Of course, once the four parties who made up the Dixon household gathered around the table, quiet was all but nonexistent. Nathan and Andrew Dixon had been raised by two strong willed parents who were in the habit of openly exchanging their ideas and views. So it was natural that their boys would grow up feeling that they, too, were free to contribute their own opinions and comments. This resulted in conversations that wandered about without direction ranging from serious discourse on world events to light hearted exposes, to downright ludicrous debates on subjects that were sometimes pointless but always entertaining. Though the occasion was a solemn one, this evening’s fare proved to be no different.

“It’s just been incredible,” Jan kept repeating as she served up a steaming bowl of pasta shells covered with thick, spicy tomato sauce. “It’s like someone turned on a light in a room full of cockroaches. Everyone’s just scattering for cover.”

Nathan, the author of that evening’s ample, if simple, dinner, looked over. By way of response, Scott rolled his eyes. “Mom,” Nathan asked plaintively, “could we skip using any analogies that include cockroaches until after supper?”

Before Jan could reply, Scott added, “Well after, if you don’t mind. And only if I’m not in the room.”

Jan, caught up in her own excitement, looked quizzically at Nathan, then Scott. “Oh, well,” she finally replied, “I had forgotten how squeamish you big manly men are about such things.”

Nathan growled. “Being faint hearted has nothing to do with it, Mom. It’s just that I’ve been enjoying a break from having to share my dinner with those ancient orthopterons.”

“Prehistoric, Nathan,” Scott corrected his son, as he had done so often during his life. “I believe it is more correct to consider them to be prehistoric. Ancient is normally associated with the period that begins with the early Egyptian kingdoms and ends with the fall of the Western Roman Empire.”

Amused, Jan looked at the two of them, then at their second son, who was busy spooning heaps of sauce covered shells onto his plate. “Aren’t you going to wade into this debate?”

Not bothering to look up as he scooped out another helping of pasta, Andrew shook his head. “I’d be a fool to go up against those two. They’re a combined arms team now. Everyone knows you can’t beat Armor and Infantry when they’re cooperating.”

Jan laughed, ignoring Scott and Nathan, who were now actively debating the age of the aforementioned insect. “We don’t have to worry about that, now, do we. After all, when was the last time you saw those two cooperating?”

“I heard that,” Scott snapped as he glanced over to Jan. “That’s going to cost you.”

Jan smiled sweetly. “Well, if you persist in continuing this ridiculous discussion, it’s going to cost you your dinner.”