Quiet Evening

The three of them are sitting around the kitchen table. It's evening, after dinner, and the house is reasonably quiet. You can hear the low murmur of voices coming from the back of the house, but this little family doesn't seem to notice it. The eldest, a girl, sits under the light, sewing. Her needle carefully pierces the fabric, and pulls the dark thread to the other side. Across the table from her, the boy is bent over schoolwork. Next to him sits a younger girl, reading a book. The oven is on, and the smell of sugar and chocolate fills the room. The older girl looks up, and addresses the younger girl,
"Rosie, would you mind washing the dinner dishes?" The younger girl looks up when she hears her name, and then frowns at the request. "But it's not my turn, it's Anne's turn today."
"I know that, but she just got back from that trip, and she has to get up early in the morning. Would you please do her chore, just this once?"
"Why can't Joey do it?" Her voice was starting to get whiny.
"Because he's a little behind in his schooling, and need to work on that this evening. And I'm trying to finish this skirt." Her voice got a bit firmer "Please do as I asked. There aren't very many dishes, it won't take you that long." The girl, Rosie, sighed and got up and walked to the sing. The sound of running water and clinking dishes soon filled the kitchen. The boy looked up from his studying, "I'm hungry." He announced. The older girl laughed, "You're always hungry! We just had dinner not two hours ago."
"I know, but I'm hungry again."
She just laughed, and shook her head. She got up and opened the door to the oven. "The cookies will be done i a few minutes, do you think you can wait that long?"
"Ok. What kind of cookies are they?"
"Shortbread, with some chocolate mixed in."  Rosie turned from the sink and said "That sounds good! You make the best shortbread." The girl rolled her eyes, "I don't know about that, but I do my best."
"Well I like your cooking." The older girl smiled at the younger, and reached over to pat her arm. "Thanks, Rosie." She grabs a couple of rags and pulls the cookie sheet out of the oven and sets it on another rag already on the counter. While the cookies cool, she gets out three plates and glasses. She fills the glasses with milk, and puts them on the table. Then she places three cookies on each plate, and brings those to the table as well. She sits down, and resumes her sewing. The boy and girl start eating their snack, and playfully bickering with each other. The older girl tunes them out, she is lost in her thoughts, somewhere else entirely. 
Suddenly all three jump. The hear loud, angry voices, a slamming door, and the unmistakable sound of something breaking. Rosie looks scared, then looks to the older girl. She has a mask on, you can't see her fear or worry, just a calm expression. "It's ok, kids. Just go back to what you were doing. If you leave them alone, they'll leave you alone." Both children, looking reassured, go back to their snack and schoolwork. The rest of the evening passes much the same way. It's quiet and safe, there in her kitchen. Though a battle rages just outside the door. Her kids are safe, and cared for, and she will make sure they know they are loved.