The dining room smells of roasted turkey, sage stuffing, and sweet cranberry sauce. After years apart, the whole family has gathered again around the long oak table. The chatter starts as soon as the food is passed.

Mom (Marisol): smiling warmly as she sets down the gravy boat “I can’t believe we’re all finally together again. This feels like the old days.”

Dad (Victor): raising his glass slightly “It really does. Work, life—everything’s kept us scattered, but tonight we’re home.”

Grandma (Ruthie): with a soft chuckle “Busy, busy, I bet. Tell me, who’s raking in the big money now?”

Grandpa (Silas): grinning at Ruthie “Always straight to the point, aren’t you?”

Older Sister (Cassandra): “Well, I’ve been teaching English literature at the university. Doesn’t make me rich, but it pays the bills—and I get summers off. Here in Massachusetts, that’s around $75,000 a year.”

Older Sister (Naomi): rolling her eyes playfully “Meanwhile, I’ve been grinding at the hospital. Nursing twelve-hour shifts, but hey, the overtime’s nice. With Massachusetts rates, I’m pulling in closer to $95,000 a year.”

Older Brother (Darius): smirking “Tech consulting’s been treating me pretty well. Clients practically throw money at you if you can fix their systems fast enough. Around here, I’m at about $120,000 a year.”

Grandma (Ruthie): “Well, back when I was teaching elementary school, I topped out at around $60,000 a year before I retired. Doesn’t sound like much now, but it was plenty then.”

Grandpa (Silas): chuckling “And I worked the shipyards in Quincy most of my life. Good union job—had me making about $70,000 a year near the end. Pension’s not too bad either.”

Mom (Marisol): turns her gaze to you with interest “And what about you, sweetheart? We’ve all been so curious. What kind of work are you doing these days?”

Dad (Victor): nodding, fork poised mid-air “Yeah, it feels like forever since we really caught up with you. What’s your world looking like now?”

The whole table turns toward you, smiling, expectant—some with curiosity, some with that classic family nosiness.