Chapter Nine: Uncomfortable Talk at the Dinner Table:

We didn’t say anything at the dinner table. Nancy looked up at me. She had a cold look in her eyes. I don’t know why she’s mad at me.

“Look, I’m sorry,” I said. She didn’t respond. Okay… Ava stared up at me. I think she knows that something is wrong.

“This is just how I am,” I said. Nancy looked up at me as she took another plate of her chicken. Why was I even trying? She was the one who couldn’t take a hint. I didn’t need anyone. If she and Ava left tomorrow, I would be fine. I sat back in my chair.

“What do you want from me?” I asked.

“Hm?” Nancy asked as she looked up at me.

“I don’t understand you,” I said. “What do you want from me?”

“Nothing,” she said. “We’re just stuck here.” Stuck, huh? That’s how she sees it?

“You could go if you want,” I said.

“And go where?” she asked. I pressed my lips together and nodded.

“Okay, fair,” I said. “You didn’t have to say that you were stuck with me.”

“What?” she asked. I shook my head. Instead, I put more food into my mouth. There wasn’t much in my bowl. Still, I didn’t leave the table. It wouldn’t be right to ask when she was going to leave. Where was she going to go? Still, I didn’t want this to be permanent. She doesn’t want that either. Maybe Nancy’s right.

“So what do you think we should do?” I asked. She had her eyes on me.

“There isn’t much to do,” Nancy said. “We can’t go anywhere. There’s no one else around here either.” She didn’t have to tell me twice.

“Heh,” was all I said. Ava stared at me as she stuffed more food into her mouth. Marshmallow was eating in his bowl.

“So what do you propose?” I asked. Nancy put down her fork.

“We’re going to stay in the house,” she said. “We’ll just stay out of each other’s way.” I nodded.

“I suppose you want me to do the shopping?” I asked.

“Would you want me to come with you?” Nancy asked. I shrugged and shook my head.

“You don’t have to if you don’t want to,” I said. I finished my dinner.

“You can help around the house if you want to,” I said. “Or don’t. That’s up to you.” I stood up and cleaned up my dishes. Nancy said nothing as I cleaned up my table.

“Are you done with your bowl?” I asked.

“No,” she said. I didn’t bother Ava as she ate her food. I shrugged and walked over to the kitchen. This was going to have to do for now. We need a better plan for this. I sighed as I turned on the water.