Characters are borrowed. No harm intended. What if we are all wrong about Jack being lonely and family less? What if he keeps mum about his family to protect them from the class a felons parading through his office on a regular basis?
The Family Guy
Jack McCoy rarely left his office before9 p.m., but he was definitely not the first one to arrive each morning. The typical New York high powered worker arrived at work before 7 a.m.. Not Jack. He usually arrived at 9 on the boutton, perhaps a few minutes earlier if he needed to be in court. Jack was responsible for the morning routine in his family, and he took this role as seriously as the law. Jack's wife Kate is an ER physician working the 11p.m to 7 a.m shift at St. Vin's. For most of their married years, he would be the one to get the children up, dressed, fed and off to school. Most families llook forward to an evening meal, but breakfast was the McCoy family time. Jack would whip up a hearty breakfast--omleltes, oatmeal, fruit, rolls... Kate would get in the door a few minutes after 7to join her brood at breakfast.and then go to sleep after they went off to work and school. Most family discussions and business was decided around the breakfast table. The McCoy clan was shrinking--only the youngest two remained at home. The oldest daughter, Carys, was29 and aphysician like her mother. Still in training and with a new husband, her time was precious. She still came to breakfast on Wednesdays. Her twin brothers were two years younger. Declan was a forensic scientist and worked at the FBI crime lab in Quantico, Virginia. He made it home on the occassional weekend and brought along his wife and baby girl. Brother Eamon was still single, but in a relatoionship with a graduate student in social work. He was a professional motocross racer with team KTM and raced in the 250cc class in both indoor and outdoor. Whenever he was in the area, he join his family for breakfast. Next in line was daughter Breslyn. She had her father's charm and twinkling eyes. She became a beat cop with the 15 ater completing college. At 25, she was engaged to a fellow cop and enjoying her secind year on the force. Quinn was the youngest daughter and most like Jack except in looks. She looked so much like her mother at 21. She was applying to NYU Law School and wanted to be a prosecutor like her old man. Last in line was Aidan. Just12, he was quite a surprise when Kate became pregnant at 44. He loved the teasing and attention he got from his older siblings. Jack would drop him off at his school on the way to work, savoring the time alone talking with his youngest, the precious last.
The breakfast table was filled with food and quite noisy. With anywhere from 4 to 14 people at the meal, there was always good conversations and jokesflying. The time together was a perfect way for all to start the day well fed, alert and usually happy. Occassionally, a rebellious McCoy sibling would receive a lecture on living up to expectations and such. During the teenage years, the kids resisted breakfast, but both parents made it clear--resistance was futile. We will eat as a family.
Todays breakfast is a fritatta with egg, red peppers, brocoli, canadian bacon and cheese, with warm Irish soda bread, mandarin orange slices and milk or tea. All six McCoys, plus assorted spouses, baby and dates fill up the table. from 7:30 until 8:30 the family ate, laughed, talked and argued. Then abruptly, the dishes were piled in the sink and everyone departed for work and school. Kate and her daughter-in-law cleaned up, then Kate crawled into bed in the eerily quiet apartment.
