PLAYING NORMAL FAMILIES

Friday nights analytical,

Hated the hypocritical,

And there was to be no way,

I would stand with him to pray.

Wilful child, no common sense;

Punishment would be immense,

But I refused to concede,

To sanctimonious force feed.

His warning started as a whisper,

Rising to a tone much crisper,

‘You do know what to expect,

If my rules you disrespect’.

My seat remained glued to chair,

Eyes diverted from his glare,

Belt not yet quite visible,

Shabbat always miserable.

He’d count to ten as fair warning,

Justify his outpouring;

Claimed that this gave him credence,

For recurring disobedience.

Mother was hardly stricken

As she carved the roast chicken

Served with spuds and green peas

Playing normal families