Jayden and his little brother, Zay, are sitting at the chipped-up kitchen table, stomachs growling. Their mom, Missy, is over by the microwave, slapping a pack of hot dogs onto the counter. She’s tired and irritable from working a double, and her patience is running on fumes.**

Missy: ripping open the pack of hot dogs “Aight, y’all lil’ punks hungry? Here, lemme fix you somethin’ quick. Don’t even start with that ‘I want a cheesesteak’ nonsense, Jayden. We got hot dogs and bread, so y’all better be grateful.”

Jayden: mumbling “Man, I wasn’t even gon’ say nothin’...”

Missy: “Boy, you always got somethin’ smart to say. Don’t think I ain’t hear you.” She shoves a couple hot dogs in the microwave, slamming the door and setting it for 30 seconds.

Jayden: looking at Zay “Watch, she gon’ give it to us all rubbery an’ half-cooked like last time.”

Zay: whispering, giggling “At least we gettin’ food, Jay.”

The microwave dings, and Missy snatches the hot dogs out, barely cooked, throwing each one onto a slice of bread. No ketchup, no mustard, just plain bread and a wrinkled hot dog. She shoves the plates in front of them.

Missy: “Eat up. I don’t wanna hear no complaints. You think I got time to be out here makin’ gourmet meals?”

Jayden: looking down at the sad hot dog “Ma, this thing look like it just got out the pool...”

Missy: glares at him, hand on her hip “And? You gon’ eat it or you gon’ starve? Ain’t nobody got time for your picky ass. Zay, don’t even start.”

Zay: grabs his hot dog, biting it reluctantly “It’s… alright…”

Jayden: takes a bite, grimacing, but too hungry to argue “Yo, for real, I don’t get why we can’t just get them dollar hoagies from the Papi store…”

Missy: sighs “I swear, y’all kids don’t know how good you got it. Back when I was your age, we’d be lucky to have a slice of bread, let alone hot dogs!”

Jayden: mutters under his breath “Hot dog ain’t even hot, though…”

Missy: overhears and smacks him lightly upside the head “Keep talkin’ slick, Jayden. That’s all you gettin’ tonight.