A Meal with the Family

The family are sat in the mother’s living room. The three-seater sofa has Deana, the mother, sat on the left with her legs folded; her eyes fixated on the television, directly opposite to her gaze in the corner of the living room. On the right of the sofa is Tom, the youngest son, 24 years old with his long legs sprawled out from his slouched position. Along the left of the living room is a two-seater sofa which has the eldest son James on. At 30 years old, with renovations taking place in his new home, a wedding to plan with his fiancé and an infant son almost a year old, James rarely gets the opportunity to see either of his immediate family. The father left the household when the children were young. Deana – the mum – is moving abroad having retired from work and has been looking forward to seeing her boys in the old family home one last time before she takes up her new home with her feet up in sunny Spain.

The boys have had an interesting relationship growing up, even as adults they could find ways to argue and behave in a boisterous manner that Deana never enjoyed and so she was desperately hopeful that they would act lovingly during this goodbye meal.

“I thought you weren’t going to leave until you found something else?” Asked James with a furious expression on his face.

“It seems quite irresponsible Tom” adds Deana, throwing a little glance his way as she spoke, eager to agree with James’ rationale but not wanting to create an antagonistic atmosphere.

“I have a little time don’t I? I’ve finally found somewhere that I can work and love what I do.” Replied Tom with a sigh, sitting more upright from his cumbersome spread on the couch.

“Sure, your art has been accumulating value all this time, right? If you keep painting it might be worth something in another 100 years or so. Great Plan.” Retorted James, with a chuckle, proud of himself.

“Yeah, maybe” replied Tom passively. Throughout their single parent upbringing one of the brothers would usually bite at the slightest of opportunities instead of a reasonable exchange of contrasting ideas; the more frequent norm was for the pair to antagonize each other until a disagreement borders on violence, before one is sent to their room by Deana. However, the pair shared many interests and had matching senses of humour to go along with their matching temperaments.

The strained sibling bond between the boys will have been heavily influenced by the relationships they had with their somewhat estranged father. The youngest son was only a child and did not remember the details of his exit from their household; only that his mother was full of wrath towards the man whom he loved dearly, his dad. For James, a boy nearing adolescence during the exit from the household, he remembered watching his mum cry as the father kept them waiting or stood her up, as well as repeatedly not returning home for many nights. James recalled the lies and the feelings that came with every betrayal. James has long since considered his father dead.

Deana loved her sons dearly. She had missed them so much since they had both moved away and started their lives on vastly different trajectories. Her two sons had constantly challenged her resolve. Not only did they possess traits that reminded her of the man who broke her heart; they would argue and they would fight. Her boys would also stay up extremely late; playing on the PlayStation well into the early hours of the morning, more than willing to face a rough day at school. Deana struggled from time to time but managed to see them grow into adults and go off into the world.

The following years were extremely tranquil for Deana. James never returned home, moving across various local areas with numerous friends, always keeping close contact so that she knew of anything significant going on in his life, only really being called upon when he had financial & other life struggles that he needed his mother’s trusted advice. Tom somewhat disappeared during his years at university; only sporadically contacting her, much to her chagrin and there was only so much nagging she was prepared to do. Naturally, much like his brother, Tom would still seek Deana’s counsel for his various heartaches, financial services & other personal advice.

Both boys knew that it was their mother’s dream to move abroad. It had already been many years since the three of them had literally been in the same room together and fearing this would be the last time they would be alone together for many more years to come Deana just wanted to re-create that wholesome family feeling she knows they do possess.

Deana had a secret weapon to keep the atmosphere positive; one thing that would always bring her boys together was her homemade Spaghetti Bolognese. Whenever a pick me up was needed in the house Deana would go shopping for all the ingredients and begin cooking long before school finished knowing that as soon as they walked through the door and caught a whiff there would be beaming smiles. Upon learning that James’ little one was unwell and would be staying at home with his mum, leaving the guest list to just James and Tom, Deana was thrilled to use the opportunity to make that family meal to get both of her boys to sing her praises. How could it not work she thought to herself?

Deana eagerly prepared the last parts of the food while they both still seemed in good spirits. Deana stirred the pot and tasted a little; almost there. James and Tom remained in the living room while Deana was in the kitchen. James had just taken a call from his girlfriend with an update on his son.

“How’s little Oscar?” asked Tom.

“Yeah he’s alright, temperature is heading the right direction so I’m not as worried as I was, I told her to give me a ring if anything changes so just gotta wait and see for now” James put the phone back in his pocket. “Wish she’d hurry up” James comments.

Tom grins at James who begins to grin as well. “Is it ready yet Jesus Christ?” Calls out James.

“Oscar will be at university by the time we’re fed at this rate” bellows Tom as the pair form a chorus of childish chuckles.

“You won’t be eating anything if you don’t stop being a pair of ungrateful idiots” Deana yells in response, a wry smile spreading across her cheeks whilst she plates up the food.

“It’s ready” She called out from the dining area, having put their plates on the dinner table.

“Smells banging mum thank you” remarks James as he tucks himself in at the table before grabbing his fork and digging into his meal. Tom sits at the end of the table and waits patiently for his mum to sit herself down with her own food before starting. Deana smiles at the two of them as they shovel the meal into their faces like barbarians, something she used to criticize them for but is a sight she loved to look upon now with her grown babies.

“It’s as wonderful as ever mum” Tom declares as he leans back in his chair, an almost empty plate before him, needing a moment of air before he then consumes the remainder of the meal. James finishes shortly after Tom, also having cleared his plate and he immediately goes and brings water, topping up everyone’s glasses. Deana finishes eating having not quite cleared the plate.

“I tell you what, that might be even better than I remember it being” starts James.

“It’s been years since I’ve eaten spag bog and it was worth the wait” Tom added.

“Fills a little hole” added Deana clearing the plates and taking them into the kitchen. She returns to the dinner table and sits back down, turns to Tom and says: “you know your brother and I are just concerned, not wanting you to fall behind on rent and whatnot, but if you like this new gallery and feel like something will develop there then I hope nothing but great things come of it”.

“Thanks mum, if it isn’t viable long term I’ll pick up another part time job until something starts getting me some money in but now it’s definitely where I want to be” replied Tom, looking at James with an almost requesting glance.

“Good luck lad” retorted James, missing their mutual management conversations and relationship.

“Can you remember that time Tom ate the gammon and chips meal within five minutes?” chuckled Deana, a wry smile appearing on James’s face, much to the irritation of Tom.

“I had managed to forget that” added James warmly, “you were always greedy for a gangly piece of piss” he mocked.

“What is it you always used to say mum? I eat as if I haven’t eaten before?” The family chuckled. “At least I wait for everyone to be ready before I start eating” added Tom.

“Yeah but you still finish first you pig” again the entire table laughs.

Deana has worries and doubts over the well being of her youngest and more carefree son, as much as she worries about James’ family and many responsibilities; she relished this moment of familial harmony after such a long time without the pair and throughout uncertain times in their lives, she truly was a proud mum. Her leaving had barely featured in their discussion for it was merely the excuse needed for the trio to spend some time together. Despite everything, it was a joyous and peaceful occasion. No-one vented any frustration, no one moaned relentlessly, and they were being nice to each other as well as to her; Deana smiled warmly.

“Ready for dessert?” Asked Deana with a big smile.

“Oh yes” both boys replied, smiling over at her expectantly.

“Good, because I have been working on this beauty for so long and I know it will be amazing” beams Deana proudly. Deana pops into the kitchen and then returns with an intricately crafted chocolate fudge cake. She places the cake on the table between them and cuts off two huge slices and places them in front of the boys… “There you go” says Deana with a big smile looking at her two boys.

“Oh yes, thanks mum!” exclaimed Tom with a huge grin.

“Oh for God’s sake mum” replies James leaning away from the cake.

“Come on James you can’t not eat any, look at it, looks stunning!” Tom shoots towards James.

“She knows I don’t like chocolate cake, why would you make something I don’t like?!” Bleats James. Tom tells James to stop crying about the cake and to grow up, to which James curses him and rushes back into the living room.

Deana sighed, it was good while it lasted she thought to herself.