It was a perfect day in early September. About a week had passed since Hapak's fever had broken, and he was now almost completely back to his normal health. He was still a little thinner than before the ordeal, partly because he had eaten so little for the most part of about two weeks, but mainly because his muscles had nearly vanished while he had been stuck in bed getting no exercise.
Getting him to eat after his fever broke was no problem at all. If anything, Epifany feared he would shock his system with such a drastic change, and she insisted he not eat quite so much so suddenly. The table became the sight of several small arguments, most of which - but not all of which - Epifany won. As a teenager, before knowing Hapak existed, she had determined that she would never have an argument with her man, whoever he would be. But after he came into the picture, somehow the clear line between discussing and arguing became a blur. As their years spent together went by, she had no idea whether she had kept her pledge or failed. And she wasn't about to try to sort it out now. She was just glad he hadn't thrown up his feast more than once. If she was indeed "usually right," she thought, he had figured out this was one of those times.
As for rebuilding his muscles, the process was gradual, but Hapak was determined. To start with, he went for walks with Epifany and Viggo - first a short walk, then gradually longer ones as his strength returned and he was able to exert himself more normally. After each walk, Viggo would have him lay down while asking him questions about his body parts. "How does your legs feel? How does your head feel? How does your stomach feel? How does your arms feel?" and so on. Epifany took the opportunity to give Viggo more advanced lessons in anatomy, explaining that there were body parts inside the body parts he had committed to memory. He was mesmerized as she described such things as the throat and the lungs and their functions.
But today Hapak's body was almost caught up to his ambition. And his ambition was growing.
Everyone was so happy he had survived that a picnic had been planned, and today was the day. Everyone who came for leeligh would be there, along with many others, gathering at the Akylases' farm to share food, fun, and fellowship. The Hadassahs arrived early, ever a helpful bunch. Epifany was in a funny middle position, being twelve years older than Rune and twelve years younger than Haza. The families had grown very close in the past few years. Haza had attended Viggo's birth, when his young parents - far from home and family - needed the assurance the older couple's experience provided. Rune was Thaniel and Haza's firstborn. Their second child, Ajnin, was born a year before Viggo, when Rune had been an only child for eight years.
Hapak greeted them at the door and was assaulted by Haza with a hug. "Hello, hello!" she squealed, squeezing him tightly, "It's so good to see you on your feet!"
"Yes, so I heard from yesterday's you," he said as she let go and stepped back.
"Well neither of them's wrong," Thaniel grinned as he drew him into a hug. "What would we do without you?" he laughed, releasing Hapak and slapping him on the back.
"Thaniel, don't kill the man!" Haza exclaimed, "We only just got him back and we want to keep him for a good, long time!"
Epifany approached the room from the kitchen, but quietly stood leaning against the doorway to take it all in and imprint it in her memory. Just a week before, she had lost all faith that a moment like this would ever happen again. And even though the tide had miraculously turned and she had no reason to believe she would lose him anytime soon, she was still cherishing each moment just the same.
Soon Viggo ran past her, squealing with delight, and hugged Haza's leg, then Thaniel's. Rune stepped in then and squatted to his level as he ran in for a hug. "Rune!" he joyfully exclaimed, wrapping his stubby arms around her neck as she stood up, holding him.
"Viggo!" Rune responded, squeezing him back.
"Yay! Ajnin's here!" Viggo said, noticing his friend standing by the door behind Rune.
"Come on!" Ajnin said, reaching eagerly for the doorknob, "Let's play outside!"
"Hold it right there, Ajnin!" Haza ordered, "Is there someone outside to watch you two?"
"Rune will watch us!" Ajnin explained.
"No, Rune will help us get ready for our big picnic," his mother counter-explained.
"Aw. But we'll be so bored cuz we can't do anything," Ajnin complained.
"Oh, not to worry, dear!" Haza beamed, "I'm sure we can find work for you to do."
"Okay!" said Viggo, while Ajnin whined, "Aw, really?!"
"Yes, really."
"But I'm only four!" he argued, holding up three fingers.
"That's three, deary." She took his outstretched hand and kissed it loudly.
"I know, I was just kidding!" He pretended to wipe the kiss off his hand in disgust.
"Well that's settled then!" Thaniel smiled, ruffling Ajnin's hair, "No use arguing with the mama!"
"Tell me about it," Hapak rolled his eyes and spotted Epifany in the doorway.
Epifany looked at him with one eyebrow raised.
"Well you know it's true!" he said, then looked at Thaniel and claimed, "The woman won't let me eat in peace!"
"Well!" she responded, lifting her palms into the air. "And here I thought I had very little influence over him and it was the throwing up that made him cut back." She shrugged her shoulders.
Thaniel laughed hard. "No," he said, "I don't think you have much influence over him. And the little you do have, he needs badly." And he continued laughing.
Hapak realized his defeat and changed his game. He slipped behind Epifany and squeezed her shoulders. "Yeah, she's just a perfect angel, isn't she?" he asked, then wrapped his arms around her pregnant belly and kissed her cheek, which made her feel a little awkward in front of their friends.
"The picnic's not going to organize itself," she said with energy - and a hint of awkwardness - carefully unwrapping herself from his clutches and leading the way to the kitchen. She briefly wondered whether his compliment was sarcastic or sincere, and brushed aside the chore of figuring that out in favor of focusing on the other chores at hand. There was much to do, but with all hands on deck - large and small hands alike - it was accomplished. Hapak and Thaniel dug up potatoes and drew water from the well, then picked a few ripe watermelons. Ajnin and Viggo washed the potatoes, or at least they believed they did, passing them on to Haza and Epifany, who stood ready to "finish" washing them.
Soon Haza was ready to speed things up, so she told the boys they had washed enough potatoes and sent them out to the garden to help Rune, who was picking greens and tomatoes for salad. Of course, Haza washed plenty more potatoes after they left the house. And, of course, Ajnin pulled Viggo into a game of hide-and-seek in the garden, though Rune still handed them greens and tomatoes periodically to take to the house. That itself became a game, as Rune seemed to make anything fun. They giggled as they held the bottoms of their tunics up in front of them while she filled them with produce, and they giggled all the way to the kitchen as they walked with their fat, bumpy tunics.
When their mothers saw them, they laughed too. "Well! Look at you!" Haza exclaimed, "You both look like Viggo's mama!"
"Yeah, 'cept she's not bumpy!" Ajnin laughed.
"Here's your baby tomatoes!" Viggo giggled.
"And their green blankets!" added Ajnin.
Epifany laughed so hard she almost cried. All thoughts of her strange feelings from earlier were gone. She was with her family, and her family was safe. What more could she ask? She was happy - just happy. And today the Hadassahs were sharing in that happiness, along with many others coming to celebrate the continuation of the humble life of a man and his family spared from tragedy. Today was a happy day, and a miracle. No petty feelings would taint her gratitude.
The hours flew by and when the appointed time came and people began to arrive, plenty of things to eat - including but not limited to the aforementioned food - had been prepared. A variety of food also came with some of the attendees who wanted to bring something, and everything was set up inside, so people could get their food and take it outside to eat. It was a picnic in the simplest sense - people sat down on blankets in the grass and enjoyed each other's company. While the adults took their time and talked while they ate, the kids enjoyed their food quickly so they could play.
Ajnin wanted to "play leeligh," and easily won over the group of kids who were regulars with their families at Hapak's sky room celebrations and thus knew what a leeligh even was. As leelighs only happened once a month, during the full moon, it was still a relatively new thing even to them. Those who had never gone, some of whom had never heard of a leeligh, watched curiously as the "Miranites" (as they called them) danced in a circle.
Gradually the circle grew until no one was left watching, except some adults. Epifany had brought her blanket closer to keep an eye on her three-year-old, and just to enjoy the sight, and Thaniel and Haza sat with her. She smiled, and instinctively looked in the direction where she had last seen her man talking with a neighbor. But he was no longer there, and couldn't be found for the vast ocean of people. Her smile fell, but she thought, Hapak's around here somewhere, enjoying himself. That's more than I could have hoped for a week ago. I'm sure he'll find us soon.
Thaniel eyed her for a few thoughtful seconds, then stood up. "I think I could fit another piece of watermelon in here," he announced, patting his stomach with a smile, then walked off in the direction of the house.
"Men," Haza muttered. Epifany looked at her questioningly. "They think they're so tough, every one of them," Haza continued, holding her hand up to one side of her mouth as if telling a secret, "Another piece of watermelon, eh? Well we womenfolk can fit a whole watermelon in there!" She nodded toward Epifany's belly-- "How's that for tough?"
A burst of laughter came from a woman sitting on a neighboring blanket, startling Epifany. "Tell me it isn't true!" Haza challenged, smiling broadly with pleasure, "They think they're so important, am I right? They strut around like peacocks showing off their feathers." She flapped her elbows in an elaborate imitation of the gaudy birds. Soon she invited the other woman, named Parsi Gelao, to sit with them, and the two laughed like old friends. At first all Epifany could think of was the fact that there would be no room on the blanket for Hapak when he would come, with Parsi and her baby girl, Galené. But she liked getting to know people and settled into the situation, relaxing and making a new friend.
Soon she saw Thaniel return, standing behind Haza with a half-eaten slice of watermelon. Then Hapak sat down in Thaniel's spot between Haza and Epifany and kissed her on the cheek. "Hello beautiful," he greeted her, placing his hand on hers where it rested between them on the blanket. He seemed to come out of nowhere, and the affection also came to her as a pleasant surprise. "Ladies," he nodded in acknowledgment, adding, "I assume you're behaving yourselves."
"Of course," Haza claimed, her eyes still delightedly mischievous.
Epifany smiled. "Hapak, this is Parsi Gelao," she explained, "She visited when you were sick, brought some bread. And it was good bread," she said to Parsi, "He stuffed his face with it the morning his fever broke."
"Afternoon," Hapak corrected, snickering under his breath.
"Huh?" Epifany asked, then caught on. "Oh yes, that breakfast was in the afternoon, much to his grief. We didn't always get up in the morning those days. Just ask Rune. We couldn't have made it without her. Now please don't get started complaining about the way I feed you again, or I've half a mind to stop altogether!" She playfully nudged his arm with hers.
"She's a wonderful woman--" he smiled, placing his hand on her shoulder-- "feeds me very well, treats me good and entertains me." He paused, "Owe her my life, in fact. It was very kind of you and your family to visit in our time of affliction, Parsi. I've met your man, Jakis, today as well."
"Well you've sure been busy, haven't you dear?" Epifany asked.
"Yes, I've talked with nearly everyone here," he answered, "And I'm sorry to leave your side again so soon, my love, but I think it's time I shared a few words with our guests," he said, standing up again.
"Certainly," Epifany smiled, bubbling over with affection.
Soon Hapak had climbed up onto the small tower he had built for Viggo to play in and gotten everyone's attention. It was a bit much for a three-year-old, and Viggo wasn't allowed to play in it without supervision yet, but his father was very ambitious.
"I can't believe I'm the only one playing on this tower I so lovingly built for the kids," he started, getting everyone to laugh. "But I guess that makes me king of it." He stood on top with his hands on his hips as if surveying his kingdom. His resemblance to Haza's earlier peacock impressions was more than Epifany could take and she laughed uncontrollably.
"The lonely king," Thaniel laughed quietly, then Haza saw what Epifany saw and smirked triumphantly. Parsi lay helpless on the ground, trying to control her laughter.
"First I want to thank all of you for coming," Hapak said when things began to quiet down, looking over the mass of friends and neighbors below him. "And for anything and everything each of you have done for us during our most difficult time - for your thoughts, prayers, visits, gifts, and comforting words - on behalf of my sweet family, more than for myself, I cannot extend enough gratitude. It's going to take a lot more than a snake to take me away from my family," he chuckled, "but I can't express how deeply grateful I am that they were surrounded by so much love and support even when I was too weak to provide it. I thank you, and I thank the gods for you."
He paused, then went on, "On a personal note, I want to thank Thaniel and Haza for lending us their daughter - Rune was a wonderful helper. And if any of you haven't heard about my lovely, strong woman--" he looked at Epifany-- "she is the love of my life and I wouldn't be standing before you without her. I thank the gods everyday for her strength that would not let me go. She's remarkable, and I don't know what I ever did to deserve such a wonderful gift."
Epifany blushed while her eyes welled up with happy tears, and Haza squeezed her hand.
"But most of all," he continued, "I praise and thank the gods for giving me another chance to live. I feel as if I've come back from the dead. And I can't help but feel I've been spared for a reason. Furthermore, I want to make sure I have been." He held his fist in front of him, expressing a passionate emphasis on that point and pausing before continuing, "I'm happy to say that my family is growing, and happier that I am still with them to take care of them. Our spiritual family is growing too - those who share in the spirit of Miras with us and celebrate the light of Gadriel. And I've come to realize that our sky room can hardly contain us anymore. So I've been thinking and praying, and I believe the gods have called me to build an ophrysial."
Epifany's jaw dropped.
"Now I may not know how I'll build," he paused, "But build I must. I can use all the help I can get, for materials and labor. So anyone who's interested, can meet me here again tomorrow."