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I ate dinner alone every night. This was by choice, since I wanted to avoid my step-dad at all costs. He was downright scary and dangerous. He'd already broken my sister's jaw for talking on the phone too long. I watched him try and strangle my mom to death. He wasn't to be trifled with. So I ate as soon as I got home from Westwood Junior High and then made myself invisible. I'd never had a sit down family dinner before so I had no idea what I was getting into when my friend Lisa invited me over to her house for dinner.
She lived across the street. Her dad was a Pastor and her mom was the secretary at Lisa's Christian school. They ate dinner at the same time every night. I showed up, already nervous.
The table was set with nice dishes and something yummy smelling bubbled on the stove.
"Sit here," Lisa said, pointing next to her, across from her brother who was almost done with high school. Her dad sat at the head of the table and her mom at the opposite end.
I sat down but then considered running back home. This was so uncomfortable. I felt like everyone was staring at me. Did they know that I had no idea what to do? What was expected of me?
They bowed their heads and her dad prayed. After everyone said amen they dug in. I just sat there. My heart was beating wildly. What was I supposed to do? Was there a certain way to eat?
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