A Quiet Dinner

7:00 pm—Dinner time. Right on schedule my mom puts the last dish on the table and sits down. She inspects everything making sure it’s picture perfect—as usual.

7:02 pm—We hear keys at the front door and the sound of the door close shut. My father is home. We hear shuffling in the foyer before my father appears.


7:04 pm—My father sits down and smiles at my younger sister, me and my mom. He looks down at the table inspecting the food. My mother waits for my father’s verdict anxiously. The expression ‘Please let this be satisfactory!’ is written all across her face. My dad smiles.


7:07 pm—My dad digs into the platters and set his plate. Hunger is visibly seen on his face and in his actions. Once done, we set our plates.


7:10 pm—My father takes his first bite and starts chewing. He suddenly stops and glares angrily at his wife, my mother. She stops in the middle of fixing her plate and gulps. My dad’s glare strikes fear into my mother’s face. She drops the spoon. My sister and I are looking at our parents. Nothing is said nor done. Silence joins us at the table.


7:15 pm—My father stands and my mother follows suit. My sister and I remain sitting. An invisible conversation is occurring between my mother and father.


7:16 pm—My parents leave the dining room and head into my father’s study. He closes the door and the noise begins. There’s shouting and crying behind those closed doors. Eventually, the very similar but dreadful sound of a slap occurs.


7:20 pm—Once again, it’s another night my sister and I are having dinner with Silence. We begin eating dinner enjoying each other’s company at a quiet dinner.