The conversation roiled around me like a living thing. It grew large and engaged those I’d thought were my friends. For a little while, it shrunk down and became a heated back and forth, with just two dominating it. I don’t remember what it was about because I wasn’t paying too much attention at the time. If I had to guess, it was probably one of the big three. Sex. Religion. Politics.

The entire time I said nothing.

“You’ve been awfully quiet tonight- what’s up?” Rod looked directly at me, as if seeing me for the first time.

I took a moment and scanned the table before I spoke, letting the silence build. It grew, not like the conversation, but like some terrible force of nature- a tidal wave, a tornado, a wildfire. Then when it looked like it was too big, when someone else geared up to break the tension, I grabbed it and rode it like it was a one ton bull at the rodeo.

“Well my momma always said ‘If you don’t have anything nice to say- then shut the fuck up!’ And I ain’t got shit to say to any of y’all.”