Things at the table were getting heated. The baby was crying. The eldest son and daughter fought like cats, berating and antagonizing one another. Mother became uncomfortable and silent as the yelling crescendoed. Father, too, sat quietly through the building chaos, percolating, steaming. Finally his inner rage tipped to a boil and he slammed his fists on the table. “That’s enough!” he shouted. To which the youngest boy replied, pointing across the room, “No, Papa, that’s enough. He’s as good as it gets!”

And by god, there he was. Sitting alone in the corner and startled that anyone could see him.

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