[ WP ] As the end of the world looms , a family eats their last meal together .

Sarah ’ s Last Favor: 
 
 
 All five of them sat around a large table in absolute silence, staring intensely at their hands. That is, of course, except for Mr. Kornoff, whose head lulled back and forth with each plop of saliva escaping his drunken mouth. 
 
 
 *BEEP BEEP BEEP* The oven timer broke Sarah, the eldest daughter, out of this trance, and she rose to collect their final meal. She passed her father and paused. With a smirk and a smooth tug, she yanked a proudly-worn token off of her father ’ s neck. Ten years sober no more. Moments later the charm clattered to the tiled floor. Arriving in the kitchen, Sarah absentmindedly pulled her bubbling lasagna from the heat and began tossing a salad with too much vinaigrette. 
 
 
 “ Isn ’ t it funny, ” she began, speaking excitedly to no one in particular, “ That our final shared memories should be over such mundane a dish? For God's sake, in several hours it will be as though we never existed, and we are going out with the extravagant feast of stale noodles and burnt beef? Absurd! ” There was no reply. “ And still, I could hardly have gone to the grocery store under such a predicament, so this will have to do. ” Her ramblings entertained no one, but she wasn ’ t annoyed in the slightest. 
 
 
 Sarah returned to the dining room and was unsurprised to find that her father ’ s twitching movements had ceased. She looked almost pleased. Moving counterclockwise around their rickety table, Sarah mindfully laid out a plate, two forks, and a knife for each of them, chattering nervously under her breath. When she reached Molly, her younger sister, she tucked a rouge curl behind a tiny ear and dabbed gently at tears staining her round cheeks, always the caregiver. 
 
 
 “ Now don ’ t worry, there ’ s nothing we can do now, ” Sarah gently reminded. Molly remained stiffly in the same pose, eyes unblinking. That reassurance carried no value. Unhindered by this episode, Sarah continued her task when one of Joseph ’ s, her brother, legs hung awkwardly off of his chair, and nearly caused Sarah to trip. A sudden flash of anger ignited and her normally blue eyes boiled gray. 
 
 
 “ THERE IS NO RESPECT IN THIS HOUSE FOR ME, NONE. ” She smashed the plate of dinner lovingly made for her brother against a fading yellow wall, and paused briefly before stomping to her seat. 
 
 
 “ If you would like any food, then you will have to get it yourself, Joe, ” she sneered, “ We have so little time left together, and I can ’ t help but feel as though you are wasting it. ” Sarah gave him no room to reply before she began to shovel food into her mouth. Like steam whistling from the nozzle of a tea kettle, her fury continued. 
 
 
 “ Dammit! ” she shrieked, clearly agitated, “ Something isn ’ t right, I made this wrong. Something is wrong. ” Sarah started for the kitchen, but was instantly satiated when the solution rested in her Mother ’ s extended hand. 
 
 
 “ Ahh, here it is! ” Sarah chirped, very pleased with herself, “ I always seem to lose the most important things, don ’ t I, Mother? ” Again, no reply. 
 So, in a clinical fashion, Sarah unscrewed the lid from her secret ingredient, crushed a neon yellow pill finely under the back of her fork, and sprinkled it over the cheese of her dish. Sarah thoroughly enjoyed her meal, savoring every bite, and once finished, crossed her hands and leaned back in the chair. Sarah was so eager to join her family that she didn ’ t even notice that none of them had so much as touched their food. Though, I suppose it is common sense that they wouldn ’ t.
