A year after graduation Anaya found herself managing the parlor
full-time, while her father worked on starting a second one. Her lone friend
had shipped to college across the country. Her mother shuttled between the two stores to
help where she could. One slow day when Anaya was alone behind the front
counter, a young man walked in. She put on her professional smile and welcomed
him to the store. He sampled a few flavors and settled on a cup of pistachio
gelato. Holding the cool cup, he
lingered a while as Anaya waited. He smiled, introduced himself as Kris, and
asked her a few questions about how the business was going, whether she enjoyed
working there, what she did in her free time, her favorite place to eat. She
kept her professional smile pasted and gave short quick answers – yes business
was good, it’s a family business so there’s no question about enjoy or not, and
no, she doesn’t have free time or eat out. He was charming in a way, but she
didn’t feel any attraction toward him. He stayed to finish the ice-cream in his
cup and tried to make more conversation, but luckily they were interrupted, as
more customers walked in and she got busy handing out endless samples to a team
of soccer kids.
Late one evening her parents knocked on her bedroom door and invited themselves in. They asked her about the young man, Kris, who had visited their parlor few weeks ago. She was perplexed and told them that he asked too many questions and hopefully she hadn’t caused any problems by answering. Her mother shook her head and asked, what she thought of this young man. Why? She asked, what do they care? She thought he was a jerk, too inquisitive, too friendly for her comfort. Well, her father informed, that Anaya will have to like him now, and it would make them very happy, because they had arranged for them to be married. Anaya felt as if both her parents had slapped her. She stared at them and shouted her objections. How could they do this without even asking her? What gave them the right? She thought they needed her to help with the business, to take care of them. How could they even do this without even asking when, if, she wanted to get married? She yelled and bawled and cried, in anger, in desperation, in despair. Her mother held her and rocked her, as if lulling her to sleep. Anaya’s petite body heaved and then depleted, she slumped.
to be continued...
Late one evening her parents knocked on her bedroom door and invited themselves in. They asked her about the young man, Kris, who had visited their parlor few weeks ago. She was perplexed and told them that he asked too many questions and hopefully she hadn’t caused any problems by answering. Her mother shook her head and asked, what she thought of this young man. Why? She asked, what do they care? She thought he was a jerk, too inquisitive, too friendly for her comfort. Well, her father informed, that Anaya will have to like him now, and it would make them very happy, because they had arranged for them to be married. Anaya felt as if both her parents had slapped her. She stared at them and shouted her objections. How could they do this without even asking her? What gave them the right? She thought they needed her to help with the business, to take care of them. How could they even do this without even asking when, if, she wanted to get married? She yelled and bawled and cried, in anger, in desperation, in despair. Her mother held her and rocked her, as if lulling her to sleep. Anaya’s petite body heaved and then depleted, she slumped.
to be continued...
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