Dinner Time

Dinner Time

By: Roger Alderman

“Donny wash your hands and get to the table. It’s almost time for dinner,” Earlene called out, as she balances herself against the countertop. Her large pregnancy stomach makes her so unbalanced these days. I hate dinner time… ten-year-old Donny thought to himself, as he sat down his toys.

Karl looked up from the days newspaper, “looks like each family is finally responsible for growing their food now. Should have always been that way.” “We all have to do our part these days,” Earlene rubs her stomach. Karl notices Donny has not arrived yet and blasts loudly “Boy, get down here!” Earlene turns and place a hand over Karl’s mouth, as she shakes her head in disagreement and defense of her son, “NO. To everything else you were about to say to him.”

“We made our choice and Donny is it,” Earlene looks into his eyes reminding him if their agreement. Karl looks to the floor nodding his head in understanding, “I just think that the world made our decision for us.” “The shortage has forced us all to make decisions that we would never have made before, Karl,” Earlene corrects her husband quickly before his logic and thoughts change yet again.

Donny slowly makes his way down the long hallway to the stairs with his arms stretched out trying to touch both sides, as he navigates the hallway with his eyes closed. His mind reliving the days of walking through the lush family wheat fields on a pleasant day and a cool breeze blowing. He always loved the harvest time; as sometime his dad would let his ride with him in the large machines used to gather the wheat.

A smile curls the corners of his mouth. His eyes flashed open and his face twists from the peaceful memories into a representation of the horror that the world now holds, “I’m on my way.”

Donny looks across the dinner table and realizes each family member holds a false smile on their face. “Donny it’s your turn to say grace,” Earlene looks at her son with a judgmental expression. “He shouldn’t have too if he doesn’t want too,” Karl interrupts. Donny flops his head down on top of his crossed forearms. “Yes, Karl, yes he does. We need to be thankful for the blessings we have been given. There are other families, Good Families, out there right now starving or doing GOD knows what to survive,” she looks at Karl with disgust.

“So now it’s my fault?” Karl blasts. “Well, You’re the farmer who can’t grow anything, Karl!” Earlene attacks. Donny weeps gently and as quietly as possible to not attract his mother’s anger. Earlene and Karl continue their debate, as Donny pauses to look across the table to the vacant fourth seat. He loved his sister, Bethany, but her frail constitution during the famine resulted in her passing. “Great! Now he’s crying, Karl, I swear it’s every night with you!” Earlene scolds waving her clenched fist in front of Karl’s face. Karl rolls his eyes at the commentary.

“Donny let your sister know that it is dinner time. Make sure she cleans up. Who knows when we will be able to have a family dinner again,” Earlene looks at her son with great intensity in her words. Donny looks to his father for help, but Karl focuses at his empty dinner plate, “go on do what your mother asks.”

Donny shakes his head and storms off out of the kitchen. Earlene gasps and grabs her side, as the wind gets driven out of her. She nearly doubles over looking to Karl. “Real fighter huh?” Karl asks. Earlene nods in agreement and slowly makes her way back to her chair at the kitchen table.

Donny did not want to bother his sister, as she was in a very dark place at this time in her life. Especially after Bethany passed, as it left her as the only daughter. Sherry was younger than Donny. He could hear her music playing loud from beyond the closed wooden farm door. He stopped in front of the door and called out, “Sherry! You in there?” “You know I’m in here!” Sherry replied sarcastically. “What do you want, Donny?” Sherry asked, the door still closed. “It’s dinner time,” Donny sighed loudly. “I’m not hungry,” Sherry blurts out. Donny chuckles, “Your choice either we walk to the table together or I will have to drag you.”

“Donny,” Karl yelled, “What’s the holdup? Is Dinner getting cold?” Earlene chuckled at Karl’s words, “You’re bad.” “And bad for you,” Karl added. “Did you decide on a name yet?” Karl asks, as he gently places his hand on Earlene’s pregnancy belly. “If it’s a boy, Dale,” Karl looked confused at her words. “Why…Dale…? That was my dad’s name,” Karl smirked. “If it’s a girl, Karen,” Earlene smiled. “Like your mom?” Karl laughed loudly. Earlene hid her smile behind her hands. “You hated my dad?” Karl started. “But we both hated my mom,” Earlene interrupted. The married couple burst into laughter at the idea uncontrollably.

  

A knock on the kitchen door to the backside of the house startled the couple out of their laughter. Karl frowned and furrowed his brow, “I’ll get it.” Earlene walked to the stove, “I’ll warm the oven. So, things won’t get cold.” Karl nods in agreement, as he opened the backdoor. The neighbors Mark and Linda stand on the back-porch step looking upset and disheveled.

“Karl,” Mark looked away revealing the cowardice of his inner being. “Mark, you came a long way. Can I help you?” Karl smirked, as he knew exactly what they wanted. “We were hopeful we might join you for dinner?” Mark pleaded. “Is it just the two of you? Or Did you bring the kids?” Karl demanded. “No, just us,” Mark began. “Well, if you had brought the kids I would have fired up the grill,” Karl smiled, “You know I love a good old-fashioned bar-b-que.”

“Come on in guy,” Karl continued, “I would never turn away such a wonderful neighbor.” Linda, (Mark’s wife) asks, “We heard laughter as we walked up.” Earlene smiled at Linda, “No worries. We were discussing baby names.” Linda’s jaw drops, “You pregnant…again?”

Mark looks at the neighbors in shock, “how the hell do you two do it?” Karl pulls Earlene into an embrace, “We love each other and would do whatever it takes to keep our little heaven going.” “I knew from the moment we met you too, ask Mike. I would say that’s a couple that will go the distance,” Linda adds. Karl and Earlene embrace and offer over the top smiles and an exceptionally long kiss.

Karl and Earlene step aside and motion for Mark and Linda to join them. Mark holds out a plastic shopping bag with numerous canned vegetables inside, “Sorry, it’s all we had.” Earlene ingratiatingly accepts the additional groceries, “No, please don’t worry. These will be a pleasant addition to the meal. Everything has been so limited lately.” Mark huffs loudly, “Tell me about it after the herds died off I got really worried about making it.”

Linda nods in agreement and settles at the kitchen table. Karl closes the door and grabs Mark a cold beer from the fridge. Karl motions for mark to accept it, “Well, eventually the kids will be down and we can get started.”

  

“I don’t know if I can eat dinner again,” Donny stops at the top of the stairs with Sherry close behind. Sherry pauses to find the words, “Donny, gotta eat to survive or your gonna get weak like Bethany.” “Donny’s sadness can no longer be contained, as he turns to Sherry, “We could run away?” Sherry holds a very mature and empathic look on her face, “what would that fix. You would still eventually get weak and I’m smaller than you. I know I wouldn’t make it.” Donny hugs his sister and they make their way to the kitchen.

Danny and Sherry enter the kitchen with their heads hanging low. “At Last!” Earlene’s announcement moves everyone’s attention to the arrival of the two children. “Mom, I…” Donny starts, but is quickly stopped by Earlene. “Enough!” Earlene commands and motions for the children to come to the table. Donny shuffles towards the table reaching his mother first. He cannot bring himself to look at his parents.

Karl moves to Donny’s side and extends his hand, “I’ll take it from here.” Donny looks down to his clenched fist and shakes his head defiantly at the order. “Danny, you have too.” Sherry begs him once again. Donny sighs and places the end of the rope into his father’s hand. He looks to his sister and mouths the words, I’m Sorry.

Sherry smiles, as Karl lifts her and places her on the table top. “Looks like dinners served,” Earlene cheerfully adds. Earlene places a hand on Donny’s shoulder. Donny looks to his mother, “What! I did what you asked, just like with Bethany.” He watches in tears, as the neighbors and his father hold down Sherry against the table top belly up.

Sherry closes her eyes and tears flow gently, “It’s okay Donny this will help our family live.” Earlene places a large kitchen knife into Donny’s small hand, “Now it’s your choice you can cut her throat and make it fast and painless or we can all just dig right in.”

“If you don’t do it maybe the next one will listen,” his mother states openly, as she rubs her stomach gently. Karl motions for Donny to join them at the table once more to carry out the foul deed. “First Cut gets you first piece.” Donny slowly shuffles to the table side. Donny looks lovingly at his sister, as she nods to him and mouths the words, Go Ahead, it will be Okay.