July 31st 1989
July 31, 1989
Last night was so much fun!! I ate soooo much spaghetti I thought I might explode. It was Aunt Jo Ellen and Uncle Artie’s anniversary, and Kate had this super genius (natch) idea that we could make them dinner as a surprise. Like a real fancy dinner. With candles and cloth napkins folded—Tessa knew how to make them look like flowers!
All of us kids—even Eli and Peter—got in on it. I couldn’t believe Eli wanted to help, but I think Peter talked him into it. We didn’t know how to make anything nice at first, but we all walked to the Cavallari’s deli and Mr. Frank told us how to make the best spaghetti and meatballs ever. Eli wrote everything down, and we walked to Publix together to get the stuff. It felt super grown-up.
The parents were out on the boat all afternoon, so we had hours to cook. Good thing too, because we totally burned the first batch of meatballs and Kate said the spaghetti turned to mush. We laughed so hard I almost dropped a pot.
Kate made the red sauce, and I swear it tasted exactly like the fancy stuff from the Italian restaurant we go to back home. She’s kind of amazing at cooking. I was scared to mess anything up, so I just helped roll the meatballs. It was kinda like playing with Play-Doh…but grosser if I thought about it too much. I tried not to.
Tessa and I pretended we were waitresses and made a whole menu and everything. We even dressed up and called it “Ristorante Destin.” They let us pour the wine, too! I only spilled a little.
The best part? The parents loved it. Aunt Jo Ellen even said it was one of her favorite anniversary dinners ever. We all sat outside with candles and the sun was setting, and it felt so cool to watch them enjoy something we made. Even Eli smiled a lot. (Until he smeared sauce on my nose, but whatever. He’s Eli.)
I guess I didn’t realize how fun it could be when we all worked together like that. It felt like…we were a team, even if we don’t always get along.
Peter was really nice to me the whole time. I think he stayed near me on purpose. I liked it but…I also got nervous sometimes when he talked to me. I don’t know why! Ugh.
Anyway, the whole thing made me wish summer wasn’t almost over. I want to stay here forever.
Vivien