Normally

They all sat round the table, chewing their food without words.

It wasn't that they were a very distant or estranged family. It was just that there wasn't much to talk about tonight, so they ate until they were finished and then they left to their separate rooms.

"Selina," Mrs. Nate said. "Selina!"

"Hmm? what?"

"How was college?"

"It was college."

"*laugh* Oh you're so funny, you know that."

"Sure."

"Nothing special happened today?"

"Nope."

"..."

"..."

"What about you Nate? Anything new?"

"You already asked me that." he said.

"Right." his mother said, before returning to her meal.

This was the highlight of the conversation.

Afterwards, when Nate and his sister were done, they got up from their seats to retreat to their rooms. They almost got away with it before their mother reminded them that is was Thursday.

Thursday nights were family nights, where they did something together. It wasn't too bad. Sometimes they pick a one or two season show and decide to watch an episode each week until they finished the series. Those were nice. It was over in thirty minutes, and then they could all move on with their lives.