Chapter 8: Interruptions
Meg sniffed smelling the strong odor of something burning.
Helen caught the same whiff that Meg got. "My casserole!" she screamed making a beeline for the kitchen.
Meg and Roxanne were quick to follow. Helen opened the oven to release a billow of dark gray smoke. She grabbed a potholder to wave it away from her face. Helen and the girls started coughing. Meg could feel her eyes begin to water and sting from the cloud hovering over the kitchen.
"What happened?" asked a wide eyed Patty who ran into the room.
"Get back Patty," warned Helen between coughs. Pointing to Meg and Roxanne she directed, "Girls, open the door and windows. Let's try to get this out."
Obeying, Meg found her way to the door. But before she could turn the knob to open it, it flew open revealing her father on the other side.
"Helen what the?" he asked walking in the room past Meg.
"I'm sorry Jack. I guess I left the casserole in the oven too long."
"You guess?" he asked his temper apparently rising.
"Now Jack—"
"What are we going to have for dinner? Did you ruin the oven? What if—"
"Jack! I got it taken care of," Helen said calmly resting her hands on her seething husband's chest. "I'll get it cleaned up. I have some extra sandwich meat that we can make sandwiches with for dinner. I got it under control. Now go wash up and meet us in the dining room when you're done."
Jack reluctantly consented still steaming.
"Meg, would you please get out the meat and bread? Roxanne you can help her start making the sandwiches. I'm going to assess the damage to the oven," Helen ordered trying to get a hold of herself.
The sandwiches made, smoke cleared, and burnt casserole disposed of, the Pryor family gathered around the table. Meg clutched the letter she had been interrupted from reading during all of the chaos. She pulled it out of the safety of her skirt pocket and laid it unfolded on the table.
"Meg put that away while we're at the table," snapped Jack noticing the papers next to his daughter's plate.
Helen raised her head, eyes full of curiosity as Meg spoke out in protest, "But Dad, you don't understand—"
"I understand it's dinner time, not reading time," countered her father then took an aggressive bite from his sandwich.
Seeing Meg sink in her chair with disappointment, Helen stuck up for her daughter, "Jack."
"What Helen?"
"She's been expecting that letter for a long time now. Why don't you let her read—"
"Mom it's okay," piped up Meg. She could see where this would lead.
Ignoring his daughter, Jack spoke over Meg's response to his wife across the table from him. "Helen, we don't allow Patty to read at the table. Do you expect me to change the rules for Meg? She's got to understand that the rules are the same for everyone else and her."
"It's just this one time, Jack. It won't hurt none," Helen's voice raising in irritation as she put down her sandwich.
Jack was now fuming.
"Jack, I just don't think it's fair, that's all." Helen shook her head and rested her forehead on her hands staring at her plate.
"She can read it after we're finished eating, Helen."
"That's fine, Mom; I can wait," Meg offered. She looked back and forth from her mother to her father. Man, she thought. They're fighting a lot lately. I wish J.J. had never joined the Marines. I wish Jimmy would have never joined the Marines.
Finally, after dinner was finished being ate and the table cleared, Meg sat down on her bed with Roxanne to read her letter.
"So, you have to read it aloud so I know everything," excitedly blurted Roxanne.
"Alright, I promise," Meg teased in a sarcastic tone. She's almost more excited than I am. "Here goes," she said as she began to read: "Dearest Meg—"
Quickly she turned her head at the sound of giggles. Standing in the doorway stood her spying sister.
"Dearest Meg," repeated Patty dramatically before going off in a roar of laughter.
"Patty, get out!" yelled Meg. When that didn't produce a result she added, "Mom! Patty won't leave my room!"
"Patty!" the girls heard faintly from downstairs. "Give your sister some privacy!"
Patty stuck out her tongue at Meg crossing her arms and stomped out of the room.
"Now where were we? Oh, I believe we just left off with, dearest Meg," said Roxanne eager for Meg to continue.
Meg inhaled and exhaled loudly going on to read the rest of her letter.