Chapter 40 I don't think I love him anymore

• As usual, Dad's face was hiding behind a newspaper when I got to the dining table. Uncle Liam had started serving and all I had to do was to eat. All the little talk before eating wasn't necessary. I sat down and served myself then dug into my meal. It was rice, mutton stew with orange juice. Not the greatest meal but who cares. I was famished and I wasn't talking to anybody and everybody.
• The moment Uncle Liam left, I heard the paper rustling as Dad placed it on the table and felt his eyes on me. I kept my head down and kept eating like it was the most important thing in the world. I was so tense and waiting for him to say something but then I heard the sound of a fork clinking against a plate. I felt relief wash over me immediately. Unlike Mum who talks in the middle of a meal, Dad hardly says a word while eating. Now all I had to do was finish up and get out of the room before he did. That way, no talk would happen.
• I did a short work of my meal and gulped down a whole cup of orange juice. Apart from the sweetness of that juice, I honestly couldn't remember the taste of everything else. I stood up and was going to hurry out of the room but was given an immediate order to "Stop!" And "Sit!" As if he was talking to a dog.