References to my story "Mazel Tov?"
Warning: Heavy smarm ahead!
Michelle Futterman's legs dangled from where she sat atop Jim Ellison's desk. Snagging a water chestnut with her chopsticks she said absently, "You know when you invited me to have lunch this isn't quite what I envisioned."
Jim leaned back. "It wasn't exactly my first choice either. At least I found a place that delivered that had something you'd eat. I don't mind telling you. You have stranger dining habits than Sandburg."
Michelle raised an eyebrow. "What's so strange about being a vegan."
Jim indicated her food. "That weird stuff you eat."
"It's not weird," Michelle told him. "It's Szechwan tofu."
Jim poked at his own lunch, sweet and sour chicken. "I rest my case."
"Better than that artery clogging cuisine you favor," she stated matter-of-factly.
"So tell me again why you can't go to the movies Sunday?" Jim felt a subject change was in order. If he had wanted this particular conversation he would have had lunch with Blair.
"I'm helping Ilene," she reminded him for the umpteenth time.
"Yeah, yeah, your Rabbi friend from Indianapolis." Jim offered her a taste of his chicken which was met with a 'you've got to be kidding' look. "I still don't get what she's doing all the way out here."
Michelle drew breath and set her container of food on the desk. "I told you. She's here to conduct the friendship ceremonies. She came up with the idea. It's a relatively new concept- platonic friends having their relationships consecrated. I personally think it's a sweet idea."
"You've told me this before?"
"Twice."
"I must not have been listening." Jim chuckled to himself at that comment. Him with his hyper-sensitive hearing. Lucky thing she didn't know about it. She'd rag him endlessly.
"Anyway," Michelle continued, "she has been asked to perform these ceremonies at many different synagogues across the country. She'll be conducting them on Sunday in the Union Chapel at Rainier. I promised I'd help set up the sanctuary and....prepare... the...reception room." There were pauses in her words as she noticed Jim's sudden intrigue. "Jim, come on. I know you. I know what you're thinking. You can't..."
Jim's eyes met hers. "Why not? How many of these things is she doing?"
"Ten sets of friends. But, Jim..."
Picking up the phone he said, "Then one more shouldn't make a difference. Call her." He stuffed the receiver in her hand.
Michelle shook her head. She could tell by the look in his eye he was not going to be swayed. Raising the receiver to her hear she said as she dialed, "You really ought to check with Blair about this first. Don't you think?"
Jim waved his hand. "Nah, he'll be fine with it. He loves ceremonial type stuff. He...." Jim closed his mouth as he heard Michelle begin to speak with her friend.
"Okay, thanks." Hanging up the phone she told him, "It's done. There's some sort of preliminary meeting for the participants at two on Friday. You'll have your friendship consecrated on Sunday. You and Blair will be eleventh. And Blair had better not be kicking and screaming."
"No chance," Jim said, so pleased with himself that he ate from Michelle's lunch by mistake.
Michelle had to contain her amusement as she watched his expression as he chewed carefully on the odd- to- him texture of the tofu and seemed to decide it wasn't that bad.
Swallowing Jim said, "I can't believe I just ate that."
Sliding from her position on the desk Michelle mused, "And you're alive to tell about it." She placed her hand on Jim's shoulder. "I have to get back to the university." She leaned over so their lips could meet in what was a decent parting kiss.
Jim watched her leave then abandoned the carry-out box and rose just as Simon was coming from his office.
"Jim..."
"Capt., " Jim interrupted, "before you say anything, Rafe, H, this is for you too." He waited until they joined to continue. "What are you guys doing Sunday?" Not waiting for responses he went on. "I want to invite you to a ceremony."
A broad grin spread across Simon's face. "Hot Damn!" he shouted. "You're gonna marry that girl!"
Jim put his hand up. "No... no. The ceremony is for me and Blair."
"You're marrying Sandburg," Rafe practically spoke over him.
"NO!" Jim replied loudly. "It's a friendship thing. I don't understand it all myself. But Michelle's friend Rabbi what's-her-name is in town doing these things... Will you guys be there?"
Henri folded his arms. "Does Hairboy know about this?"
"Not yet," Jim told him.
Simon's hand went to his forehead and massaged a path down his face. "When were you going to tell him?"
Jim shrugged. "When I get home. I just found out myself."
Rafe was next. "And you decided to do this without asking him. What's he going to think?"
Jim waved them off. "I know him. He'll think it's great."
The Loft
"I think it's insane." Blair's eyes went wide.
Jim's jaw tightened. "What do you mean insane?"
Blair seemed exasperated. "Insane- an adjective, foolish, absurd, preposterous."
Jim overlooked his friend's sarcasm. "It's not foolish... or absurd."
Blair huffed.
"Just think of it as one of those tribal rituals you like so much."
Blair's voice rose. "What? The 'Jim's a nutcase tribe?'" Blair was pacing now. "Man. Oh, man." He was muttering to himself about being up in front of a bunch of people.
Jim felt a combination of anger and hurt. "What is so nuts about having our friendship blessed? Tell me that."
Blair came to stop in front of Jim and noticed the hurt look in his eyes. Calming he said, "Maybe I think it already is blessed. Why do we need some special ceremony?"
Jim threw his hands up. "I don't know. I just thought maybe it was something we'd do. Look, Chief, I remember a few months ago you were lamenting over a certain rite of passage..."
Blair relented. "Yeah, I remember. I was starting to think that I wish I'd known you when I was Bar Mitzvahed. I still appreciate what you did for me, man." Then he suddenly smirked. "And you met Michelle." There was a pause as Blair contemplated his brother by choice. "This means a lot to you, doesn't it?"
Jim nodded. "I'm not sure why. I just feel like we should do it."
"Okay," Blair agreed softly.
"Okay! Really?"
Blair's head bobbed. "Yeah. Okay. We'll do it. We'll stand up in front of people we don't know and let... Michelle's rabbi friend consecrate us. Man, why do I let you talk me into these things?"
"Cause you love me." Jim said so serious all Blair could do was smile.
"Pretty sure of that are you?" Blair teased.
Jim pinned him with a tender gaze. "Yes."
Blair's look matched the sentinel's. "Me too."
Sunday: Union Chapel
The members of major crimes and Professor Michelle Futterman had sat through the first ten of the friendship consecrations. Every combination had been represented; two women, two men, man and woman. Even though the rabbi explained everything that was going to happen Michelle, seated between Simon and Jim endured Simon leaning to her every few minutes asking, "Now what are they doing?"
The ceremony itself was simple yet endearing, patterned after the Jewish marriage ceremony but geared strictly for the platonic friends that came to the bimah that day. There was no exchanging of vows or rings, no recitation of marriage contracts or drinking of wine (although the tradition of breaking the glass remained with the statement: This friendship will last until the glass can be restored to its original integrity.) And instead of the seven prayers for marriage there were prayers for friendship. At the end the participants themselves decided whether to hug, kiss, or just shake hands. The guests had actually witnessed all three options chosen, with two women even opting for a handshake.
Now Rabbi Bauman called James Ellison and Blair Sandburg for come forward.
Rising Jim said, "This is it, kiddo."
As they made their way to the pulpit Henri leaned to Rafe, "I bet you a buck THEY kiss." He was immediately elbowed by Simon.
The rabbi repeated the blessings that had already been heard ten times that day. Then placing a wrapped glass at their feet reiterated, " This friendship will endure until this glass can be restored to its original integrity."
The two had already decided that Jim would do the stomping and SMASH! He turned that poor thing back into sand. Then turning to each other Jim pulled Blair into a tight hug.
Henri slapped a dollar bill into Rafe's hand.
In the embrace Jim whispered in Blair's ear, "You got out of this at your Bar Mitzvah, Chief."
Blair knew what he meant- being kissed by family in front of the immediate world. But he didn't fight it as Jim eased from the hug to drop a light kiss on his lips.
The dollar was returned to a gloating Henri.
As the two returned to theirs seats Rabbi Bauman made an announcement. "I'd like to thank everyone who participated today with this new ceremony. And Professor Futterman and I would like to invite you all to an *oneg in the reception room off the sanctuary."
At the reception Simon Banks made the most appropriate toast when he raised his glass and declared, "To friendship!"
THE END