HAVANA FAMILY BANQUET 4: ARIANNA AND GRANDMOTHER ROSALIND.

The rest of the dinner went quietly and awkwardly as everyone had their eyes on me. I focused on feeding Arian as I had already ate my fill in the escape room.

The number at the table started decreasing as they retired to their respective rooms.

Soon it was only grandmother and I left on the table. I would have left due to how nervous I felt being alone with grandmother but I hate leaving food half eaten.

I don't know if it is my insatiable appetite or because I knew the time and attention that went into food.

Soon Arian refused to eat any more. There were about three dishes left. Steak, Roast chicken and mashed potatoes and rice and salad.

' You aren't filled yet?' Grandmother ask me.

' I am but I hate to see good food go to waste.' I replied.

' And why is that?' Grandmother ask.

' Well when dad had a restaurant, I used to see how much care he took when slicing the vegetables or when he was stirred the stew. I used to admire his dedication to his job and the time he devoted to it. And I absolutely hated it when I saw the customers leave their food half finished. I would feel like punching their faces. Argh! The thought of it makes my blood boil.' I reply feeling anger on the memory.

Grandmother chuckled and ask, ' They had simply ate their fill, why would you get upset?'

' I think it is VERY VERY wrong to just waste someone's work just because you don't know how much strength, time and hardwork was put into it. If the food was bad, you say so and I will understand. But if anyone says anything bad about dad's cooking, then I am going to give them a piece of me.' I say.

' You have an interesting way of viewing things.' Grandmother says.

' That's a first. Normally I am told I have a very weird way of looking at things.' I reply.

' Everyone has a different way of seeing things.' Grandmother replies.

' Exactly! But nobody seems to understand that. It's okay, since when did Arianna Olivia Havana care what people say. If I am right, I am right. If I am wrong, I can still be right with a little change.' Arianna says.

' What little change can make you right?' Grandmother ask.

' Well nobody is an island, that's why we have friends and family. If I'm wrong surely there should be someone who can point it out to me. Hopefully they won't point out by smacking my head like Ashley does. It is very demeaning.' Arianna replies.

' Back in my days we were by punished with a salted whip.' Grandmother says.

Arianna gasps and says, ' Now that's just wrong. The only time I will let someone hit me with a whip is only when I commit murder. I will fight to the last with that person.'

' Those days it would be considered rebellion if you as much as talked back. After all the word of the matriarch is law.' Grandmother says.

' Well that's the way life is, you will have to bow your head to the authority above you. The weak will always be under the strong. But I will not be weak in this life and I will never watch silently while a loved one is suffering.' I reply.

' Every resolution made in life is made because of an experience. What is your experience?' Grandmother ask.

She was right.

' Well that time when As..I mean Breanna and I were kidnapped, I saw the kidnapper hit his wife because she dropped a grain of rice. The man continued rubbing in her face that he was the only one who could provide for her and her daughter and then he kept complaining about how he wanted a son. If the woman could stand on her two feet, she wouldn't have to lower her head in front of a despicable man.' I reply.

' Is that why you started donating to NGOs?' Grandmother ask.

I was shocked. Nobody knew about it. Not even Ash and Rio.

I always donated 10,000 dollars to an NGO.

' How did you find out?' I ask.

' Olivia I am the matriarch of the family. I am aware of every single expense, especially when it is a constant expense. Keep it up.' Grandmother says.

' Thank you grandmother.' I reply.

' You should go to bed. It's already midnight.' Grandmother says as she stands up and is leaving.

I can't believe I had so much fun talking with my grandmother.

' Grandmother!!' I called out.

She turns to me.

' Thank you.' I say.

' For?' She ask.

' It felt good talking with you. Good night grandmother.' I say.

' Good night Olivia.' She replies.

I go to my room.

************

Rosalind smiles. Yes, she was sure of her decision. Though Olivia still needed some grooming she was the one.

Meanwhile,

Ava was fuming. She had gone to look for her brother when she saw that Arianna and Rosalind were chatting happily as if there wasn't more than 50 years age gap between them.

She should be grandmother's favourite not Arianna.

She had the perfect grades, perfect character and didn't have an illegitimate child.