Steven started to get excited as soon as his mother started cooking. His dad was helping tonight because they were having a guest. That left Steven unattended. He was about to burst at the seams and went from bounding around the house to staring out the front window and back again.
“Boy! Sit your ass down or get out here and help.”
His father’s clipped military tone stopped Steven in his tracks. His eyes met his dad’s and he froze to the spot in mid-skip.
“Be useful. Set the table.”
Steven was off and climbing the step stool in the kitchen to set the table. He hated what he wore but mom insisted he look nice for the company. He tugged at the shirt after setting the stack of plates on the table. He set the extra spot for Katsumi and pulled the vase of flowers closer to her plate. Mom’s calla lilies were fresh from his father. He always brought them home for her.
Steven finished by filling the water glasses and bringing the wine to the table. That done he was once more bored with the waiting. He had no patience for it. Steven knelt on the couch, eyes fixed out the front window and staring towards the woods at the end of the street. That is where he stayed for near an hour.
Dinner came to the table;
goulash, homemade bread, jam, sour cream and a big bowl of egg noodles, without Steven even noticing. His stomach rumbled and he frowned when the call for dinner and his friend was still absent. Steven refused to come to the table when his mother called him.
“Steven, to the table.”
The boy turned to look at his father with an uncontrollable pout. His father sighed and nodded. “We’ll give her a little while longer.”
He watched for a moment while his mother covered the food to keep it warm before his eyes returned to the street. She had to come. Inside he hoped her father hadn’t found out and got mad. He shuddered thinking about the cane. He hoped they hadn’t hit her. Maybe she was too hurt to come because her family had seen them together. His pout worsened to near tears. Steven hated that they beat her and hoped she would come here where she would be safe for awhile.
OOC: Relevant to this and this