It times the sacrifice Shawney made to educate each of you, help you all to survive."
"But Dad, we will be on the street?"
"So, what's new, Julian? Because of your Mother, I was on the street when my brother picked me up and housed us. Your mother's constant abuse of Shawney was unbearable, so Daniel told her to leave, and she was on the street. Shawney took care of all of you, and none of you was grateful to her for the sacrifices she made. It is overbearing. She has gone through enough because of all of your ill-mannered behaviour, my heart breaks to see the tears in Daniel's eyes and now in Shawney."
Hugging him, Shawney said, lovingly, "I love you, Uncle, but please."
"No, Shawney, I am tired, I have spoken to them many times, but they have sticks stuck in their ears, now I am sure they will listen when they reach home."
"Uncle, there's no need for that."
"My child, you are too kindhearted, but they will never learn. You have learned to survive out in the world. Now they need to do the same. When I return home, I will instruct your lawyer."
"Uncle, that is not necessary. Maybe now that they have learned the truth, they will change. Please leave it as it is, I beg you."
"Okay, everyone, now that everyone has said their peace, it is late already, so let us eat. We have enough talk," Robert responds, instructing everyone to take a seat
"Come, honey, when your Uncle Ken told me what you did, I was so proud of you, but tonight you made me prouder.
Your father would have been proud of what you did for your brothers and sisters.
Torren, I will be most honoured if you could stay for dinner and protect my niece."
Turning to Train, "Good to see you again, my friend, and thanks for your lovely gift."
"It was my pleasure."
Paula invites Train and Torren, seeing the hesitation, "Come join us. I was wondering who Robert would sit with; he feels these gatherings are boring and seeks ways to run away."
Hearing how sweetly she spoke to Train about him. He said almost in the same sweet tone, "Honey, Train invited all your family to dinner at his home on Wednesday. Will you find out who is staying so we can extend the invitation?"
Turning his attention to Train, he continued, Now, my friend, we had no time last night to talk, but I heard you were travelling on the road for six months looking for."
Interrupting him, immediately seeing that Torren was standing at his side, "Oh my friend, why linger in the past when there is so much in the present we could rejoice about."
"You are right, come and join me at the table, Torren, come on also, sit with us, and where is Shawney? That child had worked hard the entire day, helping with all these preparations.
Honey, come and enjoy your meal," Robert calls his wife, noticing the others already eating.
All took their seat when Mitch came to the table, "I see it has a place here."
"I thought you and Nellie were going to join your cousins?" Paula commented.
"Yeah, she is enjoying their company and getting first-hand information, and Dad, I hope you don't mind, but I invited Joseph."
"Then you better get him a chair because here he comes."
"Thank God he came after Aunty Joan's show," Shawney said.
Putting the chair, "You mean she was doing that for a show?" Mitch queries.
"You haven't seen anything yet. She loves to be seen and heard, but Uncle's outburst might quiet her down a bit."
Mitch signals Joseph to come, "Come here, cousin boy, join us."
Joseph kissed Mom first, then Shawney, shaking the others' hands, then said, " I am sorry for being late, so tell me what I have missed?"
"Nothing much, we now sit down," Mitch responds.
"Shawney, Mom, and Dad wanted to know if you would come over one evening for dinner?" Joseph inquired.
"I will have to see Joseph; the day flies so quickly, I hardly have time to volunteer at the clinic and help with the workload."
Noticing Torren's puzzled expression, Shawney said, "Uncle Robert will die cooking for this battalion, so I will stick around for a few days."
Looking at her, wondering, 'these people abuse her, yet she is willing to stay and slave around.'
When Uncle Robert said, "Child, I am planning to give them bread for the rest of the day, and since it is Paula's family, she will cook lunch. I am already tired."
Torren heard Paula laugh, "Weren't you the one who said my dearest husband, that they could come for a week because you haven't seen them for a while?"
"Okay, Uncle, I will help you; they are my unruly family."
"Sorry, child, I have some things I need to do."
"Then I will help you, Auntie."
When Uncle Robert laughs, "Shawney, you are getting this all wrong. She will help you.
Torren heard Shawney laugh, "Okay, I will appreciate your help, Aunty; they are my unthankful family."
Listening to them converse while enjoying their meal, the only person who wasn't eating was Shawney; she seemed to be lost in her own thoughts. Touching her hand, when she looks at me, her eyes are glassy. Understanding how she was feeling, 'all that hurt bundle up inside, I can see she is much stronger than me, it had driven me out of my mind.' "Can you tell me why you always take so much food and cannot eat it out? Come on, let me help you?"
"Oh no, my friend, I will eat my food. Uncle Robert cooks this."