Staas' favorite part was always the refrain in which Lumiere bemoaned the life of a bored servant, and he sang that with all the melancholy gusto he could muster. "Life is so unnerving, for a servant who's not serving. He's not whole without a soul to wait upon . . ." And so on, complete with mournful sighs and a dramatic back of the hand to his forehead. And then a bright perk up at the end. ". . . You walked in a oops-a-daisy!"
But then the song continued, and they reached the part where Lumiere first slowed it down, and then started doing a little cancan with the forks, and he really liked that part too, especially as Theo giggled and tried doing the kicking and the walking at the same time like his dad was doing, and failing miserably. Alida settled for skipping still and flinging her free hand out in dramatic, showgirl gestures.
"While the candelight's still glowing, let us help you, We'll keep going . . . Course by course, one by one, until you shout; 'Enough I'm done!' Then we'll sing you off to sleep as you digest . . ."
And that brought them back round to the end, and as a grand finish, Staas scooped Theo up and set him on his shoulders. Theo squealed with glee and set his hands on top of his dad's head, and Staas held his legs tightly in case he squirmed. Theo did give an enthusiastic jerk, but he settled well.
Alida did a little twirl underneath Ira's arm while still holding onto his hand and grinned at the world in general.
"So, dude," Staas said after a moment of general contentment. "I made an extra key for you. For the apartment. Just in case."