Odyssey... 33- Cheering Stars

As depressed and sad Hana is, not only she helps Farhad for moving, she also gives him and buys him many necessary things. In the mist of this new happening, she get to meet Sylvie's parents. An immediate rapport makes the three parents to feel a little better for their children's move; and Hana slowly begins feeling good about her son's decision. However as a deep rooted part of her, the part that still believes in some Persian custom, still dominates her new life she asks for a favor.

"You two want to get married eventually. That is what you told me, right?"

Farhad, confounded, listens. He sees mom is impatient for his answer.

"Yes, mom, why are you asking?"

"Why don't you get engaged? Give her a ring. It makes me feel better."

Hana's request has not been for testing her son's credibility; nonetheless, Farhad takes it that way.

"Mom, you don't believe me. We will get married. I can't afford to buy her a ring now."

"I help you."

Farhad has nothing else to say,

The engagement party is in Sylvie's parents' restaurant, where over twenty five people participate in the privet room to celebrate this blissful event. Hana invites Valery and Mick and dares to invite Mario. In fact, Farhad convinces her to do so.

"Mom, we live in America. It is all right for a woman your age to have a boyfriend."

First She is reluctant, for she thinks how Sylvie's parents will think of her, but as Farhad and Sylvie and Valery talk to her, she decides to do that courageous act. She is not going to hide Mario from this new addition to her family for ever. She is sure that Sylvie already has told some details about their lives to her parents.

The party is a success, and the food are delicious. After the dinner, they play a record of Italian folk and traditional music, Tarantella. Sylvie's side of family all dance with that beautiful music. Mario joins them as well, and Hana realizes how much his mother has influenced him. The unity between Hana and Sylvie's family are quick and pleasant. How can it not be? They have so much in common. During the party, one thing like a terminal disease, however, eats her from inside. She desperately wishes that Sam was there to share this happy moment. Somehow she is suspicious that he could have taken a few days off to come for his brother's engagement, but he said otherwise on their last conversation:

"Mom, please, leave me alone. I can't come."

As she drives home alone to go to her apartment and begins a lonely life without any one around for the first time, she prepares her mind for a letter. She is intending to write to her son, Sam. Even though he knows about everything, she thinks by writing to him, she can appear him like a magic to the room and talk to him even if it is temporarily.

In the middle of December, after Farhad's move, Hana also moves to a smaller apartment, one bedroom in the same complex. As she postpones her earlier decision to buy a house, she feels no need for a two bedroom apartment. She can use the extra money to help Farhad and send more money to Sam. This new life brings Mario and Hana closer to each other; and almost everyday after work, they are together; however Hana refuses Mario to sleep over or she sleeps over in his place. Farhad and Sylvie come a couple of evening a week for dinner which seems strange to Hana to have her son as a guest not a resident in her home.

To Be Continued