THREE TABLES

Cold Chłodnik (you say “whahd-neek”) green with dill. And Smacznego. The white linen cloth. Plates of meat and cheeses, salad of tomato and greens, mushrooms because it’s the season, Celinka’s pierożki with more mushrooms. Thick slices of seeded bread and special rolls from the bakery at the corner, and butter, and rose petal jam (say “rose petal jam”). A basket of paper napkins with red, white and blue stripes in your honor. Gosia’s blueberry pierogi. Coka-cola, apple juice because Dominik will run a marathon, the narrow glasses of vodka or Jarek’s soul-cleansing mixture, which surely does. The salty oscypek made by mountain people. Pickles, ogórków and mushroom. You are full. Language, and why did Babcia Florentia go to Cleveland and why did Frieda stay and why did the Russians shoot Rudolf on the front steps of the house where they were born? And the puppy plays on the floor with the children who have been excused. Two hours and you are really full. And in comes Jola with her handsome sons and she has brought a dish of corn and cream just for you because you do not eat meat, and a cheesecake and a mazurek filled with raisins and walnuts and frosted with chocolate and this is your family and Edek fills your glass again and na zdrowie. And you eat.