“Ten minutes,” the AI droned.
She waited on the pick-up point marked with a yellow dot outside her dorm.With her gaze down, she didn’t need to converse with anyone—her mood was that dismal.Her thoughts circled on how to improve her grades with the time she had available and what would be the best approach, and laughingly considered seducing the older professional.That, at least, got a snort out of her.Dinner would be free except for the emotional trauma.Although, she’d scoff noodles if it meant not having to spend any time with her parents.That was a lie.Her dad…
She sighed.I love them.She did.Dad more so.
The taxi ride was too short.She raised her gaze up the apartment block, one of many mass housing spires piercing the sky and sucking up the sunlight with their sol-paneled exteriors.After taking a moment to square her shoulders, she strolled into the lobby.Every step was like trudging through hip-height mud.At last, she knocked on the door of her old home.Half of her hoped that no one would answer.
Dad ended her silly hope, yanking her into the apartment and his crushing hug.“How’s my girl?”He shoved her back to study her.“You look good, Tiny.Dark shadows under your eyes, but that’s to be expected.”He sidled closer.“Your mother’s made meatloaf.Jamie’s on some sort of health kick.”
“Real meat?”she asked, arching a brow before peering into the open-plan living area levels above the city below.
Dad’s grimace said it all, as did the burnt-organic aroma hanging in the air.“Something to drink?”
“She knows where everything is.She’s not a visiting dignitary,” Mom said, glaring at Dad.“Come, Tiny, help me set the table…since you’re late without notifying me.”
Tiny stiffened, tempted to swivel on her heel, and leave.Her glance caught her brother lazing on the couch, a gaming controller in hand.Beside him was a beer.
“Now,” Mom snapped, thrusting a plate at her.
When Tiny grabbed it, she hissed.It was still hot from the sol-powered dishwasher.With singed fingertips, she almost threw the stainless-steel plates onto the table.Mom trailed her, nudging them into position as if they hadn’t been burned in the fires of the sun.
“Cutlery,” she said.
Tiny wasn’t an idiot and used the oven mitts to set out the knives and forks, all while glowering at her useless brother.
Younger than her, he was her parents’ baby.In their eyes, he never did anything wrong, required more compassion, and deserved a bigger allowance.They even dismissed his delinquent behavior as that of a young man lost in a world of temptation.
She tossed aside the mitts and accepted the glass of cold fruit juice Dad offered her.He took his place at the head of the table when Mom placed the brown lump at the center.It didn’t look appetizing.
She sat to the right of Dad, Tiny to his left, with a place beside Mom for Jamie.
“Honey, it’s dinner time,” Mom sang.
“Five minutes, Mom,” he growled, jerking and punching his console.
“All right, sweetheart,” she said.
Tiny widened her eyes at Dad, but he just shrugged.Reaching for the ‘meatloaf’ got her hand smacked.She snatched it back, curling her fingers into fists.
“We’re waiting?”she asked.
Mom pursed her lips while draping the napkin across her lap.“If you’d been here on time—”
“We’d still wait, Mom.”Tiny winced at the whine in her voice.When Mom said nothing, Tiny eyed the impending gastric experiment she was about to suffer through.“So, how has work been?”She glanced at Dad.
“Oh, the usual,” he said, nudging his knife to the side and back with a fingertip.“Might be up for a promotion.”
“That’s wonderful, Dad.You work so hard,” she said, flashing him a smile.He’d been a factory foreman for as long as she’d been alive.Perhaps they’d realized he was worthy of becoming the manager.They could use the additional tokens, too.
When she met her mother’s gaze, she stayed quiet.Manners demanded she ask the same of her mom, but she couldn’t bring herself to speak.
Jamie leaped to his feet, screamed at the wall-mounted screen, then threw the controller onto the floor.It clattered across the metallic flooring.
“Jamie,” Dad said, using a tone that brooked no argument.
Jamie slid into the chair next to Mom, bringing his beer with him.“Sorry, Dad.”He looped an arm around Mom and kissed her cheek.“This looks amazing, Mom.”
She beamed.“Vegetarian, you said.”
