Kosmas Manos from Ikaria 48

Kosmas Manos from Ikaria 48

Aggie and Artie were visiting Elana and Rafael at their new home. They found them outside in the back working. Artie carried a basket of grapes and figs.

“Aggie and Artie are here.” Elana called to Rafael.

“Good let's take a little break. My muscles are still here and they're telling me so. Let's go inside and bring our lunch and drinks out. We have enough for four.” laughed Rafael.

The inside was still being finished but the kitchen looked completely finished. Everything except for the refrigerator,and modern stove was recycled materials. Even the old wood stove was a recycle. The small bathroom was also made of recycled materials. Agatha said they looked new. Elana said actually they were new but some silly woman wanted to change the color of her bathroom and told Demetrius to carry them off. She had just bought them three months before. If you ever need anything fixed get in line for Demetrius or his workers.

Agatha said: “Oh I do love this kitchen. Did you help place the tiles behind the wood stove? I love the way they intermingle with the many shades of blue.”

“Actually Adelpha came in and helped set the tiles up for the workers to place them on the wall. Aristotle used all the leftover paints to finish off the wall decoration tree mural. Come look over here in the corner behind the lightweight privacy curtains.”

“Why it looks like you have a little bed in the forest. What a wonderful idea. Elana! Rafael! You could move in here right now.” said Artie.

Rafael went on to tell Artie they actually have slept in the little forest cove and with the curtains closed they slept in the nude. You and Aggie ought to try sleeping that way he went on. Whispering it made them feel young again.

Meanwhile Elana and Aggie were setting the table with lunch, red wine and some of the grapes and figs. After grace they ate heartily.

“Tomorrow we are going to the orphanage with Hilda again. There are three siblings ages nineteen, eighteen and almost seventeen. A brother and two sisters. They have been there for fifteen years now. Their parents were killed in an accident. There was no next of kin so they came to the orphanage.

No one wanted to adopt three children but the orphanage would not allow them to be split up. They are going to come to our place and help us with the weed problem on the back lot. Melina and Cicero will have them sleep in their house because they have lots of rooms. The orphanage approved for them to come and learn how to make a little money. The two older ones already help work at the orphanage because they really could leave but will not because of their little sister's age of sixteen. We are excited to have them.” said Agatha.

Artie said he and Aggie would drive their 1951 Chevrolet Deluxe Style-line Station Wagon they had bought at an auction.

“It's old and the paint faded but everything works well. We got it for a great price and snapped it up. We figured we could use it as a camper if we wanted. With an extra row of seats in the back, the station wagon could comfortably seat 8 adults. If extra space is required then the back row could easily be removed giving lots of cargo space.”

The next day the five went off to the orphanage. Hilda had boxes full of new clothing for the children. Jocasta and Moraitis sent oranges and more lemons for the children.

The orphanage received the clothing and citrus food with happiness.

Basil, Maia and Alexa Palma came back with Aggie and Artie to their home. They had been there three weeks and enjoyed being in a real home. Basil and Maia had learned from the orphanage how to use a computer and logged into the orphanage office every night to let them know how they were doing. Alexa spoke to her friend on the computer in French. Aggie asked her why she spoke French to her brother and sister around her home.

“Oh we used that language at the orphanage so the others would not know what we were saying. It's a sibling thing. I can teach you French if you would like.”

The three of them stayed with Aggie and Artie for three months. Alexa did teach Aggie French and Artie picked it up.

“You know we told you three our story about us being apart for so long then finding each other. We will miss you so much when you leave. What do you think about if we asked the orphanage if we could adopt all three of you. We are older but we have the funds to raise you and house you. You are all well rounded and if you need an education you could get the basics online. Long ago I promised my Aggie I would give her three children. You could honor your parents by keeping their last name. Think about it. You would have family and we would have family.” asked Artie,

Agatha chirped in that it would be very easy to add three more rooms to their home.

“Basil Palma Terzi.

Maia Palma Terzi

and Alexa Palma Terzi” said Basil with great excitement!

Maia and Alexa both cried with excitement that it would be wonderful to be a real family again.

“Nous sommes une famille” repeated the three siblings.

Aggie said: “We are family.”

©Julia A Knaake