles of cheese on toast remaining, and it looked like everyone else had now switched to dessert, so I finished the toast first, before helping myself to a slice of each type of cake.

The plates of cookies and cake rapidly emptied.

Would anybody like anything else? I asked.

No thank you said Simon. That was an excellent lunch, John. Even if you don’t like us to say so!

There was a murmur of agreement from the others around the table.

So, what’s the plan for this afternoon? I asked.

Well, said Urni, I was planning on preparing some treats for tomorrow night’s party.

I thought Maureen and Rachael wanted to help prepare all the food? I asked. (You may remember that Maureen was Sonia’s Aunt, her father’s sister.)

Oh, don’t worry about that said Sonia. There’ll still be plenty for Mom and Auntie Maureen to do when they get here tomorrow!

OK, what about the rest of you?

I’m putting the finishing touches to our Unified Field theory said Kelvin. I think it’s more or less complete now. I assume you’ll want to give it a final check before we publish?

Actually, I’ve been thinking about that I started. I was going to ask Professor Urni to ‘mark our homework’ again; but beside that, I’m a little concerned about publishing a blueprint for time travel. I think I’ve come up with a solution, and I’d like you all to give your opinion.

So, I laid out my plan.

As you know, time travel is impossible. There was laughter from around the table. Everybody there, even Samantha and Sharon, knew that Kelvin and I had travelled through time. So, I thought the best way to prove it wasn’t without causing a major issue was to convince everybody we weren’t serious. I thought we’d publish our Unified Field Theory ‘online’ on the first of April. At the same time, we’ll issue a press release confirming the ‘invention’ of time travel. Kelvin, I realise this affects you, because we could make a considerable fortune from this, but I’m proposing to patent a single-node Carter-Green time dilator, rather than the array necessary for safe time travel. Again, I want to get the application dated the first of April. That way we can put everything into the public domain, where it needs to be, but nobody will spend any money trying to prove we’re right.

You know said Kelvin, if we didn’t already know you were a genius, I think this would convince us. But what do we say when people start asking questions?

Well, I will just ignore them, as I usually do I replied. I suggest if any of the rest of you are asked, you answer truthfully, but in a way that sounds as if you’re joking,

What do you mean? asked Sonia.

Well, for example I put on my best ‘regional reporter’ voice, Mrs Williams, I understand your friends and colleagues, Messrs Carter and Green, have invented time travel. What do you think about that? Well, to be honest with you, I haven’t given it a lot of thought, but it is useful for getting fresh milk! (OK my impersonation of Sonia needed more work!) Really Mrs Williams? Can you explain that? Well, usually when I buy my milk from the supermarket, I always end up with a pint or two left when we reach the ‘best before date’; but now I can just pop a couple of weeks into the future to buy my milk, and it’ll all be finished long before the ‘best before’ date!

All those gathered around the table laughed.

I do NOT sound like that! said Sonia, laughing along with the rest of the assembly.

And what does your daughter think about her Uncle’s time machine? I asked, holding my imaginary microphone up to Samantha.

I think it’s brilliant she replied. I can have Christmas today, then skip to my Birthday, then skip to Christmas again!

See I said, child’s play! No offence intended Samantha!

Samantha giggled.

The adults present applauded.

So, Mr Carter I said. Mr Green won’t talk to us about your design for a time machine. Will you?

Oh, of course said Kelvin. What do you want to know?

Well, how does it work? I asked.

Oh, time travel is easy said Kelvin, you’re doing it now.

I am? I asked, grinning. I could see Kelvin was starting to enjoy this.

Of course you are, you’re travelling forward in time at a rate of around one minute per minute.

But your new theory says it’s possible to do more than that.

Well yes, but I wouldn’t want to over-complicate things for your viewers. After all, if I tell you everything now, why would they want to read our paper? Kelvin grinned. You know, I think you’re right. We’ll get loads of publicity and absolutely no-one will take us seriously!

Urni had remained silent throughout our conversation, so I asked the obvious question. Urni, you’re very quiet, have I made a mistake?

No John, I’ve got records of when and how you published the Carter-Green unified field theory, and when the prototype Carter-Green time dilator was patented. I was just enjoying seeing the background to how history was made. What you’ve just planned out is what is in the historical record. I could even play you some of the TV and Radio reports, but that would spoil the surprise. Besides, I think we’ve all seen more or less how they play out!

I CLEANED AND WASHED up after lunch. It didn’t take long. Samantha and Sharon begged me to return to the conservatory to continue reading The Wind in the Willows, so Sonia and Alison decided to stay and act as sous-chef to Urni, helping her create her ‘treats’ for tomorrow evening’s celebration. Kelvin stayed around to help Simon set up a ‘drinks table’ then went to his office to get some real work done. Simon carried on preparing the drinks area, ensuring we had a supply of ice ‘shapes’ in the freezer (cubes, balls and some other assorted designs to complement cocktails or mocktails as appropriate).

I was almost dragged back to our favourite spot in the conservatory where Mr Toad awaited us in his dungeon cell. I knew how he felt. It wasn’t that long since I’d been in a dungeon cell of my own.

It was around three hours later, with peace restored to the Wild Wood, that I was finally able to lay the book aside.

Samantha and Sharon both heaved a contented sigh.

Thank you, Uncle John. That was fun! said Samantha.

Yes! said Sharon.

I checked the time. It looks like we’ve got an hour or two before dinner time. Shall we go up to my mini-house and work on Sharon’s jigsaw whilst ‘Urni the Jigsaw whisperer’ is out of the way?

Yes please, Ucl John said Sharon.

We headed to my apartment, via the library to return The Wind in the Willows to the shelves. I followed Sharon and Samantha up the stairs, and opened the door to my apartment. They ran in and sat by the coffee table we usually used for any games or jigsaws.

I fetched Sharon’s jigsaw, on its board, from the cupboard where I stored it between sessions.

As I think I told you last time, Sharon’s jigsaw was a 300-piece puzzle, and was almost halfway to completion, so I had high hopes that we’d be able to finish it this year.

As soon as the jigsaw was on the table, the girls dived in, sorting through the pieces to find a match for the part of the puzzle they’d chosen to focus on. Samantha was focusing more on helping Sharon than in trying to complete the puzzle herself. It was nice to see her trying to help her sister to complete the puzzle. I wandered towards the kitchen.

My portable Urni beeped. I took her out of my pocket. No sweets John! It’s nearly dinner time!

I stuck my tongue out at her. OK, a childish response, but what would you have done?

Urni appeared on the screen and blew me a kiss, winking as she did so.

I put the kettle on to make a pot of tea.

Do you want anything to drink, girls? I called.

Not at the moment, thank you Uncle John replied Samantha

No thank you, Ucl John replied Sharon.

I warmed the pot, added some Darjeeling and boiling water, gave it a few minutes to brew, poured a cup, added a little sugar and took it back through to where the girls were still engrossed with the jigsaw.

Samantha and Sharon seemed to be concentrating on completing the colourful parts of the jigsaw, so I started sorting through the pieces looking for bits of elephant.

That goes here, Ucl John said Sharon, spotting a bit of elephant toe on the completed portion of the puzzle that matched my almost complete elephant. I transferred the pieces to the indicated location.

I moved on to completing a portion of sky, handing pieces of giraffe that I came across to Samantha who was helping Sharon complete that portion of the puzzle.

My portion of sky contained a giraffe nose, so I was able to slot that into position in the main puzzle as well. We were doing well here, even without Urni’s help.

The remaining parts of the puzzle were mostly foliage, grass and branches, with the occasional visual clue in the form of a portion of a flower, bird or animal.

I concentrated on trying to sort out ground cover from the trees, joining two or three pieces together when I came across matches, and leaving Sharon and Samantha to find where they fitted into the main puzzle.

My portable Urni beeped. I took her out of my pocket.

How is it going John, are you ready for dinner?

I showed Urni the almost completed puzzle.

OK, we’ll give you half an hour to finish up. We’re all eating down in the canteen tonight.

OK girls, we need to pick up the pace here. Urni’s given us half an hour until dinner time!

Easy! said Samantha, picking up a bit of tree I had been working on, and slotting it into position.

Sharon spotted a piece featuring a flamingo’s leg that I had been trying to make fit as a flower stem, and slotted it into its ‘correct’ location.

We were at the stage now where almost every piece we picked up could be fitted into the main puzzle, it was just a question of working out where!

Suddenly we were down to the last three pieces. We took one each.

You first, Uncle John Samantha instructed.

I dropped my piece into position.

Samantha put her piece in place, and left Sharon to put the final piece in place to complete the puzzle.

Finished! she said, sitting back to admire the completed picture.

OK I said, let’s leave the puzzle here, and I’ll get it ready for framing later.

OK Ucl John.

We headed down to the canteen. We split up to wash our hands. Samantha would help Sharon, I never really felt comfortable entering the ladies wash-room, or changing room, even when I knew we had the building to ourselves. The girls would call for assistance if they needed me.

I was waiting for the girls when they emerged, all clean and shiny, ready for their dinner.

We walked thought to the canteen together.

The table was laid and ready. There were pots of sour cream, guacamole and tomato salsa along the table. This was looking promising. I liked Mexican food. Urni emerged from the kitchen with a couple of plates of warmed soft tortilla. Sonia and Alison followed behind with dishes of shredded turkey with onion, peppers and chilli. There was one plate of turkey and peppers without chilli, which Sonia put between Sharon and Samantha. This one has extra chilli said Sonia, putting the plate next to me. I was sitting next to Samantha, with Urni next to me.

Sharon was sitting opposite to her sister, with Sonia next to her.

Simon walked in carrying two jugs.

Margaritas he said, holding one jug up and Margarita mocktails. He held up the other jug.

I poured a little of the mocktail for Samantha, who decided she liked it, so I filled her glass and passed the jug across to Sonia who poured a little for Sharon to try.

It was a hit with her as well.

Simon fetched another jug of Margaritas for the other end of the table.

I helped Samantha assemble a fajita, then prepared my own and poured myself and Urni a Margarita.

It may seem a little excessive to drink cocktails with dinner, but don’t forget that all of the adults around the table had been injected with Methuselah nanobots, so we’d have to try seriously hard to get even slightly buzzed. Getting drunk was virtually impossible, especially since we were also eating.

The fajitas were delicious.

The guacamole and salsa had both obviously been made fresh and, although I had been known to knock together a similar recipe at this time of year, this was superior to my usual efforts. (It’s an excellent way to use left-over turkey – marinade strips of meat for as long as you can manage in a mixture of lime juice and tequila. Cook the onions, peppers, garlic and chilli, then stir in the turkey with some additional herbs and seasoning for the last few minutes to warm through.)

This all tastes wonderful I said.

You can thank your wife for the food, and my husband for the drinks! said Sonia. I just stood and watched in silent admiration.

That’s not entirely true said Urni, smiling Sonia and Alison did help me slice and dice!

Can I have another, please, Uncle John? I helped Samantha prepare another fajita.

Sharon had also finished her first and Sonia was busy preparing a second for her youngest daughter.

A thought occurred to me. Urni, did you marinade ALL the turkey?

Don’t worry, John, I made an alcohol-free, chilli-free mole sauce for the girls.

Not Mr Mole! said Sharon, putting her fork down in horror.

Not, Mole I said Moh-leh. It’s made with chocolate.

Oh said Sharon, and picked her fork back up again.

Sonia and I exchanged grins.

Can I have another, please Uncle John? I looked at Samantha, They’re very good!

I helped her prepare her third fajita. I was surprised by Samantha’s appetite, I’d normally only eat three, or maybe four, myself. I’d obviously have to try Urni’s mole sauce at some point.

Save some room for dessert! said Sonia. Urni’s made churros with chocolate dipping sauce."

What are churros? asked Sharon.

They’re like long thin doughnuts said Urni. You can dip them in chocolate sauce.

Mr Moh-leh? asked Sharon.

No laughed Urni, just ordinary chocolate sauce. Oh, and I also made some lime sorbet.

I’ll take some of that I said.

Yes, Sonia said you’d prefer that to the churros said Urni. I’d be jealous that she knows you so much better than I do, if I didn’t know she was so happy with Simon.

Oh, don’t worry about Sonia I said, grinning, we’re just good friends.

The adults around the table laughed at that.

No you’re not! said Samantha. You’re family!

That’s right! I said, kissing Samantha on her forehead. She’s my little sister. Which means I get two wonderful nieces as part of the deal!

I finished my fajitas. Sonia and Urni jumped up to clear the table. I jumped up to help.

I rinsed plates and loaded the dishwasher whilst Urni and Sonia took plates of churros and individual pots of chocolate sauce through.

When I had finished loading the dishwasher with the main course, I returned to the dining room. It appeared that I was the only one who’d opted for the sorbet, but when I tasted it, I was glad I had!

This is delicious Urni! I said.

These are nice as well, Auntie Urni! said Samantha.

Sharon was muttering something. Hello, Mr Moh-leh. She picked up a churro and ‘walked’ it to her chocolate sauce. Whoops. Mr Mole fell head-first into the chocolate sauce. Don’t worry, I help! She bit Mr Mole’s head off!

We finished our desserts, and sat back, finishing the last of the drinks.

Urni, Simon, an excellent dinner! Thank you both. I said, raising my Margarita in toast. If this is what you knocked together for dinner tonight, I can hardly wait to see what you’ve prepared for the party!

Ah! said Simon, grinning. He can dish it out, but he can’t take it!

I thought back to lunch, and my problem with accepting complements. Guilty as charged! I said. "But I am