The Others

Dinner's Ready

The dinner table was set with care, the golden candlelight flickering gently in the dim room, casting warm shadows that danced on the walls. The rich aroma of roasted vegetables mingled with the scent of fresh bread, creating a cozy ambiance that enveloped the family like a comforting embrace. Laughter erupted as Andrew recounted a mishap at the market, his voice animated, punctuating the air with light-heartedness.

"...and the baker nearly dropped the entire tray of pies! You should have seen his face!" Andrew exclaimed, his cheeks flushed with laughter. The table erupted into peals of giggles, even Gracie couldn't suppress a smile, her eyes sparkling with amusement.

But as Gracie's gaze drifted toward her father, seated at the head of the table, a heaviness settled in her stomach. She cleared her throat, her heart racing with a mixture of excitement and anxiety. "I have something to share," she said, her voice trembling slightly. The laughter died down, attention shifting toward her.

"I want to be a scientist."

The noise halted abruptly, as if someone had pulled the air from the room. Every eye shifted toward Gracie, and Father's spoon fell from his hand, clattering against his plate.

"A scientist?" His voice was tight, disbelief woven into each word. "And what next? You'll run off and join those pompous sods who think they know better than the rest of us?"

Mother gasped softly, her hand flying to her chest. "William--" she scolded, though her voice trembled with the same shock. But Father wasn't about to be swayed by her.

"Oh Please! Respect for tradition," he growled, his accent thickening as it always did when he was angry. "That's what they lack. All those men with their heads in books, never worked a day in their lives. And now you want to be one of them?"

Gracie's face didn't flinch. She sat straighter, her eyes steady on her father's. "They're trying to make things better," she said quietly, but with unwavering conviction.

A snort escaped from Father. He crossed his arms, eyes narrowing. "Better? For who? For people like them, maybe. Not for us. What good will all that studying do you here? You're needed in this family, not some fancy laboratory."

Tommy, sitting at the far end of the table, paused mid-bite. "What's a scientist?" he mumbled through a mouthful of food, eyes wide with curiosity.

Gracie's expression softened slightly, and she turned to her youngest brother. "Someone who studies how things work. To help make things better for everyone."

Tommy's face lit up. "I wanna be a scientist too!"

Before he could say another word, Andrew leaned over, covering Tommy's mouth with his hand, his eyes darting nervously toward Father. "Not now, Tommy," he muttered under his breath, his face set in an uneasy smile.

Father's gaze snapped back to Gracie, his jaw tight. "What could you possibly know about the world that needs changing?"

Gracie squared her shoulders. "More than you think. More than what you've taught us here."

A cold silence gripped the table. Mother's face paled, her lips pressed into a thin line. "Gracie," she began, her voice sharp with warning, "that's enough."

But Gracie wasn't finished. "I won't stay here and waste my life, Father," she said, her voice growing stronger, trembling only at the edges. "I want to study. I want to make a difference. You can't stop me."

Father's fist slammed onto the table, rattling the silverware. "Waste your life?!" His voice was thunderous, the veins in his neck taut with fury. "You'll stay here, where you belong. You think you're better than this life? Better than your mother, who's given everything for you? Better than me?"