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Part Four — The Meal That Brought Us Even Closer

One Friday evening, Mom announced something special.

“Tonight, everyone is cooking.”

Daniel looked worried.

“Everyone?”

“Yes,” Mom said.

Maya jumped from her chair.

“I want to cook!”

Dad laughed.

“Okay, Chef Maya.”

We decided to prepare a big family dinner.

Dad grilled the salmon and chicken.

Mom prepared a large salad with lettuce, tomatoes, cucumbers, carrots, avocado, and other fresh vegetables.

Daniel prepared brown rice.

Maya arranged strawberries, blueberries, bananas, oranges, and grapes on a large plate.

We also prepared roasted sweet potatoes and steamed broccoli.

When everything was ready, we placed all the food on the table.

The table looked beautiful.

It was full of colors and smells.

But something was missing.

Dad looked at the table and said, “You know what makes this meal healthy?”

Daniel answered, “The vegetables?”

“That’s part of it.”

Maya said, “The fruit?”

“Also part of it.”

Mom smiled.

“It’s the fact that we made it together.”

We all became quiet for a moment.

She was right.

Food tasted different when you prepared it with people you loved.

We sat together and began eating.

We talked about school.

We talked about work.

We talked about our dreams.

Daniel told us he wanted to become successful when he grew up.

Maya said she wanted to travel around the world.

Mom and Dad looked at each other and smiled.

They realized that these ordinary evenings were actually very special.

One day, the children would grow up.

They would leave home.

They would have their own jobs, their own families, and their own tables.

But hopefully, they would remember these meals.

They would remember the smell of grilled food coming from the kitchen.

They would remember colorful vegetables on the table.

They would remember laughing with their parents.

And most importantly, they would remember that food was one of the ways our family showed love.