Sebastian’s First Family Dinner

Sebastian sat stiffly at the dinner table, his hands pressed against his thighs to stop them from fidgeting. The scent of roasted chicken and buttery mashed potatoes filled the air, something warm and homey that should’ve made him feel comfortable. But his stomach was tight.

Across from him, his foster mom, Mrs. Callahan, scooped mashed potatoes onto his plate. “You don’t have to look so nervous, sweetheart,” she said with a gentle smile. “It’s just dinner.”

Sebastian forced a nod. “Right. Yeah. Dinner.” He gripped his fork like it might slip through his fingers.

His foster dad, Mr. Callahan, chuckled. “We don’t bite, kid.”

Sebastian gave a weak laugh, but his brain was buzzing. What if I’m eating too slow? What if I’m eating too fast? What if I drop something? What if they get mad?

His thoughts were interrupted when his foster sister, Sophie, a sharp-tongued fifteen-year-old, snatched a roll from the breadbasket. “You don’t have to sit like you’re in a job interview, you know.”

Sebastian blinked, looking down at himself. His back was ramrod straight, shoulders tense. Was it that obvious?

“Sorry,” he mumbled.

Sophie sighed, rolling her eyes, but there was no real bite to it. “Look, I know this is all new for you. But we’re not gonna, like, quiz you on proper fork usage or whatever. Just eat.”

Sebastian hesitated before finally taking a bite of mashed potatoes. They were creamy, buttery—so good it almost startled him. He must’ve made a face because Mrs. Callahan laughed. “Good, huh?”