A Fathers Infliction

Dinner

"Jayden?" mom called somewhat frantically up at me.
I glanced over at the alarm clock me and my two sisters all shared. It was 5:48 p.m. Father would be home in 7 minutes. I knew what she was going to say. I acted like I didn't, just as I had every night since dad got the office.
"Yeah mom?" I said in a normal voice, knowing she could hear me from the kitchen.
"I want all of my triplets to set the table. Now please, your father gets home in a few minutes. Get Emma and Natalie and come downstairs."
I did as she said and woke Natalie and got Emma to take her headphones off and went to the kitchen. We set the table quickly as I clicked the power button on my phone to check the time.
5:54
I shot Emma and Natalie an urgent look and we all sat down quickly.  I sat closest to the head of the table where father sat. My mother sat across from me and next to Emma. Natalie sat next to me. I looked at the clock, and just as the minute changed fathers truck pulled in.
Mom quickly stood up and opened the door to greet father. He said hello and took off his shoes and jacket.
"It was a long day today" I heard him mutter.
That was the worst thing that he could have said. He was always in a bad mood after work, when the day was long, it was even worse.
Mother scrambled to take the casserole to the table and fill fathers plate, then ours, putting herself last as always. She poured us all milk as father went through the cabinet and returned with one glass and some type of alcohol. Natalie gave me a sad yet worried look as he sat down. We all folded our hands and said the same prayer as every other night and began to eat.
Father asked us how our days were and what we did. We all gave somewhat short answers and ate somewhat quickly as well.
As dad refilled his glass Natalie looked up sadly. "Why are you drinking again..?"
He shot her a glare which sent a chill down all of our backs, even mom looked scared. He continued eating but the room was still tense.
I reached for my glass but was so nervous I hit it with the back of my hand and it fell, spilling across the table.
"Can't anyone do anything right for goodness sake!" father screamed and he stood up, and I knew right then that I needed to brace myself.