"Supper Children!" Loretta called from the top of the stairs as she undid the straps of her apron, slipping it from around her waist and smoothing out the skirt of her paisley-printed sheath dress that looked like something straight out of the 1980s.

She was dressed rather nicely for a boring old weekday; even her normally unruly mousy hair was pulled back away from her face in a neat bun. Now that I think about it, Bubba's dressed rather nice as well. He's wearing his Sunday best suit jacket and make-up covered mask and it's not even Sunday. Is it some sort of special occasion? Maybe I should have dressed up too? Hope Loretta doesn't mind my t-shirt and jeans.

Bubba and I join her in the foyer where she was leaning against the door casement leading into the dining room. She lifted an eyebrow, her eyes taking in the sight of us. I stuck close behind him, clinging to his arm, unsure of why she's acting strange and what's she's planning. The corners of her eyes crinkled as she gave us a toothy grin. I flashed a half-smile before slipping past her into the dining room and taking a seat in my usual chair.

Nubbins came flying past us, shoving his way into the room. He dove into his chair mumbling something about how hungry he was. His eyes grew as wide as saucers upon seeing the endless amounts of dishes and platters that laden across the table top. Looks like every cannibal's dream feast. Loretta must have been a busy bee today. I wonder what's put her in such a good mood.

Propping my elbow on the table, I rested my chin in my hand and traced the stain of a water ring while I waited to get dinner over and done with. This has to be my least favorite part of the day. Something about watching them eat and knowing what it is they're eating makes me sick, but I can't let them know that. It's the same routine every evening: plaster on a fake smile, tell a few jokes and pretend like everything is blue skies and sunshine.

A scuffling noise of something scraping across the floor drew me from my thoughts. I glanced up to find Bubba dragging his chair around the table and placing it in the empty spot beside me.

"Whatcha doing, Bubs? " I asked, genuinely curious as to why he felt the need to sit beside me today.

He chuckled and slid into his newfound seat. I ignored him and went back to tracing the water spot on the table while we waited for Loretta. Again, a dragging sound filled my ears. I looked over at Bubba who had nudged his chair a bit closer to mine when I wasn't paying attention. He can be so clingy sometimes, but all right, I'll play along. I looked away and heard the thump again. It seemed every time he thought I wasn't looking, he would scoot his chair closer to mine until eventually, we were only a few inches away from one another.

Loretta walked in with a pitcher of water in her arms. Setting it on the table, she took her place standing behind her chair and clearing her throat she began, "Alright, now that we're all here. I have some wonderful news to share."

Bubba perked up as she spoke and edged his hand ever so slightly towards mine until his fingertips brushed against my knuckles. I unfurled my fingers and let him entwine his sweaty hand with my own. Kill 'em with kindness Tilly, kill 'em with kindness.

"Oh God, Momma please tell me you're not pregnant again? That's why you cooked such a big meal, isn't it? " Nubbins answered back

" No Nubbins, I'm not pregnant." Her eyes shot piercing daggers in his direction. "You and your brothers are enough to 'bout to make me wanna pull my hair out."

" Brothers? You have other siblings?" I whispered, leaning over to Bubba who hadn't let his eyes leave me once, not even long enough to pay attention to his mother's speech.

He nodded and raised his hand up, using his other hand to hold down all his fingers except three. "Three brothers" he signed.

"Now, back to what I was sayin'." continued Loretta. "My sweet baby boy confessed something to me earlier today. Something that just warmed my heart."

" I don't remember tellin' you anythin' good today, Momma. " Nubbins interrupted.

" No! Not you, ya numbskull!" She backhanded Nubbins upside the head making him yelp. "It was Bubba! Now hush up and let me finish." she snapped. "Turns out theirs gonna be a new member joinin' the Sawyer household,"

"New Member? Who?" he groaned, rubbing the side of his head from where Loretta struck him.

Bubba squeezed my hand tighter in his. Loretta cast her gaze on me as she flashed another one of her famous creepy smiles. "Why, Tilly, of course! Her and Bubba are getting hitched!"

...Wait-what! Hold up a second. When did this happen? Cause I sure knew nothing about it. I know I couldn't have heard her correctly. This is all some kind of misunderstanding. Either that or she's kidding, right? Please tell me this is a joke!

I jerked my hand out of his hold and squirmed in my seat, my legs seemed to refuse to remain still. "You're joking, right?" I said laughing nervously and glancing around the room at everyone's more than serious expressions.

"Of course not. Why would I be joking, honey?" She said taking a seat and spreading a napkin over her lap.

"I didn't know about this. You never told me. "I signed so that I could be secretly snarky with Bubba and the rest of his family wouldn't know.

He tilted his head to the side and tapped the ring on my finger. The ring? I thought it was a gift! At least, that's what he told me it was. How was I supposed to know it was an engagement ring?! That sneaky little-

" Not that I'm not absolutely thrilled to-" I paused and gulped, "To marry him, but did anyone ever think to ask me how I felt about this? "

" Well no, but you did accept the ring and you said it yourself, you're thrilled to marry him, so what does it matter? Now, let's dig in before supper gets cold, shall we? "

They bowed their heads as Loretta said grace, but I sat as wide-eyed and motionless as a statue. My mind swam with the endless possibilities of how this could turn out. He wants me to marry him. Does he even know what that means? I bet this was all Loretta's idea; she planted the thought in his head. Oh, God NO! The wedding night! I've played nice this entire time, but I refuse to be that nice.

They finished their prayer and started to dig into the... 'bountiful' feast. Bubba stood up and began to load down my plate with countless biscuits and piles of mashed potatoes- the only meatless options on the menu tonight. I already know I won't be able to eat a thing. As a matter of fact, I think I'm gonna be sick.

He stabbed his fork into a chunk of 'meat' on his plate and held it out to me. Is he really trying to feed me right now? And that disgusting slop too? I gave him the meanest look I could make and snapped my head away.

"I'd rather starve" I signed as sassily as possible.

He dropped the fork on his plate and crossed his arms over his chest, pouting. If I could see his face through his mask I'm almost certain his lips would be quivering. Yeah, so not comforting him right now. He tricked me, lied to me. My cheeks grew hot and I'm sure they've probably turned a shade of scarlet by now.

" Tilly, dear, why don't you eat somethin'? Tomorrow's gonna be a big day. You need your strength. "

" Tomorrow? The wedding's tomorrow? Don't you think that's a little soon? I mean, we want to do this right, don't we? A lot goes into a wedding and nothing's ready. We don't even have anyone to marry us? Can't get married without a pastor."

" Why, Grandpa will marry yuns! He's a long retired preacher, after all. Ain't that right, Daddy?" She touched the old man's shoulder and he moaned as if in response to her question, but I highly doubted he was even lucid enough to know what's going on.

"Oh, isn't that...convenient," I said through gritted teeth sealed as tight as a dam, holding my tongue back from spouting things that would only worsen my situation.

Nubbins chuckled under his breath, his shoulders shaking. He tried to wash his laughter down with a sip of water but ended up choking on his drink and dramatically spitting it out like in the movies.

" What on God's green earth!" Loretta yelled and grabbed a napkin to mop up the water he'd spilled. "Did I say something funny, boy? "

" No-no ma'am, I was just thinkin' about what you said earlier, that's all. About Tilly needin' her strength." He struggled to suppress his giggles as tears formed in his eyes, "I think we-we all know why that is. Right, Bubba?" He wagged his eyebrows before giving up on containing his cackles and throwing his head back in a peal of roaring laughter.

" Really Nubbins? Could you be any more immature?" I blurted out, rubbing my temples, trying to think of a way out of this crappy situation before what he's referring to actually happens.

"Probably" he replied either not realizing or not caring that his mother was giving him a death glare.

"Just ignore him, sweetie. If he knew what was good for him he wouldn't open his yap again until after suppers through. I don't want ya to worry your pretty little head about anythin'. Momma's gonna take real good care of you. "

Dinner came and went and I couldn't manage to force down a thing. My stomach was twisted tighter than any boy scout knot known to man. Night had set in enshrouding the house in shadows only adding to the already creepy atmosphere.

Loretta reclined in the armchair knitting on a half-finished blanket. She yawned and propped her feet up on the footstool and by footstool, I mean a stool with actual skeletal feet attached to the legs. Guess we have Nubbins to thank for that.

I leaned against the casement of the window watching the fireflies flash as they swarmed the yard and listened to the peaceful nocturnal melody of crickets chirping and cicadas buzzing being drowned out by Nubbins snores. He sprawled out on the sofa, half of his body hanging off, dozing in and out of his nap. Loud snores rattled from his throat like a pig with nasal problems gasping for air.

Oh, but that's not the half of it. The worst part of this evening would have to be watching Bubba stuff what's left of Nubbins jr. He pulled its entrails out like spaghetti noodles, slopping them in a pile on the floor and stuffing the empty cavity with old rags and tufts of cotton. Holding up Nubbins Jr. by its floppy neck he proudly flaunted the hollow lifeless creature to me. I gave him a thumbs up and half smile. I don't know how long that poor birds been dead, but by the gag-worthy aroma permeating the room and the endless sea of molted feathers covering the floor, I can tell it's been quite a while.

Is this my life now? No, it can't be. I won't give up. I can't live like this anymore. I twisted the ring on my finger. If I had known what he was planning I never would have accepted this stupid piece of jewelry. He said it was a gift. That sneaky, conniving, liar! Well, this is the straw that broke the camels back. I can't wait any longer. It's time. Tomorrow, I'm going to make my escape.