When I get to Ladyslipper, Marcelito (who arrived a week before)
has prepared a surprise for me: he has decorated the kitchen
walls with dried marcaroni glued to construction paper in the
likeness of all sizes and shapes of pasta-penises. He tries
to hold a poker face, but it is just too hilarious— and
we fall on the floor laughing hysterically. This running joke
started back when I was sent home from school in the 4th grade
for making a macaroni-art penis in art class. My mother had
harsh words with the principal for not letting me express myself,
and this feud escalated into a permanent schism—she ended
up sending her precious boys to a new school. I remember her
haughtily telling the old principal, “Felix and Marcelito
don’t learn anything at your school anyway”. I had
rather liked my school, so this was my first experience of the
strange principle of sour grapes, and how they become sour (or
sour noodles in this case). However, the new school had an amazing
art teacher who pushed me onward on the path that has led to
where I am today, so it all worked out for the best. And we
are still getting laughs out of the episode since Marcelito
and I keep managing to psyche each other out with these silly
macaroni creations from time to time.
After we wipe the tears of laughter from our eyes, I can’t
contain myself any more.
“Where’s Clover? Is he here” I ask my brother.
He smirks.
“In the barn, Shimmy the goat has a hurt leg,” Marcel
answers. He looks at me and adds, “I didn’t tell
him you’re coming. And he has a new friend with him.”
Oh my.
I head down to the barn. The sun is coming up, finally--I flew
in on a redeye. I come down the hill to the old barn and I am
treated to the impossibly delicious sight of Clover and his
new friend striving to get to know one another better. They
look so hot together that I almost forget to feel a (sharp)
twinge of jealousy. When Clover finally notices me watching,
he jumps up and runs over to me treating me to a big puppylike
embrace.
