The Hunger Games Anonymous

Every Friday at seven a shouting match commences in my house. The same argument is dredged up week after week like clockwork but the end result is always different. Sides change and so do loyalties. Some days it’s children versus adults and on others it’s boys versus girls. Some days end in an impasse and others in a compromise. Plots and schemes are formulated hours in advance. Bribes are extended and skills of persuasion showcased.

No, picking a restaurant shouldn’t be this hard.

July 21st is ‘National Junk Food Day’ but for me it is a weekly event. After five long days of work and school, Fridays, in my family are reserved for something special. My parents, sister and I dress up, dine out and discuss the week that went by. Sounds like a simple enough tradition doesn’t it? But with four discordant individuals like us, narrowing down on a restaurant is close to impossible. Families that eat together stay together but what if bridges are burnt while deciding where to eat itself. Although these fights have been going on for a while, it was only during the last few years that I became conscious of the thought-processes that churn in the backdrop. Was there a pattern behind who chooses what or who caves first? Could I apply...