The streets are clogged with hipsters at the coffee houses and juice bars powering up for the night of partying up ahead. I chuckle knowing I’m heading to a family dinner. What is my life? You’re so cool, dude. To top it off I’m having reservations. Considering how my last encounter with Elle went, I’m not sure how it’s going to be seeing her tonight. I tried to back out but my dad wouldn’t hear of it. “Your mother is expecting you, Paulie.” Yeah, they aren’t super flexible about the dinner thing. I think my mom would like me to still be living at the house like Patrick. I love my parents, as a good son would, but living at home could never happen again. I moved out at eighteen and never looked back. I find Ma in the kitchen checking on her special meatloaf. Trisha is next to her and beating the hell of something that must have once been potatoes. Dad is in the living room with Patrick, probably giving him advice about women. He needs it. Desperately. Suddenly the absurdity of this evening hits me and makes me grin.
