11

 

       JANICE

 

    Derek's eating.  See that, he likes macaroni.  Now you eat too.  Don't you want to grow up and be big like your Daddy?

    Doug leans across my shoulder.  Heaven forbid, he says and grins.  Won't be enough food for everybody if that happens.  He takes a pickled egg.

    Now you hush.  He was just getting ready to eat that, and now you got him distracted.

    Why don't you leave him alone?  Maybe he'll eat on his own, without you badgering him.  He laughs.

    Don't you pay attention to your Uncle Dougie.  He's skinny, and you don't want to look like that.

    Oh Janice, Doug isn't skinny; he's just not fat.

    Mom, he's skinny.  There's no two ways about it.

    Well, no danger of your boys having that trouble.  She smiles.

    No, I say.