Why do I always seem to find myself in awkward situations? It’s like a life skill to me, but I would trade it for anything else. This meal is literally painful with all the tension in the air.
I watch Ben take a small mouthful of his pasta and chew slowly. We’re in silence sitting around the kitchen table; Ben, Everest and I, with bowls of food. Everest seems to have found something extremely interesting in the polished wood, Ben’s eating and glaring holes into the side of his dad’s face, and I’m just kind of sitting here, watching.
“So…” I start, trying to think of a good conversation starter. “You said you worked as a teacher… what year do you teach?” I aim the question at Everest, making him look up at me.
“Mainly the first and second years.” He answers, and I nod.
“How old is that?
