They ate macaroni with breadcrumbs, and Sophie insisted on telling a story about a girl in her class who had declared herself queen of the playground.

May kept interrupting to correct the details.

June laughed until she had to set down her fork.

Vincent realized no one was afraid to disagree at this table.

He had built a life in which people watched his mood before choosing their words.

The Bells argued about breadcrumbs and school plays without anyone fearing the consequences.

When Sophie went to wash her hands, June said, “Thomas had an awful temper when he was young.

He grew into a steady man because he learned to stop and listen.