4
(”
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Our new house was designed by an architect,
and it was sleek and modern, sure to impress anyone who saw it.
Dad looked around, seemingly pleased.
“Not bad, not bad. This house is big enough,
and bright enough, which will be convenient for me to read, although, the decoration lacks taste. After I fix that…”
I said nothing, grabbed the grocery bags, and headed for the kitchen. “It’s almost six. The
feng shui master said the first meal in the new
home should be eaten at seven o’clock, so we
don’t have much time. Mallory, come help your
mother peel garlic.”
“Mom…”
Iglared at Dad and Carol Why were we letting
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I glared at Dad and Carol. Why were we letting
them in, cooking for them?
Mom scolded, “Mallory, are you trying to upset me?”
“Coming, coming.”
I stomped into the kitchen, plopped down on a stool, and peeled garlic with resentment. Mom was always so thoughtful, so kind, and that’s why people always took advantage of her!
In the living room, Dad and Carol, seeing no one
was going to serve them, sat on the couch.
Carol stared at the house, tugging on Dad’s
arm. “This house is amazing…”
“It is nice. Spacious, good location, plenty of
rooms.”
Dad spread his legs, acting like the lord of the
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10:16
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manor. “We don’t need all these rooms, so you
and your son don’t need to rent an apartment.
Just move in with us. The family can all live
together, and it’ll be lively.”
“That’s a great idea!”
Carol glanced around, acting like she was
looking at her own new home.
She stole a glance at Mom, then whispered to
Dad. “Brother, you were right. Donna really
doesn’t resent you.”
Dad sneered. “Of course not. Do you think I
don’t know her?”
There were sunflower seeds on the coffee
table. Dad grabbed a handful, started cracking
them, and gossiped with Carol.
When they ran out of things to say, he glanced
at the clock and said to Mom, who was busy in
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the kitchen, “Donna, where’s Chris? Did you tell
him I was coming?”
Mom was stirring the shrimp. She responded
without turning around, “He’ll be back soon. He has class until later.”
Dad nodded, looking proud. “That boy, he’s doing well at that prestigious school. He must not waste the quality genes that I gave him. If he was like you, I’m afraid he wouldn’t even be able to calculate simple addition and subtraction…”
He was getting more and more arrogant, completely forgetting that Mom was no longer the stay–at–home wife who was dependent on
him.
I was about to fire back when I heard the door
open.
“Son!”
Dad jumped up from the couch, running to
greet him.
“Oh, my son, you look exactly like me!” He
couldn’t contain his happiness, hugging my
brother and staring at him.
Chris paused, confused, and stepped back.
“Dad?”
“Son, it’s your dad! I’m out of the monastery,
and I’m never leaving again. Aren’t you happy?”
Chris stared at him, looking bewildered and
confused. “Why are you back?”
Then, he looked at us. “Mom, Mal, what’s going
on?”
Dad looked at Chris, then turned to criticize,
“Donna, why didn’t you tell Chris earlier? At
least give him some warning. Look at him, he’s
too happy and stunned.”
<
Mom didn’t turn around. “It’s not a big deal.”
“How could my returning not be a big deal?
Anyway… son, did your class end? Are there
too many classes in your senior year?”
“Lab is busy.”
Chris’s face was tense. He was silent for a
moment, then hurried into the kitchen.
“Mom, let me help you with the cooking. This
smoke is too much, you’ll cough.”
“It’s okay, it’s already done. You and your sister
go sit in the dining room. Dinner is ready! Here,
take this over.”
Mom handed the dish to Chris, then patted me
and told me to sit down and wait for the meal.
The food was on the table, and Dad came over
and sat down. “Not bad, not bad. Donna’s cooking is perfect.”
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Carol was a little embarrassed, but she didn’t
sit at the table immediately. Dad pulled her
over. “Don’t be shy. This is family. Act however you want to.”
He sat with his legs crossed, waiting for food.
Mom arrived, carrying the rice. Chapter 2
Three plates, three sets of silverware. My dad and Aunt Carol had nothing in front of them.
Dad blinked, forcing a chuckle. “Eat your sides before your main, Donna remembers my habits.”
He reached for the shrimp, his fingers twitching towards it. “Guess you knew I would want this
shrimp, the way you used to prepare it…”
<
“Don’t.”
Mom, who’d been mostly quiet, reached out,
and slapped his hand away with her chopsticks.
She sat down, her tone calm, and said, “Those
are for Mallory. I asked a bunch of people to
get them for me, and they are this big, what’s
Mal supposed to eat?”
