Gianni Truvianni's "New York's Opera Society" Chapter 25
Gianni Truvianni's "New York's Opera Society" Chapter 25
Talk as it did was bound to start about something that never failed to come around every time I had a new girlfriend which was the story of how or shall I say the circumstance that introduced my parents to one another. "I remember the first time I saw you, do you remember the first time you saw me, Getty? Did you fall in love with me then or did that come later?" was my father's way of telling my mother that the time had come to tell, the new comer (Gosia), that story which I have just mentioned. "Oh, come on, we don't want to make a nuisance of ourselves Fred by telling that old worn out story just because this lady from Poland has not heard it." was what Violeta and I could see as my mother's way of playing hard to get, as all of us knew that their was no-way now that my mother was not going to retell the story all of us; excluding Gosia knew all too well. "Yes, Getty we want to make a nuisance of ourselves telling the story. We know we are going to tell it or unless you, young lady (now looking at Gosia who had been listening attentively all the while) don't want to hear, how my wife and I met each other for the first time? And then you and Bill or perhaps you alone can tell us how you met our son?" was my father's way of telling Gosia who simply said "ok" to my father's question and request that she tell my parents how we originally met. Now, that my mother had received the permission to tell her story which had never been denied her, she started telling Gosia the story of the first encounter between her and my father which led to the 35 years of marriage they had behind them.
"Our story started many years ago when I was working as a singer; who was going to be performing at a function given by Fred's company. I remember this was in the days when Fred was still hoping to land his first job, in the same company which he now works for. It started with me who was seated outside what is now Fred's office, where I saw and heard Fred waiting and talking to a friend of his who also worked in the company. At first I was not paying attention to what they were saying but it did not take me long to figure out what the conversation topic was. Fred had apparently come for a job interview and was waiting to see my father, who was though none of us knew it at the time not only his prospective boss but future father-in-law. Fred asked his friend who was already working in the company what he felt his chances were of getting a job in a place like this one, to which this gentleman who we still keep in touch with till this day said that the old man, who Fred would later find out was my father, wasn't so tough and that with Fred's education and qualifications he should have no trouble getting the position he was after. It was then that well, Fred's friend who was probably on his lunch break said something that I will never forget as I was sitting right next to him which was "Hey, Fred I hope you get the job before next week coz if you do you can come to our annual summer party, which this year will be held outdoors, providing the good weather holds and this year I have heard their brining in an opera singer who will perform some opera songs as well as some nice numbers." Of course little did they know that I was the opera singer who was going to be performing so then your father said the first words I remember him saying which were "Look, I really hope I get the job and soon but as far as hearing some screaming fat opera singer is concerned that I can do without.". (this last comment made Gosia laugh as I could see by the look on her face that the story was one that she could relate to) Yes, he said that about me, (my mother continuing with a laugh) well not really about me because he did not know it would be me, whose presence he had not even noticed (my mother's voice gaining a hint of sarcasm) given that he was so preoccupied with getting the job he was after but I noticed and heard him and got the urge to give him a piece of my mind but decided it would be unladylike to address a fellow who had not even acknowledged my being there with as much as a by your leave. Eventually the man we had both come to see for different reasons came out of his office with a lady who had been taking up his time and it was then that Fred laid eyes upon me for the first time. At first I really did not know if he looked at me because he found me attractive or because he was wondering which one of us should go in first. At that point I figured I could wait, so I said to both my father and Fred, "I think you better go in first, mine can wait for a man who is as hungry for employment as this gentleman appears to be." I could see that Fred was relieved to be going in first, as I could see by the anxiety in him that he wanted to know once and for all if he was going to be working there or not. Fred thanked me as did my father for being understanding enough to wait a little longer. I must confess though that even then I was for some unknown reason, even to myself hoping that this man would get the job, perhaps so he could see for himself when he came to the summer party that not all opera singers were fat.". I could see that Gosia was enjoying the story while my sister and I were more preoccupied with Gosia's reactions.
"Getty, let me take it from here?" were my father's words to tell my mother that he wanted to get his two cents into the story which my mother did not object to, so my father started. "Well, let's see. I went in there not knowing what would happen. After all I was just out of college and had no real experience; not that in those days many people just out of college had much in the way of experience but there was still that lack of experience that made me insecure as to weather I would get the job which I did of course, as you can see for yourself but what happened next is why I am telling or shall I say why we are telling this story. Once my future father-in-law assured me that I would be starting the following Monday, I left his office carrying not only a new outlook on life but a word for the young lady who was waiting outside his office to come in. Strangely enough when I told Getty she could go in she asked me if I had the job which I naturally told her I had. Making Getty say the first exact words I remember her saying which were "I am glad you got the job, that means you will be seeing me next week." to which I asked how that was so? Did she work here to which she replied "No, not really but I am going to be the fat opera singer who will be screaming at the party your friend told you about.".
At this point all could tell the differences in narration style between my mother and father. Where as my mother was more out to entertain, my father was more out to fill in details and this perhaps being what made the story more interesting as my father continued "It was after having said these words that she went into her father's office, leaving me feeling perhaps not embarrassed but like I needed to clarify something to this young lady who by then with my new look on life started to seem not so bad looking. Yes, attractively beautiful in a shy sort of way; wearing clothes which were conservative even for those days so I decided to wait for her to come out so I could tell her that I really had not meant anything personal by that crack I had made about her. The idea hit me while I was waiting that maybe this was going to be my day. I had gotten a job, the first one I had ever tried for so maybe I would be lucky in love on the same day so when Getty came out of my new boss's office I just said "hello" to her who just said "Oh, it's you again, how come you aren't out celebrating getting the job you were after or were you just waiting for the woman you called a fat." and just before she finished
quoting me I started to say that I was sorry, only to be interrupted myself by Getty telling me that if I really wanted to make it up to her for what I had said I could treat her to a diet coke and lunch at the nearest coffee shop because she was starved, after having waited for me to get through with my job interview and that I could probably afford it now that I was going to be as she put it amongst society's employed.".
I could see that my mother liked the way my father had taken over the story, so she decided to finish it "It was during this lunch, my first one with Fred that I fell in love, well we fell in love (now both my parents holding hands with smiles which they seemed to have taken from that moment in the past which they were reminiscing about) and that I told him that he should try to get in good with his boss's daughter; making it not too hard for him to guess that I was talking about myself and like they say the rest is history as you young lady can imagine for yourself what came after that.".
When my parents finished telling their story, Violeta and I could see that Gosia had really been taken in by it; after all I think most people would have shared Gosia's feelings which made her more willing to tell of how we met.
My interest was risen by hearing how Gosia told a story which I knew and had participated in. It was not so much the story but the way Gosia described it. The same events seen through the eyes of the person who had experienced them with me. It was that coupled with the fact that my parents as well as my sister were being shown, for the first time a side of my personality which they given their relationship with me would never be exposed to that gave me a feeling which was splendorous in its novelty.
I do not know if Gosia would have described the story perhaps in a more sexual way had her audience not included my folks or even myself; whose ear may have caused her tongue to speak with a degree of bashfulness though with no less sincerity.
It was my parents' and my sister's reactions to our tale that told me that perhaps our first encounter could match that of my parents or at least as far as romance was the topic. One thing did strike me as a thought, which was that in a way every couple was different. As different as were the circumstances that made them such but the observing eye could always find similarities which always were in mutual attraction.
In all this day which had wasted 15:00 hours, making it just that time, though I had not seen what had gone on between my mother, my sister and Gosia; I could tell that my mother and sister had taken a genuine affection toward Gosia and vice versa. Perhaps they would have become friends even if not for my relationship with Gosia. There are many vehicles that bring people to the relationship which can be labeled as friendship but I could see that theirs (Gosia's with my mother and sister) was one that would have had legs of its own to stand upon.
As Gosia continued in what seemed like endless detail of everything that had transpired between us up till the evening Gosia first enchanted us with her talent; so did the afternoon continue to use up its time. The afternoon was being consumed by the good time we were having, as was the meal along with the beverages we had ordered. So many deserts topped with luscious creams, plates filled with flavor; as well as calories and let's not forget the drinks whose mixture managed to hide the taste of their alcohol but never their inebriating effect which had taken a hold of all those who sat at the table with the exceptions of myself, the designated driver as well as my sister; the constant athlete. Yes, our yearly shopping spree was drawing to a close as was the afternoon, which had heard many a word spoken of friendship, couples coming together as well as cultural differences.
Gianni Truvianni's "New York's Opera Society" Chapter 26 Gianni Truvianni's "New York's Opera Society" Chapter 27 Gianni Truvianni's "New York's Opera Society" Chapter 28 Gianni Truvianni's "New York's Opera Society" Chapter 29 Gianni Truvianni's "New York's Opera Society" Chapter 30 Gianni Truvianni's "New York's Opera Society" Chapter 31 Gianni Truvianni's "New York's Opera Society" Chapter 32 Gianni Truvianni's "New York's Opera Society" Chapter 33 Gianni Truvianni's "New York's Opera Society" Chapter 34 Gianni Truvianni's "New York's Opera Society" Chapter 35 Gianni Truvianni's "New York's Opera Society" Chapter 36 Gianni Truvianni's "New York's Opera Society" Conclusion A Good Source of Information on Society Finches