A thick,awkward silence ensues after he drops the unsolicited statistics and the air crackles with suspense.Mum stops eating and Ben's hand slips from my knee.Daddy doesn't notice or he doesn't care at this point because he takes another bite of his meal and nods in approval.Why is he like this?

　　Sweat breaks out on Ben's forehead even with the air filtering in through the tall windows.I try to hold his hand under the table but he tucks it between his legs.Daddy holds up his ...