A Conversation at the Grownup Table, as Imagined at the Kids’ Table

from the new yorker
in honor of my grandma bradley, whose kid’s table in the kitchen of her house in ann arbor, michigan, was always filled with yummy food, even if it was an annoying distance from the imagined conversation at the adult table in the dining room.

A Conversation at the Grownup Table, as Imagined at the Kids’ Table
by simon rich

MOM: Pass the wine, please. I want to become crazy.

DAD: O.K.

GRANDMOTHER: Did you see the politics? It made me angry.

DAD: Me, too. When it was over, I had sex.

UNCLE: I’m having sex right now.

DAD: We all are.

MOM: Let’s talk about which kid I like the best.

DAD: (laughing) You know, but you won’t tell.

MOM: If they ask me again, I might tell.

FRIEND FROM WORK: Hey, guess what! My voice is pretty loud!

DAD: (laughing) There are actual monsters in the world, but when my kids ask I pretend like there aren’t.

MOM: I’m angry! I’m angry all of a sudden!

DAD: I’m angry, too! We’re angry at each other!

MOM: Now everything is fine.

DAD: We just saw the PG-13 movie. It was so good.

MOM: There was a big sex.

FRIEND FROM WORK: I am the loudest! I am the loudest!

(Everybody laughs.)

MOM: I had a lot of wine, and now I’m crazy!

GRANDFATHER: Hey, do you guys know what God looks like?

ALL: Yes.

GRANDFATHER: Don’t tell the kids.

10 thoughts on “A Conversation at the Grownup Table, as Imagined at the Kids’ Table”

  1. Pingback: nathanjunker.com
  2. hilarious! I’m laughing out loud, and my wife is wondering what’s so funny…Thanks for the mid-day laugh.

  3. . . . and I always thought they were talking about my brother and how he got in trouble, AGAIN, with the police.

  4. I loved the kids’ table growing up. We always had a ton of fun! I like Mdaele’s comment! The kid’s table is a great place to be.

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