Offering

Offering Part 2

"There's our street, gang." Pete turned the SUV onto the intersecting road and after cruising halfway down the block, pulled into the driveway. "Man, you're a sight for sore eyes." He looked at his wife. "I can't tell you how much I'm looking forward to my own bed."

She smiled affectionately. "Me too."

Pete hit the garage door remote and pulled the car in. He popped open his door, exited the vehicle and stretched. Then he bent down and stuck his head back inside. "I don't know about you all, but I'm starved. I say we bring the food in and leave most of the gear until after we're done."

"Works for me," said Tyler as he disconnected his seat belt.

"Works for me," echoed Rachel as she did likewise.

Her dad opened the door and she bounded out. As she headed for the house, Pete called after her. "Hey, Rachel, where's Mr. Floppy?"

The girl stopped dead in her tracks, then turned around and returned to the car. She grabbed a well-worn, floppy-eared stuffed rabbit from her seat and faced her father.

"I'm hungry, but not that hungry." She strutted up to the door while the rest of the family looked at one another and laughed heartily. Pete came around to the rear of the SUV and opened the lift door.

"Tyler, you wanna give me a hand with the food?"

"Sure, Dad." Tyler joined his father and grabbed a couple plastic bags. "Smells good."

He followed his sister into the house. Pete picked up the remaining bags and closed the lift door. He stopped at the door to the house to look at the car. Dried blood radiated from the center of the dented hood.

"What a mess," he muttered, shaking his head.

Tammy stood next to him in silence. He turned to her.

"I'll get going on the insurance tomorrow and get work scheduled. It'll look clean and fresh again before long." He stepped inside the house.

Tammy remained standing next to the door.

"No one's going to be able to wash those images out of my head," she said to herself. In the house, the men put their food bags on the kitchen table.

"Why don't you go ahead and grab whatever of your stuff you want from the car, Tyler. We'll start doling out the food."

"Will do." The boy headed back out to the garage.

After a few minutes, everything was ready to eat. The family took their spots. Grace was said and the meal began.

"Ummm, gotta love Suzie Chang's," said Pete, forking a load of lo mein into his mouth.

"Yep," replied Tammy with a mouthful of sweet and sour chicken. "And a full day's supply of MSG, to boot."

"And don't forget the mystery meat special," said Tyler, holding up a piece of what looked like chicken skewered onto his fork. "It's the 'don't ask, don't tell' ingredient that makes the difference." The grown-ups laughed.

"What's MSG, Mommy?"

Tyler turned to his little sister. "That stands for 'Might Stop Growing', which is why you have a hamburger instead of Chinese."

Both Pete and Tammy just about choked on their food and burst out laughing.

"I like hamburgers," said Rachel matter-of-factly.

"Yes, you do, sweetie," said Tammy as she wiped her mouth. "We know you don't really like Chinese like us, so you get to have a hamburger and fries.