Scene: The Crawford Estate.
The familiar aroma of a home cooked feast intertwines with an awkward knife that slices right down the center of the dining room table. On one side sites Monica, Sam, and Adam. On the other side sits Tony, Dinah, Nick, and Penny. Who could have guessed that this dynamic bunch would ever be under the same roof sharing a nice meal? Certainly none of the guests that were in attendance this evening.
"Shall we say a praper of thanks before we begin?" Adam breaks the silence.
"No, everything is not okay…You know, you people really need to stop for one moment and take a look at how you’re acting. I just lost the love of my life a few weeks ago and it made me do a lot of thinking about things. I realized what I truly valued in life and it helped me realize how truly short our time is here. But here you all are, bickering and fighting amongst yourself like barbarians….it’s just really sad." Nick finally replies.
"Thanks? What in the hell do we have to be thankful for?" Monica groans.
"Will you just stop it. Jesus, Monica." Sam commands.
"Oh Sam, when will you get it through your head that Monica will never stop spewing her negativity." Penny rolls her eyes from across the table.
"Oh, you’re certainly one to talk. You’re so medicated that even the pharmacy in town can’t keep up with your sorry ass. At least I don‘t have to take every pill in the book to deal all my mental issues" Monica strikes back.
"Well, I definitely agree that you have some mental issues as well…" Dinah mutters under her breath.
"Excuse me? Who in the hell made you Dinah ,M.D.? Remember who’s plate you’re eating off of this evening."
"Mother, please just stop." Adam begs.
"Maybe this was a mistake," Tony adds.
"The only mistake was thinking Monica could have a civilized conversation." Penny jumps in.
"I agree with you, sis."
"Thank you, Sam."
"Can we all stop ganging up on me? Jesus, after I spent hours slaving in the kitchen for you all, this is the way I get treated?" Monica stands up and slams her fork on the table.
"I think this is quite enjoyable." Dinah produces a grim smile.
"You would think this is enjoyable. I’m surprised you haven’t taken out a gun and shot us all dead yet."
"Mother!"
"What, Adam? She’s a convicted murder and a menace to society."
"Well, you two should have a lot in common then." Penny smiles.
"Go to hell," Monica says as she locks eyes with her sister-in-law.
"I’m already there, hon."
"Well, isn’t this just great? Here we are all together with all this great food and all you damn people can do is bicker." Sam throws his napkin onto his plate."
"You’re quiet, Nick." Tony looks over. "Is everything okay?"
An uproar spreads through the table like wildfire as the various dinner guests go on about how they, of course, weren’t to blame for any of the aforementioned fighting.
Dinah soon gets up when her cell rings and tells the others she must be excused for a moment.
"Yes, I take it this is important?" Dinah answers the mysterious call in the next room.
She paces back and forth across the room before replying to the caller once again. "I see…I see. Well, this is sooner than I had expected. But you know what to do…lets stick with the plan. I have total faith in you that you can do this."
Dinah shuts off her cell phone and returns to the table where she is met with silence. The others are consumed with helping themselves with the wide array of choices that lie before them. The bickering has finally seemed to subside as Dinah produces another evil smile. Little do the others know that she is presently planning her most horrific plot to date.
You are reading...