The following Thanksgiving, Bernadine hosted dinner herself. Before anyone could sit down, she called Jonah into the kitchen. She handed him a plate and asked him to choose his favorite food. Then she served every other child before the adults. Nobody complained. Nobody questioned her decision. It had become the family’s new tradition.
Later, Bernadine raised her glass and said, “I spent too many years believing children should always come last. I was wrong. Family means making sure nobody feels forgotten.” Jonah reached for her hand. I smiled through my tears. That Thanksgiving, everyone ate well, but the greatest gift was knowing the cycle had finally ended. THE END.
