Prerequisites for Sleep by Jennifer L. Stone Page A

in the kitchen afterwards. The men were allowed to smoke, drink or fall asleep.
    Diane had resented this in her teen years, but then did the same with her own sons, always wanting to do things for them, never expecting them to help out. On the other hand, she never expected help from other women either. Blaine always pitched in. It was one of the reasons she had married him. The only one she could remember, but the memory was vivid. The first time was when she was still at York University. They had only been dating a short time when he invited her to his house for Sunday dinner. It was so nice to get out of residence and eat a real meal in a real house. Diane almost fell out of her chair when Blaine stood up, without being asked, and started clearing the table. She could hardly contain her astonishment when he washed all the dishes that didn’t fit in the dishwasher while his father dried them. She wondered whether there were any men in Nova Scotia who would do that.
    â€œSo, how’s the car business?” she asked Barry, piling his plate high with mashed potatoes.
    â€œA bit slow, but there’s always someone out there who wants to buy a truck. Prices are good these days, and even with gas being unpredictable, they can’t resist.”
    â€œSell many hybrids?” She handed him his plate and watched as he doused everything in gravy until his dinner looked like islands in a mud puddle.
    â€œWe don’t even discuss hybrids unless someone is specifically looking for one. Then it’s a special order.”
    â€œThe boys will have to change their ways eventually.”
    â€œThe boys,” Barry said, holding his fork like a pointer in midair, “have been my livelihood for over twenty years. Don’t expect me to start telling them what to do.”
    â€œDid I tell you about Eva Gibbons?” Doris said before Diane could respond. Diane had wanted to say something along the lines of everyone needing to change, that the only way to survive was to adapt. She took her cue and remained silent.
    â€œHer husband Rob woke up to find her dead in the bed next to him. That was a couple months ago. An aneurysm. It’s so sad to see him getting groceries all by himself now. You remember Rob and Eva. You used to babysit for them years ago.”
    â€œI only babysat for them once, but yes, I remember them.”
    â€œAllison, how’s that floor hockey team of yours?” Her father’s jovial voice came from the other end of the table. Diane looked up to see him wink at his granddaughter.
    â€œWe’re going to the provincials, Gramps. You’ll have to come watch.” Allison was a feminine version of Diane’s brother. She had his mouth and nose, and those damn long lashes that Diane always thought were such a waste on Barry. She had also inherited his athletic talents.
    â€œThought I’d get a van from work,” Barry said. “Then we could all go to the games. Get a couple of hotel rooms if necessary.”
    â€œSounds like a plan,” said her father.
    â€œSo, Julie, are you on any teams?” Diane lifted her glass to take a sip of water but set it back down after catching a whiff of chlorine.
    â€œI’m afraid that Julie takes after me,” said Caroline. “Not much of an athlete, but she is in vocals and band.
    â€œAnd I’m performing in the dinner theatre.”
    â€œOh, wow! When’s the dinner theatre?”
    â€œChristmas,” said Julie, “right before our semi.”
    â€œWhat on earth is a semi?” Doris said. “Sounds like a truck.”
    â€œIt’s a dance, Gran. You know, semiformal.” Julie laughed, and Diane could picture her easily fitting in with any group of carefree girls making s’mores at a sleepover.
    â€œI didn’t know they had a dance at Christmas,” said Doris. “I thought the only dress-up event was the prom at the end of the year. It’s so nice that you