5
Dad stared at Mom, totally confused, giving a
forced smile. “Oh, right, for Mallory. Uh, Donna,
did you forget the silverware? How am I
supposed to eat?”
“You want to eat?” Mom picked out a shrimp
and handed it to me, looking at him in mock surprise. “Carol called, and they came to check
on us. I didn’t hear them say they were staying
for dinner.”
く
Dad’s face turned red. He stood up abruptly.
“Donna, what is this? Are you, are you trying to
embarrass me?”
Mom took a small sip of water, her expression
blank.
“Come on, Chuck, I never said I’d be having you two over for dinner. And I assumed you were
just here to look at the new house and leave!”
I watched Mom, stunned. She never intended to
let Dad stay!
Carol also stood, her face turning green.
“Donna, how can you do this? Even if they are
your relatives, you should offer food!”
When Dad left, Carol was scared we would
depend on her, so she moved houses without
notice. Seeing our family thrive now, she
wanted to use my dad and get close. But she
was facing the wrong opponent
<
100
“Carol, when I took my two kids to your house, begging you to let us stay for a few days, you told me we weren’t family anymore and told us
to never go back, and I never forgot that, it was rude!”
“I…” Carol sputtered, speechless.
Dad couldn’t take it anymore. He slammed his hands on the table. “Donna, I’m your husband, the father of your kids! I’m back, what more do you want from me? Do you want me to get on my knees and beg?”
Mom looked at Dad, smiled sadly, and her eyes rimmed with red. “When you were giving up
your hair for the monastery, I begged you to not
go, begged you to think of your kids. You were
determined. You were too strong with your
words, telling me our relationship ended and
that you had died. You were the same as dead
to me.”
10:16
Dad always thought little of Mom, he never imagined that she would become strong, and started shouting and cursing.
100
“Donna, why are you like this? I wouldn’t have married you if you hadn’t begged me!
“I’m not so bad to you and gave you ten years
of freedom. Are you still thinking of such minor things that happened years ago?”
He waved his fists around, looking like he
wanted to throw a punch.
Chris jumped up. “What do you think you are doing!”
Chris, at six–foot–one, stood in front of him like
a wall.
He looked scared.
And wanting to save faco bo nullad Chric acido
<
And wanting to save face, he pulled Chris aside
and spat insults. “Fine, just you wait, you’ll
regret it if I leave!”
He spat, and stormed out.
Carol hurried after him, running to talk him out
of it. “Chuck, hold on! Don’t do anything rash!
Don’t forget what we came here to do!”
Dad was in a rage. He wasn’t going to come
back, and so dragged Carol away.
The house was finally quiet.
Mom closed the door and smiled at us. “What
are you looking at? Let’s eat.”
I gently squeezed her hand. “Mom, are you
okay?”
“I’m fine, honey.”
She wiped a tear from her eye and placed a
<
10:17
100
“Opening dinner, leave a bowl for God, and this
is all I ask. Let my Mallory, my Chris, be healthy and safe forever.”
