Dinner Time Madness

These next few days/weeks are sure to be hard for our family. The littlest things make us remember Jamal and bring back the hurt all over again. In an effort to lighten the mood I want to share some funny stories the next few days. I will also finish our tale and share a letter I wrote to Jamal that we sent home with him.

When Jamal first came to our home his name was Samir Oscar. Natalie thought Oscar was the funniest name. She would drag it out and wave her arms like a magician creating suspense in the middle of a trick…” AhhhScar!”

A few weeks ago we were sitting at dinner and she asked, ”What was Jamal’s name before? I forgot.”

I told her and once again she started her routine of dramatics, “Oscar!” waiving her arms around. She was so silly that all the kids joined in and it got crazier and crazier and sillier and sillier. We were all laughing; even Jamal was amused.

Jeremy and I tried to settle them down but there was no point, they were on a roll. 

Then Natalie asked, “What is his new middle name?”

“Antoine”

“That’s boring. We should call him (with magical waiving arms still) “Oscar!”

All the kids, “Yea, it used to be Oscar!” Now it’s Antoine.”

“Oscar… Antoine…Oscar….Antoine,” Natalie said over and over with wonderment, then feigning disappointment, then dramatically, then  pouty.

Kai joined in, “Oscar…Antoine….Oscar…Taiwan.”

Natalie Laughed so hard, “You just called him Taiwan!”

So began a new highly dramatic chant by all of them,  “Oscar…Taiwan…Oscar…Taiwan!”

“Taiwan is in China if I am correct.” Said Natalie matter- of- factly over Kai’s chant.

“People from Taiwan are nice I bet.” Said Nicole, “Is Jamal from Taiwan?”