The aroma of cooking food filled the air as they entered.
“Be careful,” said Jessie, “that boy can burn water.”
Don, his stomach rumbling, was just grateful someone else had done the cooking.
His brother looked around. “Hey, where is the girl?”
Jason answered from back in the kitchen, “Your brother chained her up in the shower.” Moving with a bad limp, he came out carrying a platter of vegetables. He looked at Willie. “She is being very cooperative, so no more hitting her.”
Tim and Steven both headed in that direction, grins on their faces, forgetting food.
Not only had Jason done the cooking, the dirty dishes had vanished, and he had wiped down and set the table. He hadn’t let his pain keep him completely out of it.
Don sat down and piled food on his plate.
Jessie was right, everything tasted bland. He finished the plate anyway. It was still better than cooking for himself.