"Oh Boy! Something smells good," said Ben, as he held the chair that his girlfriend Kenya Adaeze was about to sit in.
"It's just spaghetti and meatballs, a specialty of the house. Had we known Kenya was inviting you back here for dinner, I would of made something fancier," explained her Aunt Tanya.
"And I would of told you that you did not have to go to such trouble for me," said Ben as he sat down, for Kenya's Uncle Barry was holding the chair for his wife.
"Aren't you sweet," Aunt Tanya said with a smile. "Okay everybody, dig in," she added, as bowls of pasta, meatballs, sauce, and garlic bread were passed around.
"Did you two have a great time together?" Barry asked, looking at his niece and her beau slyly.
"It was wonderful," Kenya answered with a smile, while looking at Ben.
The glances the two young lovers exchanged were only matched by the looks Barry and Tanya gave each other, happy that Kenya had not only found love, but that everything was going well beyond their wildest hopes and dreams for their niece.
"This is delicious," Ben said, after trying his supper.
"The secret is in the spices. I put some into the hamburger before I formed the meatballs, some into the water before it was boiling for the pasta, and some into the sauce before it was ready," explained Tanya.
"Oregano?" Ben asked.
"Some. Why?" wondered Tanya, hoping Ben wasn't allergic, although she had never heard of anyone being allergic of that spice before.
"I could smell it. My moms have been giving me cooking lessons from time to time, because they believe a man should be able to survive in the kitchen and not have to rely on how well he can operate the microwave or get take out."
"Smart women," agreed Tanya. "I have tried teaching Kenya how to cook, but sometimes I consider it a small miracle she can successfully boil water."
"Kenya did a lot more than that today," replied Ben. "We had a late breakfast with my moms this morning, and she definitely impressed Samantha and Frances with her cooking."
"Our Kenya? Really?" asked Tanya in disbelief.
"Yes. Our Kenya. Does this surprise you Auntie?" asked her niece.
"Some," admitted the older woman. "I knew you would master the kitchen enough to survive in time, but I guess you were paying more attention than I thought."
"So, Benjamin," began Barry. "Have you two set a date yet?"
"Kenya's agreed to go out with me Saturday night to the annual Moon Lake Halloween Dance, if that's what you're asking me," replied Ben.
"No, I mean for your wedding," Barry clarified. This got mutual admonishments from both his wife and niece as Ben began to blush.
"What?" Barry asked in return, not understanding why the women were upset. "We were the same age as him when I asked you for your paw in marriage," he reminded his wife, despite the fact everyone was sitting around the table still fully dressed and in their human forms.
"But that was different. Things were different back in the old country," Tanya reminded her husband. "When the time is right, if that is the path their lives take, then I am sure Benjamin will do the right thing."
"Actually," began Ben, finding the courage to speak. "I have already told Kenya what is in my heart and how I feel about her. It also makes me happy to know that she feels the same way about me as I do her. However, between the laws of Moon Lake and practicalities, we have both agreed that we will have to wait until after I turn 18 and graduate high school before I can ask her the one question I really want to, but Kenya has already hinted to me what her answer will be when I can."
To that, Kenya just simply smiled and nodded her head affirmatively as she began to blush.
"This is good," said her Aunt Tanya, while dabbing her eyes with her napkin, for she was starting to shed tears of joy.
Uncle Barry smiled, raised his glass of milk, and said, "To the future!"