Previous Challenge Entry (Level 3 - Advanced)
Topic: Countdown to Christmas/Advent (10/23/08)
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TITLE: Cupid Christmas | Previous Challenge Entry
By Delores McCarter
10/27/08 -
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Every Christmas, my mom and my aunts would lock the kitchen door while they washed the dishes. I knew they were part of a secret club, but I didn’t know much more about it.
Last year, I was admitted into the group and found out that the secret club was actually a match-making group. My mother has been a certified matchmaker for ten years and managed to bring fifty happy couples together.
It was my mom’s idea to make her selections on Christmas Day. Last Christmas, I walked in on her while she was praying at the dining room table. The table was covered with photographs while she prayed for wisdom. I was a bit confused, but I dismissed it from my thoughts.
A few hours later, we attended church service and returned home to non-stop activity. The first floor was filled with good food and hearty laughter. My grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins always enjoyed each other’s company. We had so much fun, that I almost forgot about the photographs that I saw earlier that morning.
After dinner, it was time for the annual kitchen lock out, but this time; I was invited to join the group. Once the last fork hits the plate for the last time, the kitchen is closed for one hour. There are no exceptions.
The leftovers are moved downstairs to the other kitchen, so if someone didn’t get enough to eat, they could eat downstairs.
The kitchen door was locked when my mom opened her attaché. She passed out fourteen photographs and discussed the possible matches. Within twenty minutes, we managed to narrow down the selections and within forty-five minutes, we were finished. We prayed over the photographs before returning them to the attaché.
The following week, my parents threw their annual New Year’s Day party. It was a great way for each couple to meet, especially since they already knew my mom. To find their soul mate in a festive and a romantic environment is a great thing.
I was thrilled to participate. We were all little undercover agents. My parents hosted the event, so they watched everyone from a distance while the rest of us were the catering staff. We checked the progress without being too obvious. It was a blast.
My parents are great dancers and they opened up the dance floor with Tevin Campbell’s song: “Can We Talk?” It was great little “meet and greet” song. The dance floor was filled for hours.
Later, my mom met with “the staff” to discuss the developments. She was preparing for the next event: Valentine’s Day. This was another big day and mom didn’t take it for granted.
The next thing I knew, I was working on the Valentine’s Day project. Mom is a great baker, and she had to bake two cakes just to keep the peace in the family. Last year, mom made her signature chocolate brownie cake, also known as “The TOMA Cake: The Object of My Affection.”
I was asked to help get the supplies together. With seven couples, mom certainly needed my help. She cut seven thick slices of TOMA cake and placed each slice on a dessert plate. She garnished each slice with a large strawberry, wrapped each plate in clear plastic wrap and prayed over every slice. The men arrived that night and picked up their little picnic baskets before picking up their dates. Each basket had a little bottle of chilled sparkling cider, two silver forks, two crystal champagne flutes and the slice of chocolate TOMA cake. We were on top of our game last year.
Well, Valentine’s Day has become a distant memory, but mom continues to pray over the seven couples. Now that Christmas Day has arrived, we are thrilled that all seven couples remain blissfully happy with each other. In fact, we were told to expect to see a few engagement notices in the paper next week, right on New Year’s Day.
I have enjoyed spending Christmas Day with my family and I am really looking forward to clearing the dinner table tonight.
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