Flash

Dad said he was working late and to tell mom to start dinner.
Without him.
She was making his favorite that night.
Barbecue chicken with rice.
Maybe some broccoli to add some nutritional value.
I said "Okay, I'll tell her" but
I didn't because
I thought he was going to take her out to dinner.
And because I knew where he was going.
I didn't want to ruin the surprise.
It was mom's birthday after all.
We ate dinner alone that night.
Mom and I at the table by ourselves.
One or both of us was always looking at Dad's empty chair at the head of the table.
He never called back, and after dinner
I went up to my room and I listened
to mom cry through the paper thin walls.