Chapter 26 - Another barbecue
Three years after the original barbecue? Not yet.
We had one sooner.
About two years later.
Aunt Karen hosted.
Neutral territory.
Lily was eight.
Ethan nine.
Dad asked before coming.
Karen looked at me.
I said:
“Fine.”
Frank arrived carrying a cooler.
Of course he brought steaks.
My body tensed.
Then I laughed at myself.
Karen had already planned burgers.
Frank said:
“I brought these for adults.”
Good.
Lily heard.
“Can I have steak?”
Everyone froze for half a second.
Then Frank said:
“Sure.”
“What kind?”
“How do you want it?”
“Not pink.”
He nodded.
“Medium-well?”
“I don’t know.”
“I’ll show you.”
He cooked hers longer than Ethan’s.
Not burned.
Medium-well.
Ethan wanted medium.
Two different steaks.
No symbolism until adults tried to add it.
Dad placed Lily’s plate down.
She cut.
Looked.
“Good.”
He said:
“Okay.”
No:
See?
No:
Grandpa learned.
Just food.
I watched Lily eat.
May you like
Then stopped watching.
That was recovery too.
