Rooibos and Reflection

Stella

Stella Hardy packed up the last of the Christmas sale items in the Dancing Goats Tea Shop into boxes. She had found in years past that even if she marked it down, it rarely sold after the holidays. It was a better plan to re-market it the next year and there really wasn’t too much left over. She sighed at the empty shelves. Valentines Day was coming and she had a few things on order. She should probably look at the supplier’s web catalogues again and fill in the gaps. With a scoff she carried the Christmas boxes into storage and then pulled out her laptop and vaguely browsed. Her mind quickly wandered and she found herself reminiscing about the holidays just past. This year, they had been a little less lonely. Two days stood out in her mind; the day of the Hobbs Christmas party and oddly, Christmas Day itself.

 She was finishing up the batch of the holiday special tea; White Chocolate Peppermint Rooibos. As the steam rose from her tea, she allowed herself to reminisce about the party day.

It was the after lunch slump just before the tea time rush. Stella Hardy was a little bored waiting for the action to start up again. She was grateful as she saw a familiar patron wander in and greeted him "The coffee drinker returns. Usual?" She chided while stepping back to grab a mug.

 “Yes, thank you, I’ve been wanting a decent cup of coffee all day” Winter said as he approached the counter.

Stella fixed it as per Winter's request and headed back to the till to handed it to him and took the payment "Hey, are you going to Maggie and Dave's Christmas party later?"

 “Maggie and Dave? I don’t know them, I wouldn’t want to intrude on their family and friends” Winter replied as he turned to walk over to his usual table by the corner.

Stella pretended to frown "It's not an elite circle Winter. The whole hamlet is invited. Just go. It's always fun and you'll get to know some neighbours. Here...." She stepped to a small notebook and ripped out a page. As she reached for a pen the phone rang. "Dammit...don't run away yet." With a small sigh she answered it "Dancing Goats?" She smiled into the phone "Chloe. Hello....You want to come in early? Aren't you at the..." She deflated a bit "Chloe I've got a customer. Come in and we'll talk ok?" She let out another silent sigh "OK...see you soon." She clicked to end the call and then madly scrawled "It seems I need to herd more than one of you to this party. Usually I'm the humbug. OK...take this. Tell them Stella sent you. I'm going later so if you don't go...I'll know."

Stella slid the notebook page with the info across the counter beside his coffee. She was clearly teasing and then remembered something "Oh! It's a theme this year as per young Miss Taylor's wishes. You don't have to do it but it's a pajama party."

“I don’t own pajamas, I sleep au natural” Winter stated matter of factly, only to look a bit stunned immediately after knowing that he provided so much information to someone he barely knew.

 Stella giggled a bit "Well you can do what you like with it, though I would suggest some layers of clothing are needed to keep out the cold on the walk over there." She gestured to herself "I'm going from work, so I'll be like this still. I hope Taylor will let us in. And I hope to see you there." She left Winter to his coffee and contemplation and wandered to load the dishwasher in the back kitchen.

By the time she emerged from the steam of the open dishwasher, Winter had gone. The afternoon went on at a decent pace. Family visitors gave some more variety to the customers of the day with folks in from other places.

Chloe eventually walked in the door looking positively depressed. Stella frowned to herself and then before she could greet Chloe one of the patrons was at the counter seeking more hot water. She obliged politely and then turned as Chloe stepped in beside her after putting on an apron and washing her hands.

“Hey Chloe. You alright?” Stella asked gently.

Chloe dismissed the concern “Yeah, yeah I’m fine. Just not a Christmas person. You know?”

Stella offered a small smile “I do know. But you promise a little girl you’d go to her party.”

Chloe deflated “I feel terrible. It’s not Taylor I’m avoiding. I think it’s just all the grown ups.” She laughed a bit and then sighed.

“So ignore them and sit with the kids. Its Taylor’s doing every year anyhow. I won’t be offended.”

Chloe started wiping down the espresso machine “Maybe I’ll try and catch the end. Me being here is so you can go now.”

Stella surveyed the four customers still in the shop. Two put their coats on as she did and started to leave. Now it was down to two; an elderly mother and her caregiver daughter, Lucy Lee and Amy Lee Owens. They were regulars. Amy was offering her mother more hot water but Lucy was having one of her tough days. She was disoriented again. It was sad to watch her as she had once been such a vibrant and clever woman. Stella stepped closer to Chloe and lowered her voice “I don’t think the Lees will be long today. Why we close early and both go to the party?”

Chloe looked over at the pair, now in an awkward argument and gave a sympathetic sigh “She’s having one of THOSE days.” Then with a small head shake she eyed Stella “You really want to make sure I go?”

Stella grinned “Yes. And it would be nice to have to company, even if you ignore me and sit at the kid’s table.”

Chloe couldn’t help but laugh but was cut off as the mother daughter pair got a little louder.

“Where am I?” shouted Lucy suspiciously.

“Mom…we’re here for tea remember? We do this every day……”

“I don’t want tea. Why did you make me come for tea?!”

Amy looked exhausted and picked up her mother’s cup and an untouched order of fruitcake as he mother started buttoning her coat. She brought it to the counter “She didn’t even touch the cake if you want to serve it to someone else. Consider it a gift. I’m sorry Stella…” She headed for her own cup to clear up and Stella stopped her.

“Amy leave it, it’s ok……you’ve got a lot going on. Do you need a hand?”

As Amy shook her head and waved weakly, Stella and Chloe respected their space. Lucy almost bolted out the door without her daughter and Amy caught her and linked arms with her in what looked like a practiced maneuver to look like affection but also doubled as protection for when things got unpredictable.

“Merry Christmas!” She called back as they co-walked out into the cold air.

“And to you!” Stella bellowed in reply.

“Man…..that’s gotta be so hard.” Chloe reflected as they headed down the steps.

Stella nodded “My Mother had some similar issues before she passed away. It is hard. Amy said last week that Lucy’s almost run right into traffic a few times. And about a month ago she walked right into a neighbour’s house like she lived there. Startled the heck out of them.” She strode to the door and locked it and then flipped the sign “Ok, we’re closed. What do you think about this party plan?” She walked back to Chloe and faced her as Chloe was about to clear up the things Amy had brought up to the counter.

Chloe folded her arms, resisting “Stella, I’m still not sure. Taylor has this whole pajama theme. I don’t even have proper pajamas…..I don’t want to disappoint her.”

Stella refuted “I’m wearing this. We’re coming from work. You are the important part, not the theme. She may tease you a bit but she’ll be truly sad if she doesn’t see you at all.”

Chloe nodded slowly “OK….I know you’re right. I’ll go for an hour, no longer.”

Stella beamed “Deal. Let’s do a quick clean up and be on our way.”

Stella and Chloe had a cheerful walk over to the Hobbs party after closing the shop. They were greeted at the door by a very excited Taylor Hobbs, who flung herself at Chloe and hugged her around the legs.

“You came! But where are your pjs?”

Chloe looked sheepishly at her young friend “I don’t really have any Christmas ones and I came from work. Forgive me?

Taylor shrugged and moved on easily “Ok. Come have some cookies. We just finished Polar Express and we’re going to put on Home Alone.” She finally acknowledged Stella too “Oh hi. You can come too. The grown ups are having boring conversations in the kitchen.”

Stella laughed “Hi Taylor. Sometimes we like the boring stuff… I’m going to check it out.” She gave a little smile to the other kids on the couch. The boy she knew vaguely but the girl was Emma Chen, the daughter of the local Chinese restaurant proprietors. She slipped out of her shoes and coat and headed for the kitchen. Behind her, Chloe was settling in on the couch with Taylor and the kids.

The Hobbs kitchen and dining room area was full of party guests. Stella noticed a board game going on at the dining table. She was delighted to see Winter among the mix of some of the Hobbs extended family members. He was actively listening to the conversation and not looking her way so she would say hello him later if the chance came up.

The kitchen island was laden with snacks and baking and had a gathering around it lead by an animated story in progress by the house’s hostess Maggie Hobbs. Maggie was a school secretary at the local elementary and Stella could immediately sense this was a work story from the context.

“A week later, the escaped gerbil crawled out of the vent in the cafeteria, fat and happy. Our custodian; Ace Ramirez, yes that’s right his parents actually named him Ace for real….burly scruffy tattooed guy with a mustache that looks like it wants to fight you……he squealed and jumped up on a chair. The lunch ladies were so pissed at him and then they started smashing pots and pans, trying to get the rodent. The children were traumatized so Principal Smith yells “Stop!” The gerbil is long gone again after all the noise and chaos. Ramirez gets down and takes off to hide in shame in the boiler room. The lunch ladies start washing the pots. The kids go to afternoon classes. And what does Smith do? He starts making trails of cheese leading to little yogurt containers all over the school, all the while singing that song from the movie with the mice….you know Feivel …or an American Tale?”

The party crowd was highly amused and leaned in for more.

“Did he catch the gerbil?” Charlie Joseph asked the burning question as he took another square from the tray of baking.

Stella sidled in beside him and he hand reached for the tray after his. She gave him a little elbow nudge hello and they chuckled.

“Oh hey Stella. Better get in here and have some. But we need to know about this gerbil.”

Stella nodded and did a round the island wave. She knew them all; Charlie beside her, Maggie of course, Michelle Davis and her boyfriend Patrick Morton, The Chens; Su Lei and Tao, who ran the Good Fortune Chinese Express, and Alvin Rainer who was on the fringe of the kitchen island group as he ferried some divided off plates of his baking to other gatherings of guests and returned. Dave Hobbs had just pulled a stool around to the end and was sitting on the other side of Stella.

“I want to know too!” Stella urged. Everyone smiled at her and looked back to Maggie.

“Hi Stella. So glad you could make it. OK so the gerbil….who has since been renamed Feivel, was caught in one of the yogurt tubs by a grade 4 student heading to the bathroom. But…..she brought Feivel to the custodian’s office and tried to hand it off to Mr. Ramirez who fumbled in his terror of rodents and tipped the container over before bolting down the hall into the staff room. Feivel remains at large over the holiday break. The grade 1 class he escaped from made wanted posters and put them up allover the school. It’s simultaneously pathetic and hilarious.”

Michelle Davis snorted and rolled her eyes “How did they manage to hire a custodian who’s afraid of rodents? Doesn’t that come up in an interview question?”

Su Lei leaned in and mused “Bet it will next time.”

Dave smirked “We could lend them Toulouse?”

Maggie shook her head “We don’t want to further scar the kids. The lunch ladies were bad enough. Two old sisters run the cafeteria; Selma and Dorothy. They’re terrifying on a good day.”

“Maybe they could help that Ace guy and double as custodians on the side?” Stella joked.

“Ace Ramirez….sounds like a hitman in a bad movie.” Charlie tossed in.

Tao cracked up and managed to talk through his laughter “As long as his targets aren’t gerbils.”

Su Lei swatted her husband “They can’t make a movie about killing gerbils. PETA would get after them.”

Michelle rubbed at her face “PETA…..holy fuck let’s not even go there.”

Maggie giggled “It’s ok Shelle….no danger of Pat going vegan right?”

Patrick played it like he didn’t understand “Wait…is bacon vegan? I can eat bacon and still be a sex god right?”

“Depends what they feed the pigs right?” Charlie teased back.

Dave almost fell off his stool laughing and then said “We should ask my pig farmer brother right?” He swiveled and looked back at the board game group “Hey Paul….are your hogs vegan?”

Paul looked at his brother like he had several heads “What the hell man?” The whole kitchen island erupted into hysterical laughter and Paul mock glared at his brother and flipped him the bird. The board game crew was amused and mildly confused and then dove back into their game and their own conversation.

Stella had clearly joined the rowdiest group to start her evening. As the evening went on she sought out some more subdued company and ended up drifting over to the bench by the patio doors and joining Liz Hobbs and Wanda Wells. Liz was the sister in law of Maggie and Dave, Paul’s wife and the other pig farmer from the Saskatchewan Hobbs part of the family. Wanda lived up the street with Alvin in a cookie cutter similar house to the one they were in. However Wanda and Alvin’s house had some extra modifications to accommodate her wheelchair needs. The two ladies asked about the context of the bizarre question posed to Paul earlier in the evening and Stella laughed and explained. Liz had some very strong views on vegans as were understandable for a pig farmer. Wanda presented some strong environmental arguments in favour of vegetarianism and veganism but the two managed to keep the discourse respectful. Stella sat quietly and just watched it unfold. It was interesting and informative on both sides of the topic. Finally they both looked at her and Wanda said “So what are your views Stella?”

Stella shrugged “I’m actually pretty neutral. I do eat meat but I think everyone should do what feels right for them. Have either of you seen that documentary Angry Inuk? I think it’s still a freebie on the NFB site. Anyhow this is exactly the topic. It’s about Inuit seal hunting and the clash with vegan activists who feel the hunting practices are inhumane. However, it’s cultural right? The activism is seeking to stamp out a cultural practice…not to mention….not much grows up north so being vegan in Northern Canada would be pretty damn hard.”

“Oh I totally wanna see that now.” Liz replied enthusiastically.

Wanda looked hesitant “How much seal carnage are we talking? I’m intrigued…but…”

Stella looked sympathetic “They don’t hold back. They show it all. So don’t watch before supper.” She chuckled and then glanced at the board game group catching Winter’s eye and giving him a little encouraging smile and nod.

It was getting late. Su Lei and Tao had gathered their kids and made their exit already. Dave was herding Taylor to brush her teeth and then gathering a pile of story books to read to her and try to get her to sleep. She probably wouldn’t sleep much with a party in the house but the effort was made nonetheless. Liam Hobbs, Liz and Dave's youngest had sugar crashed and was already out cold on the sofa with his sister Hayley beside him engrossed in her phone. Their older son Darren was still engaged in the last round of the last board game with that table.

As Taylor was now not a social part of the evening, Stella noticed Chloe timidly approach the larger party. She looked awkwardly at each group and then retreated to the piano, sitting with her back to the room and quietly playing a few songs. 

They were lovely, Christmas songs mostly too. It gave the room a nice ambiance for awhile. Maggie and Michelle wandered over to Chloe and tried to engage her in conversation with an offering of mulled wine. She seemed to be thanking them politely and declining. After a brief conversation she stood up, gave Stella a little knowing wave and slipped away to the front door to head home.

Stella had waved back and then sighed a little. Not everyone loved a crowd. She turned back to Liz and Wanda who were now talking about places they liked to travel and spend holidays. Stella didn’t have much to contribute as she rarely traveled far outside of Corran. Running her tea shop kept her pretty close to home.

More party guests joined the exodus and Stella made the rounds one more time before heading out as well. It had been a good evening and Stella had felt the warmth of the season, friends and community with her in the short walk home. 

She felt the warmth of the tea still clinging to the now empty cup as she came back to the present and walked to set the cup in the sink. Time to get back to work.