BONUS CHAPTER 33: The Third Fridge

Five years and two months later, August, not June, lavender not real purple but cut, harvested, but smell still in house, in clothes, in blue shirt with seven drool patches that now had eight drool patches because Mara drooled again yesterday on purpose because she said "eight is better than seven, like your eight white ruins."

Milo was 29 and three months, still 47 freckles on nose, still 12 on cheek, still 3 on forehead when nervous, but now also tiny line when he smiles, from smiling so much, because five years of smiling more than 24 years of cold.

Lucien was 33 and three months, CEO still but now half Provence office, half New York, half Taraba office, because he opened Taraba office for Milo's mom, with photos on walls, because Milo said "my mom needs office with photos too, not just rice and beans."

They had third fridge now.

First fridge New York penthouse with 150 photos, because Milo kept adding after 300 total, now 350 total across two fridges, but now third fridge.

Second fridge Provence stone house with 150 photos, plus wedding, anniversary, gallery, Vogue no, second gallery, fifth anniversary, key and ruin and sock.

Third fridge Taraba, Ukari, in Milo's mom house, small house, but big fridge, because Milo bought big fridge for mom with gallery money $120,000 real money, big fridge that could hold 100 photos, because mom said "my son has two fridges with photos, I need fridge with photos too, I want to be warm fridge too."

So Milo put 100 photos on third fridge, Taraba fridge, photos of Milo and Lucien and Mara and lavender real purple and rice and beans and pancakes and blue shirt with eight drool patches and white shirt with eight dirt patches and family key and white ruin and sock that still hang on same lavender stem five years and two months later, still hanging, now with Mara second sock, because Mara hung second sock last month, so now two socks hanging, pink and blue and green and yellow, mismatched socks hanging on lavender stem, tradition.

Third fridge in Taraba had sun, hot sun, not Provence soft sun, but hot Taraba sun that made photos curl a little, but Milo taped them stronger, with stronger magnets, because Taraba sun is strong like Taraba mom is strong.

Milo, Lucien, Mara flew to Taraba for third fridge ceremony, because every fridge needs ceremony, like gallery needs ceremony, like wedding needs ceremony, like Vogue no needs ceremony.

Mrs. Alvarez came too, with Tupperware rice and beans on plane again, fourth plane with rice and beans, tradition, plus grandson who is now 16 and second photographer and teaches Taraba kids photo class, because Milo opened Taraba photo class with gallery money.

Sarah toddler, now 6, flower big girl, came with baby sister who wears mismatched socks, tradition, plus baby sister drooled on Taraba fridge photos already, first Taraba drool, tradition.

Lena and girlfriend, married, blue shirt wedding like Milo, came with wine not for throwing, but Lena brought extra wine for throwing just in case, tradition.

Eleanor and Henri, 74 and 73, with baguettes and cheese and 100 pancakes, but now 100 pancakes for 4 people in Taraba, Milo, Lucien, Mara, mom, 25 pancakes each, but Mara eats 26 because baby, tradition.

Village old ladies from Provence, 10, came with lavender that is cut but still smells, and Taraba old ladies, 10, with wrappers bright like Milo's mom, with rice and beans that are different but same, because rice and beans everywhere.

20 people from wedding plus 10 village Provence plus 10 village Taraba plus mom plus Mrs. A plus grandson plus Sarah plus toddler plus baby sister plus Lena plus girlfriend plus Eleanor plus Henri plus Milo plus Lucien plus Mara = 50 people, not 20, 50, biggest family ever, because third fridge bigger than first fridge.

Ceremony at 11 AM, hot sun, Taraba sun, third fridge in mom house yard under mango tree, not inside because inside too hot and fridge needs shade, mango tree shade.

Milo wore blue good luck shirt, eight drool patches now, still same shirt, faded more, but blue still good luck, still wedding shirt, anniversary shirt, gallery shirt, Vogue no shirt, second gallery shirt, fifth anniversary shirt, third fridge shirt, forever shirt.

Lucien wore white shirt with no tie, eight dirt patches now, because Mara got dirt on purpose yesterday, eight patches matching eight drool patches, tradition.

Mara wore mismatched socks, pink and green, five freckles on nose, tiny camera, toy camera, plus real camera now, small real camera that Milo bought with $120,000 real money, because Mara is 2 and half now, not 2, 2 and half, big girl, real camera.

Henri tapped glass, like wedding, engagement, gallery, second gallery, anniversary, like all ceremonies, but now with mango juice, not wine, because Taraba hot and mango juice cold.

"My third fridge," Milo's mom said, wrapper bright, crying, but warmest cry, "My son has three fridges now, New York, Provence, Taraba, three fridges with photos, my house has fridge that smiles, like Provence house smiled in November when lavender was not purple, my house smiles in August when sun is hot and photos curl but still smile."

People clapped, 50 people clapping, mango tree leaves clapping with wind, hot sun clapping with heat, third fridge humming with cold.

Milo spoke, gallery voice, wedding voice, husband voice, father voice, photographer voice, freckled boy voice that was once cold but now warmest.

"Hi," he said, ring hand with eight drool patches, ring shining five years and two months, freckle dots inside faded more but still freckles, still love. "Five years and two months ago I had box in moldy basement that said DO NOT THROW. And I had 7 photos. And I thought 7 was all I deserved. And now I have three fridges, 350 photos, 100 in barn, 50 in New York, 100 in Taraba, 100 in Provence, 350 total, plus 8 white ruins, 8 drool patches, 8 dirt patches, 5 freckles on Mara, 47 on me, 1 family key, 1 white ruin, 2 socks hanging on same lavender stem five years and two months later, still hanging, plus toy photos, plus real camera for Mara, plus $120,000 real money, plus 40 babies plus our baby Mara, plus 50 people here under mango tree. And I have third fridge that smiles like Provence house smiled. So thank you for coming to my third warm fridge ceremony."

People clapped, 50 people, loudest clap ever, because 50 more than 20, because third fridge more than second fridge, because Taraba hot sun makes clap louder.

Mrs. Alvarez cried, "Milo, honey, you have third fridge, you have rice and beans on three fridges, you have warmest fridges!"

Sarah toddler, now 6, said "Milo, you have third fridge, can I drool on third fridge too?"

Milo said "Yes, drool on third fridge, tradition, all fridges need drool."

So Sarah baby sister, now 1, drooled on Taraba fridge photos, first Taraba drool, eighth drool patch on blue shirt coming tomorrow, tradition.

Milo sold 0 photos that day, because third fridge ceremony not gallery, but he gave 10 photos to Taraba kids, free, because gallery money is for giving too, not just selling, because Milo said "my box said DO NOT THROW, so I will not throw, I will give."

He gave photo of lavender real purple to Taraba old lady who never saw lavender real purple, only mango, and she said "purple is beautiful, like your freckles, 47 freckles."

He gave photo of rice and beans to Provence old lady who never ate Taraba rice and beans, and she said "rice and beans same everywhere, warm everywhere."

He gave photo of Mara with mismatched socks and toy camera to his mom, and mom cried warmest cry, "my granddaughter has 5 freckles and mismatched socks and real camera, warmest."

That night, under mango tree, 50 people eating 100 pancakes, 2 pancakes each, but Milo eats 10, tradition, Mara eats 26, tradition, Lucien eats 2, tradition, Mrs. A eats 3 with rice and beans, tradition, all eating pancakes with blueberry freckles that Eleanor made in Taraba hot kitchen, 100 pancakes gone again.

Milo taped third fridge ceremony photo — 50 people under mango tree, third fridge with 100 photos, blue shirt eight drool patches, white shirt eight dirt patches, Mara with real camera and mismatched socks — on fridge in Taraba house, third fridge, first photo on third fridge.

He wrote, with ring hand, five years and two months later handwriting, still messy, still freckled boy but now 29 father husband photographer with third fridge:

THIRD FRIDGE CEREMONY, TARABA, UNDER MANGO TREE, 50 PEOPLE, 100 PHOTOS ON THIRD FRIDGE, 350 TOTAL PHOTOS ON THREE FRIDGES, 100 IN BARN, 50 IN NEW YORK, 8 WHITE RUINS, 8 DROOL PATCHES, 8 DIRT PATCHES, 5 FRECKLES ON MARA, 47 ON ME, 1 FAMILY KEY, 1 WHITE RUIN, 2 SOCKS HANGING ON SAME LAVENDER STEM 5 YEARS AND 2 MONTHS LATER, STILL HANGING, PLUS TOY PHOTOS, PLUS MARA REAL CAMERA, PLUS $120,000 REAL MONEY, PLUS 40 BABIES PLUS MARA, PLUS RICE AND BEANS ON 4 PLANES, PLUS 100 PANCAKES FOR 50 PEOPLE, PLUS MANGO JUICE, PLUS THIRD FRIDGE THAT SMILES LIKE PROVENCE HOUSE SMILED IN NOVEMBER. I HAVE THREE FRIDGES THAT SMILE NOW. I AM WARMEST. - M WITH THREE FRIDGES FATHER HUSBAND

Lucien added, white shirt eight dirt patches, ring five years and two months:

Third fridge, 50 people, he gave 10 photos free, he said box said DO NOT THROW so he will give, he gave lavender to Taraba old lady, rice and beans to Provence old lady, Mara photo to his mom, he has three fridges that smile now, we have three homes that smile now, our table forever now has three tables, New York, Provence, Taraba, good possessive includes three tables now, three fridges, 50 people, good possessive forever forever forever. - L WITH THREE TABLES FATHER HUSBAND

Mara added, real camera, not toy, 2 and half years, big girl handwriting with help:

MARA REAL CAMERA, 2 AND HALF, 5 FRECKLES, MISMATCHED SOCKS PINK GREEN, I HANG SECOND SOCK ON LAVENDER STEM, I HAVE REAL CAMERA NOW, NOT TOY, I TAKE PHOTO OF THIRD FRIDGE, I AM WARMESTEST. - MARA REAL CAMERA

Milo's mom added, wrapper bright, hot sun handwriting:

My son has three fridges, my house has fridge that smiles, my granddaughter has real camera and 5 freckles and mismatched socks, I have mango tree and third fridge, I am warmest grandma. - MOM WITH THIRD FRIDGE

Mrs. Alvarez added:

Fourth plane with rice and beans, third fridge, 50 people, my grandson is second photographer and teaches Taraba kids, Milo has three fridges, I have three Tupperwares now, tradition. - MRS A WITH 3 TUPPERWARES

And that was third fridge, bonus chapter 33, five years and two months after wedding, 50 people, 100 photos on third fridge, 350 total, 8 white ruins, 8 drool patches, 8 dirt patches, 1 key, 1 ruin, 2 socks hanging five years and two months later on same lavender stem in Provence, still hanging, still home, still forever, now with third fridge in Taraba under mango tree that smiles like Provence house smiled in November when lavender was not purple but we said purple, now hot sun but still smiles.

BONUS CHAPTER 34: The Forever Table



The table was not table.

It was three tables, New York, Provence, Taraba, but Milo called it one table, our table forever, because table is not wood, table is people.

Five years and three months later, September, not June, not August, September, lavender cut, mango eaten, but tables still there, three tables, one table.

Milo 29 and four months, 47 freckles, 12 cheek, 3 forehead, eight drool patches, now nine, because Mara drooled again this morning on purpose, nine drool patches, nine white ruins, nine dirt patches, because Lucien got dirt yesterday on purpose, nine patches, tradition, counting.

Lucien 33 and four months, CEO half Provence half New York half Taraba, white shirt nine dirt patches, ring five years and three months, freckle dot faded more but still there, still love, still good possessive.

Mara 2 and 8 months, 5 freckles, mismatched socks every day, real camera every day, plus toy camera for backup, because real camera needs backup, because photographer needs backup, because Milo taught her.

Mara now says "our table forever" like Milo, like Lucien, because she heard it five years, because she lives it.

On September 15, five years and three months after wedding, they had dinner at all three tables at same time, via video call, because three tables need to be one table via video, because technology is table too.

New York penthouse table, with Mrs. Alvarez rice and beans Tupperware fifth plane, with Sarah toddler now 6 and half and baby sister now 1 and half with mismatched socks, with Lena and girlfriend wife and blue shirt wedding photo, with photo class friends 5, with college best friend, with 150 photos on fridge New York, with 50 photos on wall, with blue good luck shirt nine drool patches on Milo via video.

Provence stone house table, with Eleanor and Henri, 74 and 73, baguettes and cheese and 100 pancakes, 100 pancakes for 2 people plus video 50 people, but 100 pancakes still, tradition, with 150 photos on fridge Provence, with 100 photos in barn, with family key and white ruin and two socks hanging on same lavender stem five years and three months later, still hanging, plus Mara second sock, plus toy photos, plus real camera photos, still hanging, still home, still forever, with blue shirt nine drool patches via video.

Taraba mango tree table, with Milo's mom, wrapper bright, with Taraba old ladies 10, with Taraba kids 10 who learned photo class from Mrs. Alvarez grandson who is now 16 and teacher, with third fridge with 100 photos that curl a little in hot sun but still smile, with mango juice, with rice and beans Taraba style, with blue good luck shirt nine drool patches in person, because Milo, Lucien, Mara flew to Taraba again for forever table dinner.

Three tables, one table, our table forever, video call, 50 people again, plus 10 Taraba kids, 60 people, biggest table ever.

Milo spoke at all three tables via video, with nine drool patches, with ring five years and three months, with 47 freckles, with father voice, husband voice, photographer voice, freckled boy voice that was once cold boy with box in moldy basement that said DO NOT THROW, now warmest boy with three tables, three fridges, 350 photos, 9 white ruins, 9 drool patches, 9 dirt patches, 5 freckles on Mara, 47 on him, 1 key, 1 ruin, 2 socks hanging five years and three months later, still hanging.

"Hi," he said, at three tables, one table, our table forever. "Five years and three months ago I married in lavender real purple, blue shirt, 20 people, pancakes with freckle blueberries, small cake not taller than me. And I thought 20 was biggest family. And now we have 60 people, three tables, three fridges, 350 photos, 9 white ruins, 9 drool patches, 9 dirt patches, 1 key, 1 ruin, 2 socks hanging five years and three months later, still hanging, plus toy photos, plus real camera, plus $120,000 real money, plus 40 babies plus Mara, plus rice and beans on 5 planes, plus 100 pancakes for 60 people, plus mango juice, plus three tables that are one table. And I still have blue good luck shirt with nine drool patches, still same shirt, faded more, but blue still good luck, still wedding shirt, still forever shirt. And I still own him forever, like bench, like fridge, like darkroom, like Provence fingerprint, like third fridge, like forever table. Our table forever now has three tables and small chair for Mara and small camera for Mara and 60 people. Thank you for coming to our forever table."

People clapped at three tables, 60 people clapping, mango tree leaves clapping, lavender cut but smell still clapping, New York traffic clapping, barn stone walls clapping, three fridges humming and clapping with cold.

Mrs. Alvarez cried fifth plane, "Milo, honey, you have three tables, three fridges, 60 people, you have warmest tables and fridges!"

Sarah toddler, now 6 and half, said "Milo, you have three tables, can I drool on three tables too?"

Milo said "Yes, drool on three tables, tradition, all tables need drool."

So baby sister drooled on Taraba table, first Taraba table drool, tenth drool patch coming tomorrow.

Milo taped forever table photo — three tables via video, 60 people, blue shirt nine drool patches, white shirt nine dirt patches, Mara real camera, mismatched socks, third fridge, first fridge, second fridge, barn 100 photos, New York 50, key, ruin, socks hanging five years and three months later — on all three fridges, same photo on three fridges, because forever table needs to be on all fridges.

He wrote, with ring hand, five years and three months later handwriting, same messy, same freckled boy but now 29 father husband photographer with three tables, three fridges, 60 people:

FOREVER TABLE DINNER, THREE TABLES ONE TABLE, 60 PEOPLE, NEW YORK, PROVENCE, TARABA VIA VIDEO, 3 FRIDGES 350 PHOTOS, 100 BARN, 50 NEW YORK, 9 WHITE RUINS, 9 DROOL PATCHES, 9 DIRT PATCHES, 5 FRECKLES MARA, 47 ME, 1 KEY, 1 RUIN, 2 SOCKS HANGING 5 YEARS AND 3 MONTHS LATER STILL HANGING, PLUS TOY PHOTOS PLUS REAL CAMERA, PLUS $120,000 REAL MONEY, PLUS 40 BABIES PLUS MARA, PLUS RICE AND BEANS 5 PLANES, PLUS 100 PANCAKES 60 PEOPLE, PLUS MANGO JUICE, PLUS THREE TABLES ONE TABLE, OUR TABLE FOREVER NOW HAS THREE TABLES AND SMALL CHAIR AND REAL CAMERA AND 60 PEOPLE, I HAVE THREE TABLES THAT SMILE NOW, THREE FRIDGES THAT SMILE, I AM WARMESTEST EVER. - M WITH THREE TABLES THREE FRIDGES FATHER HUSBAND FOREVER

Lucien added, white shirt nine dirt patches, ring five years and three months:

Three tables one table, 60 people, he has three tables that smile, three fridges that smile, he has nine drool patches, nine dirt patches, nine white ruins, one key, one ruin, two socks hanging five years and three months later still hanging, plus Mara real camera, plus 60 people, plus three tables, our table forever now has three tables and small chair and real camera and 60 people, good possessive includes three tables and three fridges and 60 people now, good possessive forever forever forever forever. - L WITH THREE TABLES THREE FRIDGES FATHER HUSBAND FOREVER FOREVER

Mara added, real camera, 2 and 8 months, big girl handwriting, real camera stamp:

MARA REAL CAMERA 2 AND 8 MONTHS, 5 FRECKLES, MISMATCHED SOCKS, REAL CAMERA, I TAKE PHOTO OF THREE TABLES ONE TABLE, I HANG THIRD SOCK TOMORROW, I AM WARMESTESTEST. - MARA REAL CAMERA REAL

And that was forever table, bonus chapter 34, five years and three months after wedding, three tables one table, 60 people, three fridges 350 photos, 100 barn, 50 New York, 9 white ruins, 9 drool patches, 9 dirt patches, 1 key, 1 ruin, 2 socks hanging five years and three months later, still hanging, plus toy photos, plus real camera, plus $120,000 real money, plus 40 babies plus Mara, plus rice and beans 5 planes, plus 100 pancakes 60 people, plus mango juice, plus three tables that are one table, our table forever, forever table, warmest table, warmest fridge, warmest family, forever.