I sit down with Matthew, Alicia stacking blocks by my feet and the baby sucking on a rattle. Everything under control. Randy comes in right at five fifteen. He plays with the kids while I put the dinner on the table. When we're all sitting in our places I say grace and we start on the macaroni and cheese, made my special way with a bag of frozen peas and carrots stirred in.
People ask for the recipe all the time and wonder if they can substitute fresh vegetables.
Everything is nice and then the howling starts. Randy stops eating, fork halfway to his mouth. Alicia shreds her napkin and actually puts the scraps into her mouth. The baby whimpers and bangs his highchair tray with his fists. Matthew frowns and with his fork smashes the peas and carrots he's picked out of his macaroni and piled on his placemat.