Fiction: A disorderly dinner

This month's Words for Wednesday prompts are provided by Hilary Melton-Butcher and is hosted at Elephant's Child over here. This week's prompts are: tennis, Turkish, delight, melon, brook and/or officers, steps, conclusion, earliest, pan, asparagus.
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Fiction: A disorderly dinner
The asparagus had gotten cold but no one dared to leave any on their plate. A bird cry rang out 9 o'clock. The guests were fidgeting in their seats, widening their shirt collars, rolling up their sleeves, tying up long hair and fanning their faces. Did Mariel turn off the air conditioner? It was her house and no one liked to dispute her.
    This dinner was to celebrate Frank's return home. All 31 family members were there. As they started on the tomato soup, a few whispered conversations began.
    A little later, the clock struck ten with another bird cry. They all turned to glance at it, most wishing it was time to leave.
    Before dessert, the seven police officers - Frank's uncle, Jefferson, Jefferson's three sons and three grandsons, took on a change. Everyone was gaping at then and their smooth canine coats, wrinkled faces, long drooping ears and tails.
    Had I drank too much and hallucinate those fellows as bloodhounds? thought great-grandaunt Eliza. Being the eldest, she had the privilege of sitting at the head of the table. She glanced at her nephew, grand-nephews and great-grand nephews whose names she could not remember - yes, they were definitely dogs now. Why was no one taking steps to do something about it?
    Jefferson's first instinct was to find out what had led to this strange conclusion. Was it the chicken, the asparagus, the soup, the wine or one of the many side dishes? So much food was consumed rather quickly. His sons and grandsons all looked toward him for guidance. He couldn't help but thought how nice it would be if he had raised dogs but he shook that thought away and said not to kick up a fuss. They were still themselves, just slightly altered. The six all assented as if that was the solution.
    Grandpa Franklin refused to wear his eyeglasses so he couldn't see what had happened but if his daughter had done it, he would say it was harmless. He would brook no criticism against Mariel. Having removed his vest, he wondered why Mariel had turned off the air conditioner.
    Frank, having enjoyed the food and the freedom of being back home, fell asleep and missed his uncle and his cousins and cousins' sons transformations.
    Joe, Frank's younger brother, averted his eyes from the men-dogs. He had always knew Frank was his mother's favorite so he pretended not know or care what his mother does for Frank. This was mild compared to the others.
    Having been married to Joe for five years and been at these dinners, Angela had seen enough not to be surprised or alarmed. Her earliest memory of these family dinners was of an ill-tempered Mariel when she sent lightning down on five guests who complained her soup was too salty.
    The asparagus might be the cause. There was only a glance but Angela swore Mariel had sprinkled something over the asparagus while she was cooking them in the wide pan. Something blue that looked like Turkish delight but came from a glass bottle with no label and was quickly stowed back into Mariel's apron pocket. But there were no evidence of anything on the asparagus when they were served.
    From four seats away, Angela glanced over at Mariel's left. Frank was sleeping with his head on the table. If a stranger saw him, they might just see a German Shepherd lying on the table but it was Frank. He had all his human memories but like a real dog, he could not speak.
    Angela sipped her tea. Beside her Joe was slurping his tea with a nervous tick of his left eye.
    Mariel calmly sipped her tea. Her smooth and blemish-free skin showed no signs of distress. She took delight in taking revenge on anyone who displeased her. Sometimes she wondered what her life would be like if she had pursued a career instead of becoming a housewife. She had given everything up for her husband, Frederick, but he betrayed her. No one knew Frederick had ran away with his young tennis instructor ten years ago. Everyone thought Mariel had killed him. Perhaps that was the better truth.
     Mariel smiled at Frank, her sweet son. If only he wasn't such trouble like his father. If he had called her when he hit that dog with his car, he wouldn't have to serve his sentence as a dog for 16 years. And if Jefferson and his sons and grandsons hadn't testified as witnesses, Frank would have just paid a fine.
    After tea, Mariel brought out the melons for dessert. They ate the ice cold cubed melons in relieved silence as it had gotten even hotter.
    By the time the clock sang 11 o'clock, the men were all back to normal, no signs that they had ever transformed. Angela, standing beside Joe and Mariel, bade the guests good night. It was so normal and yet so disorderly. There was to be another dinner next month. Angela hoped to have divorced Joe by then and if not, she will make an excuse not to be in town that week.