Who’s Home for Dinner? A short story for children about eating together.

In the summer of 2009, I flew to Oregon to spend a week with my sister, Carolyn. It was my dream to write a children’s book about family meals. My sister was the expert in writing for children, and I was the expert in family meals. The collaboration created this story, which we submitted for publication, but were not successful.

In cleaning out my office in our move, it occurred to me that I should publish it here on my blog. In this week’s post, read the story. In next week’s post, get the recipes. In the third and final post, get the supplemental information we wrote for parents and teachers.

An added benefit of publishing today is the use of ChatGPT to create illustrations. Thank you, Chat! Not only did you follow my prompts well, you provided helpful suggestions.

Who’s Home for Dinner

by Barb Mayfield and Carolyn Short 

Ethan’s stomach rumbled as he raced into the house after school. “What’s for dinner?” 

     “Frozen pizza,” answered his brother Jacob.

     “Again?” complained Ethan. “Where’s Mom?”

     “Working late.”

     Looking around, Ethan asked, “Where’s Dad?”

     “At the fire station.”

     Ethan frowned. When Mom and Dad weren’t home, Jacob ate in front of the TV. Ethan hated eating at the table with three empty chairs. He sighed. His friend William probably wasn’t eating dinner all by himself.   

     BRRRING! Ethan answered the phone. “Hello?”

     “Hi,” said William. “Can you come for dinner?”

     After checking with Jacob, Ethan said, “I’ll be right there.”

     Ethan ran next door.

     “Hi,” said William, opening the door.

     Ethan snickered. “What’s that?”  

“It’s my apron. Dad and I are making chili.”

     Ethan followed William into the kitchen. They passed Granny and William’s little sister, Olivia, snuggled on the couch, watching cartoons.  

     After Ethan washed his hands, William’s dad let him grate cheese. Ethan scooped the grated cheese into a bowl and carried it to the table.

     William called, “Turn off the TV! Dinner’s ready!”

      When they were seated, William’s dad ladled chili into their bowls. Ethan sprinkled grated cheese on his chili. Yum!

     As Ethan scraped his bowl clean, Granny asked, “Olivia, what was the best part of your day?”

     “Recess.”

     Then Granny asked Ethan, “What was the best part of your day?”

     “Eating with all of you,” Ethan answered. “May I have more chili, please?”

     As Jacob walked him home after dinner, Ethan said, “I like how William’s family eats together.”

     “We used to.”

     “We could make dinner for our family,” said Ethan.

     “Me? Cook?” asked Jacob.

     “You and me,” said Ethan. “If William can cook, so can we.”

     The next day, Ethan’s class went to the library. He found a chili recipe in a children’s cookbook. He couldn’t wait to show it to Jacob.

     After school, Mom told Ethan, “I have a meeting. Jacob will be home from practice in ten minutes. He can fix a frozen pizza.”

     Ethan grinned. He knew he wasn’t eating frozen pizza.

     When Jacob arrived, Ethan showed him the recipe. “Can we make it?” 

     “Maybe,” answered Jacob. “Is there ground beef in the freezer?”

     Ethan saw chicken, meatballs, and pizzas. “No ground beef.”

     “Some people make meatless chili,” replied Jacob. “Is there an onion?”

     Ethan looked in the refrigerator. “Yes!”

     “Tomato sauce?”

     Ethan opened the cupboard and held up a jar of spaghetti sauce.

     “That might work,” said Jacob. “Do you see kidney beans?”

     “Just baked beans.”

     Jacob said, “Let’s have frozen pizza.”

     “Wait!” cried Ethan, pointing to the recipe on the next page. “Can we make this?”

     “Skillet spaghetti,” read Jacob. “We have sauce and meatballs. Is there spaghetti?”

     “In the cupboard.”

     Jacob looked for the skillet. Ethan gathered the spaghetti, meatballs, and sauce. Soon, dinner simmered in the skillet.    

     “What smells so good?” asked Dad, walking into the kitchen.

     “Skillet spaghetti!” announced Ethan.

     Mom arrived as they were sitting down. “Wow!” she exclaimed. “It’s been ages since we’ve eaten together. Thanks, boys!”    

     The next day after school, Ethan smelled something yummy in the kitchen. Mom had dinner cooking in the slow cooker! A note said: We’ll eat at 6:30. You can invite William.

     “Yippee!” shouted Ethan. He called William.

     When Dad came home, he asked, “What should we do until 6:30?”

     Ethan suggested, “Play Go Fish.”

     “Eat popcorn,” added Jacob.

     They played Go Fish and ate popcorn. They played Crazy Eights and Old Maid. They didn’t notice when the clock said 6:30 . . . or 7:00 . . . or 7:30.

     When Mom came home, she cried, “What’s that smell?” and ran into the kitchen. “Oh no! I left the slow cooker on high.”

     “Yuck!” said Jacob, peering into the pot. “It’s scorched.”

     Dad threw open the windows.

     Mom wailed, “Dinner’s ruined!”

     “Don’t be sad,” said Ethan. “It was a good idea.”

     “A great idea,” agreed Dad, hugging her.

     “A wonderful idea,” said Jacob. “But I’m starving.”

      Ethan ran to the freezer. He pulled out two pizzas. Handing them to Jacob, he said, “Turn on the oven. Dinner will be ready soon.”

     Ethan and William set the table. Before long, it was time to eat.

     “I love frozen pizza!” exclaimed William.

     Ethan smiled. “I love eating together!”

~ The End ~

For more on family meals, check out these resources and posts.  

Next week’s post will share the recipes for William’s Chili and Ethan’s Skillet Spaghetti.

"The table is a familiar, uncomplicated, and friendly place where we can celebrate family, friends, food, and life’s many blessings.”

~ Art Smith, Back to the Table: The Reunion of Food and Family

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