it.” I was assuming that the “we” in her
statement meant I had to hate the mystery guy as well. They
seemed like an all for one, one for all kinda family.
I turned around and surveyed the large corkboard on the wall
behind me. It was covered with family pictures, cards from every
possible special occasion, along with multiple children’s drawings,
and it was about the only thing that kept the kitchen from feeling
cold and sterile—that and the warmth of the people currently
inhabiting it.
Uncle Pete, who I hadn’t seen since the unfortunate night I
ran out of his restaurant like a freak, was as relaxed in his home
environment as he had been at his business. There was an overall
sense about him that led me to believe he was now, and always
had been, extremely easygoing. He was also kind of a hottie, for
an older dude, dressed in jeans and a crisp red button down that
made his full head of white hair practically glow.
He was opening several bottles of wine while Jackie pulled
out a tray of hot garlic bread from the oven. She slid the pan
across the granite countertop before using her foot to kick the
oven door shut.
78 Ethan Day
It was like a ballet, which made me very conscious of the
fact that this was a family that had spent many years working in
confined spaces with one another. They instinctively knew where
to stand, when it was okay to move, taking a step or two in any
given direction when needed, and most of all when to stop and
smile at one another—as if that were their reward for a job well
done.
Even after Wade and Shep came back in, filling the room
up with more bodies, it never felt cramped. And Wade kissing
the top of my head and massaging my shoulders while they all
talked at the same time, still managing to understand one another
perfectly, eased the tension I felt as the lone wolf interloper.
It wasn’t that I didn’t belong, so much as they were all so at
home. It was a slight distinction that made a huge difference in
the way I perceived myself among them. I kept on smiling as they
volleyed comments back and forth while carting the food and
wine from the kitchen to the dining room. It was as chaotic as
any given evening at my parents’ house, but in a totally different
way. Here it felt like anything uttered among them would be
enjoyed, appreciated and welcomed wholeheartedly. At home it
felt like anything might be uttered at anytime, whether enjoyed
and appreciated or not.
His family had manners, and was all polite and shit—quite the
contrast from mine.
I brought up the rear, following Wade into the dining room
while Shep sat the kids down at the dinette table in the kitchen.
Jackie breezed past me and helped Shep arrange the fries and
chicken nuggets onto plastic plates for the boys.
Jackie mentioned the boys were no longer allowed to eat
anything that could stain, such as tomato sauce, while at Del’s.
Apparently there had been some incident in the past. I wasn’t
sure why she decided to inform me of this, as if I, of all people,
would judge anyone else’s nutritional intake. I was however
beginning to think these tiny humanoids were a lot more trouble
than they were worth.
Wade motioned for me to take the chair next to his while
Life in fusion 79
Del and Uncle Pete sat at either end. My stomach rumbled and I
realized how hungry I was as I joined them at the table. The dining
room wasn’t huge to begin with. The fact it was crammed full of
furniture between the table, sideboard and large china cabinet
didn’t help matters. An oversized brass chandelier dangled above
our heads and the back wall was covered with framed photos
of the family. I was sure to all of them it was cozy, but to me,
who’d grown up having dinner on the floor in front of the TV, it
was kinda claustrophobic. The open archway at my back that led
into the living room was the only thing that kept me from totally
wigging out.
I could hear giggling
statement meant I had to hate the mystery guy as well. They
seemed like an all for one, one for all kinda family.
I turned around and surveyed the large corkboard on the wall
behind me. It was covered with family pictures, cards from every
possible special occasion, along with multiple children’s drawings,
and it was about the only thing that kept the kitchen from feeling
cold and sterile—that and the warmth of the people currently
inhabiting it.
Uncle Pete, who I hadn’t seen since the unfortunate night I
ran out of his restaurant like a freak, was as relaxed in his home
environment as he had been at his business. There was an overall
sense about him that led me to believe he was now, and always
had been, extremely easygoing. He was also kind of a hottie, for
an older dude, dressed in jeans and a crisp red button down that
made his full head of white hair practically glow.
He was opening several bottles of wine while Jackie pulled
out a tray of hot garlic bread from the oven. She slid the pan
across the granite countertop before using her foot to kick the
oven door shut.
78 Ethan Day
It was like a ballet, which made me very conscious of the
fact that this was a family that had spent many years working in
confined spaces with one another. They instinctively knew where
to stand, when it was okay to move, taking a step or two in any
given direction when needed, and most of all when to stop and
smile at one another—as if that were their reward for a job well
done.
Even after Wade and Shep came back in, filling the room
up with more bodies, it never felt cramped. And Wade kissing
the top of my head and massaging my shoulders while they all
talked at the same time, still managing to understand one another
perfectly, eased the tension I felt as the lone wolf interloper.
It wasn’t that I didn’t belong, so much as they were all so at
home. It was a slight distinction that made a huge difference in
the way I perceived myself among them. I kept on smiling as they
volleyed comments back and forth while carting the food and
wine from the kitchen to the dining room. It was as chaotic as
any given evening at my parents’ house, but in a totally different
way. Here it felt like anything uttered among them would be
enjoyed, appreciated and welcomed wholeheartedly. At home it
felt like anything might be uttered at anytime, whether enjoyed
and appreciated or not.
His family had manners, and was all polite and shit—quite the
contrast from mine.
I brought up the rear, following Wade into the dining room
while Shep sat the kids down at the dinette table in the kitchen.
Jackie breezed past me and helped Shep arrange the fries and
chicken nuggets onto plastic plates for the boys.
Jackie mentioned the boys were no longer allowed to eat
anything that could stain, such as tomato sauce, while at Del’s.
Apparently there had been some incident in the past. I wasn’t
sure why she decided to inform me of this, as if I, of all people,
would judge anyone else’s nutritional intake. I was however
beginning to think these tiny humanoids were a lot more trouble
than they were worth.
Wade motioned for me to take the chair next to his while
Life in fusion 79
Del and Uncle Pete sat at either end. My stomach rumbled and I
realized how hungry I was as I joined them at the table. The dining
room wasn’t huge to begin with. The fact it was crammed full of
furniture between the table, sideboard and large china cabinet
didn’t help matters. An oversized brass chandelier dangled above
our heads and the back wall was covered with framed photos
of the family. I was sure to all of them it was cozy, but to me,
who’d grown up having dinner on the floor in front of the TV, it
was kinda claustrophobic. The open archway at my back that led
into the living room was the only thing that kept me from totally
wigging out.
I could hear giggling
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