12

 

       THE FAMILY

 

    Anybody want more macaroni?  Just holler is you want it.

    Could I have the ketchup please.

    No, your mother needs it to hold down the tablecloth.

    Art, quit kidding around!  Are these done or should I turn them over?

    Keep away from those, woman.  This is my job.

    Well then, get over here.

    Who want's them how?

    Susie, pickles?

    You hear about the fire down to Ryan's?

    Jim!  We're at the table!

    No thank you.

    No, which Ryan's?

    The tire place.  You know, along fourteen there.  All them tires going up          you could smell it

    Jim!

    Did anybody say grace?

    Grace.

    Okay, just for that you can say it.

    Godisgreatgodisgoodanwethankhimforourfood          byhishandswearearefedgiveusallourdailybread    amen

    Amen

    Amen

    Took a breath after food.

    Amen

    Did not!

    Amen.

    Okay, who wants iced tea and who wants lemon blend?

    What's this?

    Some kind of corn.  Copes corn and it looks like peppers or something.

    Ham?

    Thank you.

    I don't know where I'm gonna put all this.  Look at my plate.

    We'll take the iced tea.        

    I'm sure you'll find room.

    Did I tell you Lisa Beth Goodwin got a job?  Over to the textile plant.  Put her right in as manager.  I never

    Do I know her?

    I don't know.  She was a Colvin.  Her mother was Jessica Rideout.  Married a Colvin.  I don't recall his name

    Chet?

    Oh, who made the cake?

    No, the other one.  Well anyway, they hired her          no experience          straight out of college.

    I did.

    Manager over all them women that's been there all their lives.  Hazel said she won't stay.  Lots of 'em

    Did you say you did, Susie?

    Yes, it's a mayonnaise cake.

    Mayonnaise?  Oh oh, did you ever hear anything so

    Sure, I've seen it in magazines lots of times.  Ladies Home Journal          I think Kraft even says you can make it with Miracle Whip.

    It isn't hard.  You don't even taste the mayonnaise.

    Looks good.

    Oh, oh

    Roll?

    Who's ready for a burger?

    Is there salt?

    I am.

    You remember Lisa Beth, don't you Doug?  She was in your class, wasn't she?

    No.  Why is it anybody that's graduated in the last ten years you think was in my class?  You heard Aunt Lorraine.  This girl just got out of college.  I been outta school for eight years.

    Is it that long?

    Uh huh.

    Doesn't see that long.  I never give it a thought.

    How can you eat those things?  Little red things just staring out of it.  Looks like a tongue.

    Oh, they're good.  Here try it.  I'll take the pimento out, just eat the green part.

    Looks like an eyeball.

    Janice, don't be silly.  You're a mother now.  You have to learn to eat more things.  I can see your kids.  Be skinny as a rail.

    Little chance of that.

    Doug!

    I just mean their Daddy'll teach'm how to eat.  Right, Jim?

    That's right.

    Just tastes like salt and vinegar.

    Grandpa!  How you doing over there?  Want anything?

    Don't ask him that!

    How's the macaroni?  I tried a new kind of cheese.  They got a new deli section at the IGA.

    It's fine.  Good.

    That ain't all they got new at the IGA.

    Don't talk while you're chewing.    

    Hey, he kicked me!

    Swallow first.

    Dougie.  You go see if there's something you Grandpa wants.

    He's got a mouth.  He'll yell if he wants something.  Won't you Grandpa?

    Eh?

    See?  Quick as a whip.

    Doug!

    Hey, you kick me again an

    You did it first.

    I want to apologize that there isn't any potato salad.  We just forgot

    Oh, that's okay.

    Oh, I bought that big bag of chips and forgot to open them.  Here, who wants chips?

    Burger's good.  My compliments to the chef.

    They're a little dry.  I asked how anybody wanted them, but

    No, they're good.

    Saw Ellie the other day.  She was in the fabric store in at the shopping center.  She don't look good at all.  After all she's been through, I don't wonder.  As if one wasn't enough.  She seemed pretty chipper though.  I don't know if

    Ellie who?

    I'll take a little piece of that.

    Just listen to that dog.  Think nobody ever fed him.           

    The cake is good!

    The mayonnaise just makes it moist.

    Dirty thing!  Somebody ought to put it out of its misery.

    Who wants beans?

    I have enough troubles.

    Doug!

    Thirty-ought-six is in the Bronco.

    Jim!

    Well, she's right.  He sounds          He'd be better off.  If you can't be any happier than that

    Don't you even think of shooting Grandpa's dog.

    He don't even know its there.

    Well, it knows it's there.  And it probably wouldn't like it.

    Never feel it.

    Lemon blend?

    Nice for you to think so, isn't it?