There was tension in the air. Tom lit his cigarette and began tapping his cup of coffee -- repeating a pattern of taps over and over again with anxiety. Tom's brothers were not as worried, it seemed.
Grandma prayed with shaking hands. Little Bobby asked where his parents were, and Tom shook his head with tears lingering in the corners of his eyes.
Grandma took Bobby by the hand. She was still shaking as she explained to Bobby that his parents were in the hospital. Bobby sat, perplexed by what his Grandma said.
Tom spoke to his grandma, asking her "what ifs" about his parents.
Grandma said Tom might have to take care of Bobby if things don't work out.
A tear slipped out of Tom's eye and he immediately wiped it away and loudly exclaimed, "I can't be a father to him!"
Grandma responded, "Just stop talking about this! There isn't anything we can do about it now. We came here to eat a meal together, so there is no use in this kind of talk."
Bobby got scared, and cried.
