Dad moved out
the mother announced
as she pulled the box of minute rice
down from the cupboard which now held
only disposable salt and pepper shakers.
It’s going to be a relief, really, 
not to have him around
but he’s coming back for supper.
The mother filled a saucepan with water
from the faucet that dripped all night.
So, you can feel like things are still normal.
The daughter reached into the freezer
for the last package of Swanson’s
Salisbury steak, her stomach growling.
She threw the cardboard packaging away 
and centered the frozen brown brick
in the oven. Crossing her arms 
and squeezing them to her ribs, 
the daughter asked, When are you going 
to the store? There’s nothing 
around here to eat,
remembering the time
mom didn’t come home and dad
took her to Bonanza Steak House
where they sat in silence
eating for hours
like ravenous ranch hands.