Family Meeting

            There is a long dining room table. It is sunday afternoon.
            We have attended a Latin Catholic Mass. It's time to eat
            and talk. My sisters are very chatty.

            They don't like the 8:00pm curfew. Dad will not compromise.
            Mom wants them to date less and study more and get into
            a good college. Kayley has been skipping school to hang out
            with a boy Dad hates.

            Mom is worried about my dress up. Maura thinks I look cute.
            Dad is very angry about this "thing" I do. I explain it's only fun
            and my grades are great. Dad asks me to eat more meat.

            The pendulum clock "gongs" 4:00pm. My sisters want to go
            visit their friends. Dad insists they stay. Mom cleans the table.
            We drink and have chips and cheese with cellery. Dad wants
            to know what I will do when I grow up.

            I want to be a teacher. I like educating. Dad is skeptical. He
            has been a teacher for many years. He doesn't think I can
            work that hard. He thinks I'm a lazy jerk.

            Mom snaps, "Don't break his confidence! He's very bright."
            She squeezes my face with both hands; "Stop putting on
            your sisters cloths." I try to knod: yes.

            Kayley yawns, "We like to dress him up." Dad bellows,
            "For God sake he's a nine year old boy!" Mom raises her
            hands over her head and glares at everyone. She smashes
            pots and pans in the kitchen.

            Maura "I want to be a bank manager. I'm hoping to get a job
            at the bank." Dad thinks that's great. Mom comes in and
            congradulates Maura. Kayley wants to get marry to the boy
            dad hates.... The mood is dark again.

            I whisper to mom "I want blueberry pie." She tells me I can
            have a slice and hands me a slice of pie from the side cart.
            I ask for cream on top. She gives me one scoop.

            Dad wants to know if I have any friends. Yes, Michael down
            the road and his friends. He wants to know if I have a girl
            friend. Yes, Marcella and her younger sister Bernadette.
            He smiles.. .

            I want to talk about @Star Trek. No one is interested.
            Dad thinks it's "liberals in space." Kayley has put her
            head on the table and is trying to sleep. Dad tells her to
            sit up. Maura has left the table without permission.

            The family meeting has ended.


            =+=