Chapter 14: Tense Dinner
"Who's ready for Mom's Spaghetti!?" Marge giggled as she set down the tray. A huge pot of spaghetti and meatballs, a slightly smaller bowl of salad, and a plate of garlic bread were taken off the tray and placed on the table. Bart, Dawn, and of course Homer were all drooling over the spread but sisters Maggie and Lisa were glaring at each other while an uneasy Nelson watched. Murphy was sucking on the TV remote.
One by one, Marge fixed up a plate for everyone, being extra careful not to put any meatballs and an extra serving of salad for Lisa's plate. Homer pretty much inhaled his plate in seconds while Bart and Dawn pigged out. Murphy opted to wear the spaghetti rather then eat it while Nelson and Marge ate like normal people. Lisa and Maggie were still glaring at each other as they took bites from their plates.
Marge could sense hostility in the air but tried to ignore it. "Why don't we talk about our day? We'll go around the table and everyone says something interesting that happened to them today. I'll go first. Today, while I was cooking the spaghetti, I thought I saw the face of Luigi in the noodles which is kinda creepy because he's been dead for four years. If only he didn't let that pig near the knives. You're next Homer."
"I almost chocked to death on a penny. Homer said with a mouthful of his fourth helping.
"Okay..." Bart? Dawn?" What about you?"
Bart finshed to food in his mouth. "Milhouse fell down his basement stairs and swallowed a rat. It was the coolest thing ever."
"Well nothing really happened today." Dawn said. "But last night I had this crazy dream were I was riding a zebra naked through a minefield while chasing Krusty the Clown with a stick of butter."
"Mmmm Butter." Homer drooled.
Marge murmured and looked toward her daughters. "What you Lisa?" She asked nervously. "Anything you'd like to share?"
Lisa put the fork down on her empty plate. "Actually Mom, I do. Well, it's not so much me as it is Maggie."
Maggie dropped her fork and glared at Lisa. "I swear if you say anything I will gut you like a fish."
"Maggie has something she wants to tell you." Lisa continued.
"Really? What is it?" Marge asked.
"Well...It's...I.." Maggie stammered. "I CAUGHT DAD FLUSHING HIS COURT SUMMONS DOWN THE TOILET!" She shouted.
"D'oh!"
Lisa slammed her fist on the table. "That's not it! Maggie's been working for Moe Szylak!"
Marge gasped. "Maggie! How could you?"
"Moe's not as bad as everyone thinks he is!" Maggie defended.
"He's a criminal and a scoundrel!" Maggie, I don't want you going to Moe's anymore."
"I...I...HATE YOU ALL!" Maggie threw her plate against the wall and ran up to her room while a horrified Marge and Lisa watched. A cold lump formed in Lisa's throat.
"What have I done?" She thought.
"Seconds?" Nelson asked. Everyone except Homer looked at him as if he just killed someone.
"What?"