The hour was one of the early night when my mother and I made our entrance at Pani Beata's, bearing a message that we hoped would be smiled upon by Gosia, who for her part was nowhere to be found; as we entered the diner. I for the second time that day.
My mother walked at a rushed tempo perhaps made more so by the advancing hour and her anxiety to get this somewhat awkward first encounter; at least the circumstances of which, over with. My mother had no trouble finding a seat at one of the many tables for two, followed closely behind by me who wanted to point Gosia out; to her so she would know to whom she should present her offer to.
"Let me do the talking, but tell me which one of these girls is she and I do hope she speaks English." were the words that my mother said upon taking our seats at Pani Beata's. I could see as I carefully observed that my mother had settled down after that quick cab ride and was giving off that air of a person who was ready to take care of things in the way I had seen her do on so many an occasion. This feeling of relaxation and confidence came over me as well as I just said, "She is familiar with the English language." with an ever slight laugh which went undetected by my mother at her outlandish question; for if she did not how could I have spoken to her. I also told my mother, who had picked up one of the two menus on the table for reasons unknown to me, as I did not think our purpose for being there was to eat, that Gosia must have been in the kitchen but that I would tell her which one she was as soon as she came in to view.
A minute must have gone by before Gosia came to wait on our table, catching me of guard as she approached us from behind while my mother was busy studying the choices on the menu and I observing my mother trying to find reason to why at a time like this she had taken an interest in the items on the menu. By the time I took notice of Gosia's presence, she was standing behind us with an astonishment to match my own. Hers more than likely from seeing me a second time during the same day; sharing a table with a person whom she might have deducted as being my mother. At that point I knew I had lost the option of pointing out to my mother without it being audible to Gosia which one of these several passing waitresses Gosia was.
It was a slightly uneasy moment, with my mother concentrating on the menu in complete oblivion to Gosia, who was standing behind us waiting for my mother to order something or for me to say something but me not knowing what to say other than "hi" to the "good evening" which she had already said with a smile that gave away the curiosity she must have been holding at seeing me again for the second time during the same day. This was one of those silent pauses that seemed to last forever which I found in myself to put an end to as I, with Gosia's attention fixed on my every jest managed to finish by giving my menu consumed
mother a tap on the shoulder which went along with words that I could not have said in a clearer voice had I tried "Mother, this is her. The one I told you about.". I read a certain breaking of tension on Gosia's face which the word "mother" eliminated, as Gosia's thoughts might have read that the lady sitting at my table was not my mother but a romantic acquaintance of mine.
My mother, after putting the menu down on the table pivoted slightly to look Gosia over with eyes that made clear the inspection they were conducting; which was being carried out from head to foot. Almost as if Gosia were merchandise at a department store. This what my mother was up to was not new, as she had examined just about all the girls I had known up till that point but however this visual inspection had a slight twist to it; which was that it was not really about seeing a prospective girlfriend but a prospective piano teacher as well. My mother was or at least it seemed to me, not after the same things she normally tended to look for. She was seeing Gosia as both a mother whose son she might become entwined with but also as someone whom she would be recommending to people who laid heavy importance and trust to her judgment of character as well as musical talent.
I could see as Gosia looked at me, whose glances fell between my mother looking over Gosia and Gosia who stood nervously, not knowing what to say or do under my mother's scrutiny which came to an abrupt conclusion when my mother simply said gazing up from her sitting position in to Gosia's almost freighted eyes; with a no less a relaxed look on her face, while applying stunning formality of voice "Young lady, we are having a very important guest tomorrow for dinner, so could you select something from this menu you like and bring it to my house tomorrow when you come over for dinner at 8 pm?". It was clear, after my mother finished her first sentence that the previous tension between the three of us had given way to a newly found cordiality which seemed to relax Gosia; whose stance and facial expression showed her more at ease though perhaps not completely, as I was able to spot a certain struggle in her to understand what had been said.
Having started my mother continued speaking much slower than usual. This given that Gosia was a foreigner who might not understand her if she chose to speak in her typically accelerated manner "I will of course pay for it now, choose enough food as to feed ten people including desert but please don't have them cook it now but tomorrow before you come to my apartment for dinner.".
Gosia's expression was one of almost disbelieve, as I don't think that an invitation to dinner was what she ever would have expected but she did confirm her compression by saying "I understand; you want me go to you for dinner tomorrow and take food from here for the supper and you will pay now but you want me to pick what we be eating, which they should cook tomorrow, is that correct?"
My mother still with the formality that she was known for continued however this time speaking with more assurance that her listener's English was up to the task of comprehending what she was being told "Yes, I have good news for you. I can recommend you to many people, at least fifteen, who will gladly pay you the sum of 20 dollars an hour for you to give them private piano lessons and you may give these lessons at my apartment; as I have a piano in a room which you may use for the purpose of giving your lessons and I can also get you a job playing the piano at my friends' night clubs but first you will have to let me hear you play before I can recommend you to anybody.".
All the while my mother spoke I had not stopped looking at Gosia, whose face showed such disbelieve at what she was hearing that she reminded me of myself when I was a child on Christmas day opening presents. So happy, I did not know what to do or say or even which gift to open first. She just stood there, almost like in a dream, which was interrupted by my mother saying "So, young lady do you accept?"; to which Gosia just replied "Yes, I do. Thank you very much and ple...";' "So (interrupted by my mother, who could sense a long thank you speech coming on which she did not want to hear given that she felt a simple thank you was more than enough to fully express one's gratitude) please choose something for tomorrow's dinner, here is 300 $, chose what ever you like and if there should be any change, keep it as your tip but do remember there will be ten of us, you included.".
Gosia was so over come; she actually after having received the money bent over and gave my mother a kiss on the forehead which brought on my mother's surprise but not disapproval. This given how my mother was never one to frown upon outward signs of affection.
I could see by the look on her face; as she stood up that my mother felt good about what she had accomplished that evening; as she took her leave by saying "Well, I have concluded my business here. I shall expect you at my apartment tomorrow at 8 pm sharp with the meal and ready to play something, hopefully by Chopin. (taking Gosia's hand in her own) Good evening or like they say in your country dobranoc.". Gosia replied "goodnight". My mother then turned to me and said "Are you coming or do you wish to stay with your friend?". I answered with a smile "I'll just stay a while, you go on home without me.". "In that case, I have two things to say to you. First, don't forget to give this young lady our address and don't get home too late remember, tomorrow is a school night, good night." being my mother's last words before exiting the place.
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My name is Gianni Truvianni, author of many an article to be found on the internet along with the book "New York's Opera Society". My works also include the books "What Should Not Matter", "Love Your Sister" and several others which still remain unpublished though I am presently looking to change this.
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