sjsprWriting

Placemats

O'er D'oeuvres. Or whatever.

Long meals. Small meals.

Judging looks with every lift of the fork.

Water, in wine glasses.

Small talk. Small minds.

Closed minds. 

Minding their portions,

Portioning by calories.

Known by everyone,

Barely know their own family.

Whispered criticisms; Constructive,

only by name.

“All happy families are alike;

each unhappy family is unhappy in its own way.” ˣ

It’s the appearance of sanity that counts.

Look happy. Look healthy.

Fake healthy.

Dismiss feelings. Dismiss opinions.

Dismiss reality.

Dismiss. Distrust. Belittle. Judge. Repeat.

Biggest fights come from

fluctuating weight,

meals after 8.

Depression, Anxiety,

“It’s all in your mind”

“Don’t be so melodramatic”

“Control yourself”

“What will people say?”

Pour another glass of water.

Skip another meal.

Smile. Small talk. Listen. Sip. Repeat.

Dismiss. Distrust. Belittle. Judge. Repeat.

Buen Provecho.

ˣ Anna Karenina, Leo Tolstoy. Opening Paragraph, Chapter 1.