"Bless us, Oh Lord, and these thy gifts, which we are about to receive, from thy bounty, through Christ, Our Lord, Amen." Austin's mom prays, opening her eyes back up, giving everyone a sweet smile. "Alright everyone, dig in." She exclaims, sounding a little too excited.
Everybody began to eat, except for one person.
Austin's dad.
Austin's dad didn't even manage to sit with us during the dinner he prepared. Every now and then, we would hear newspaper crumple in the living room. Some dad, huh?
Austin and I began talking as if we've known each other for years. Or, as if we liked each other for years.
"Yeah, next week we have that one field trip for track." He would state.
I nod, swallowing my food. "Where are we even going?" I take a glimpse at Austin. "Where do track teams even go for field trips?"
Austin chuckles at my words. "We're visiting some other school to do some competition." He would glance at me, making eye contact. "I think we're doing a race against them or something." Austin would assume.
I glance away, back at the steak and mash potatoes Austin's dad had prepared. "What's the point of calling it a field trip if it's technically a competition?" I laughed, cutting my steak with my, rather dull, steak knife.
"Don't ask me. Doesn't make sense to me either." He answered.
I shrug, as I began chewing my steak. I glance over at my parents, as well as Austin's mom, who seem to be having quite the conversation.
I flinch slightly, as a chair gets pulled out beside me, Austin's dad sitting down.
How thoughtful for him to join.
He laughed, a weird deep laugh. "Ha, did I startle you there, Gopher?"
I quickly glance over at him.
Gopher? Who does he this he is?
I opened my mouth to speak, before getting interrupted by Austin.
"Dad, don't say that." He would glance at his dad.
I could begin to feel tension fill the air, Austin's dad giving him a deadly stare.
"Don't tell me what to do, boy." He says in a stern tone, placing his hand on my shoulder. His hand was so big, it practically covered all of my shoulder like a blanket. This sent chills down my spine.
"And besides, isn't this the Gopher kid you just can't seem to get your hands off of?" He says, in a tone mixed with seriousness and sarcasm at the same time.
Austin's mom seemed to have noticed the tension in the air, as she interrupted this predicament. "Hey, honey, I didn't even notice you sit down." She glances at Austin's father, whose hand was still tightly wrapped on my shoulder. "Do you want me to grab you a plate?"
He let go of my shoulder, giving a soft, yet fake smile, to Austin's mother. "No, I'm alright. Thanks, babe."
Austin's dad would immediately look back at me. "So you're the kid who keeps getting into fights with my son?"
I chuckle awkwardly, unsure of what to say. "..That would be me." I speak, the words sounding better in my head.
He'd give a fake smile. "Funny one, aren't you?"
"Oh, leave that poor boy alone." Austin's mom would pipe in. "Come join the chat with Jared's parents and me. This is why they're here in the first place." She raises her brows.
