Family Dinner

Studies show that family dinners
Offer benefits that outweigh the cost.
Tonight we may have disproved that.

One son stayed comatose on my back.

One son finished his meal
Before I had started eating.
He jumped around the table on one foot
Until I sent him away.
He cried on his bed.

One son, a good feeder, finished his plate,
Then helped himself to more,
Not by asking politely for seconds,
But by reaching over his brother’s plate.
Twice.

One son finished most of his pizza, then,
Overcome by too much smoothie earlier (?)
Went to the bathroom and, without closing the door,
Threw up loudly and long, more than one would expect
A young belly to hold.
Then he tried to describe the experience for us.
While we were still eating.
We sent him away, too.

One son sat in silence.

I’m glad there is more to family than family dinner.
We’ll try again.
But maybe not tomorrow.