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Patrick said, "I hadn’t heard that bit Where was Shawn all this tiether--kids, uitars and bongo dru poems they sold to tourists on the streets"

Patrick finished his drink and signaled the waitress for another Kip raised his hand as well, like two guys bidding on the same lot at an art auction

Patrick shook his head in exasperation "What’s wrong with these kids? You give the in your face This girl knows it all You should hear her ot the gall to criticize the president of the United States, like she has a clue She can’t even run her own life They’re vegetarians, for god’s sake Do you kno y that takes?"

Annabelle said, "More than I’d be willing to expend I guess you have to give her credit I couldn’t e it"

"Oh, please You think Shelly cooks? No, ma’am She refuses to subordinate herself Deborah’s the one saddled with all the meals You askeverybody ju they’re above it all"

Annabelle said, "That’s ridiculous Why don’t you make them fix their owna thumb in Deborah’s direction

"You knohat she eats, Patrick If it were up to her, every meal would be soy cakes, sprouts, and brown rice Shaould starve to death if I didn’t give him peanut butter sandwiches behind her back You should see him wolf down his food He’s like a little ani with a basket of Parker House rolls and a plate of individual butter pats Kip turned to Annabelle "Sorry, I should have asked You want another martini or you want to switch to wine?"

"I better lay off I’ra on a Saturday? You’re not serious!"

"I am I leave the kids with a sitter It’s the only tiet used to it"

Deborah said, "I’llas you’re ordering It’s the least I can do"

Kip asked the waitress for a bottle of Merlot, pointing to his selection on the wine list before he surrendered it

Deborah raised her hand "Here’s one I al her heart out It was the first eer, petulance, or disdain I thought maybe she missed herbecause Sylvia Plath had killed herself"

Annabelle said, "Who?"

"A poet," Patrick said "She was ed and chose a roll froet of bread into one side of her cheek, a htly etarians Talk about tedious We had ’em over for dinner once and I served macaroni and cheese After that I was stuetarian chili The worst Inedible Not even close What gotleather shoes I voted to drop them and Kip was opposed until I told him he’d have to cook for theain "Here’s the kicker as far as I’etable she’ll eat is beans She doesn’t like fruit either She says bananas are disgusting and apples ot a list of food no-no’s that includes just about everything known to man Except quinoa, whatever the hell that is"

Kip was shaking his head "Why do you put up with her?" Deborah said, "She’s carrying our grandchild How can we turn our backs on her without rejecting an innocent child? Would you do that?"

"I guess not," he said "Well, I ht, but Annabelle would have my hide"

There was a pause while they studied their menus and decided what to have Salads, rare New York strips, and baked potatoes with sour crearated cheese

Once the waitress took their order, Patrick returned to the subject "It wouldn’t be so bad if she weren’t so opinionated and superior She looks down her nose at us We’re eois’ She talks about the proletariat God save the Queen"