💬 Nobody told us where to sit at dinner but nobody ever swaps

There are 6 chairs at our dining table and nobody ever decided who sits where. My father is at the head. My mother is next to the kitchen door, so she can get up without moving anyone. My sister is opposite. I'm in the corner by the wall, near the switch for the fan. I've sat there since 2009. If you ask any of us, we'd say we sit anywhere. Then we all sit in those exact seats. Last month a friend from office came for dinner. He took my chair without thinking. I stood there holding my plate. My mother looked at me. My father looked at his plate. I took the spare chair at the far end. From there I couldn't reach the water jug or the fan switch. I felt like a guest in my own house. My father poured water the wrong way round and had to start again. He's never done that in 20 years. Dinner was fine. The food was good, my friend talked for an hour, nobody complained about anything. But my mother kept glancing at me down the table, the way you look at a picture hung crooked. After he left she said, you can sit where you like next time. I said I know. She said, good. The next night I sat in my corner again and the whole table relaxed. Nobody said a word. My sister says it's just comfort, not a rule. I say fine, then let me sit in your chair. She said no, instantly, with her mouth full. Our cat has a seat too. Under my father's chair, left side. Nobody ever told the cat. She just picked it in 2021 and now she gets annoyed if anyone's feet are there. I'm going to ask the neighbours next week whether they have the same thing. I bet they do.

We have the same thing with 5 people at our table. My seat faces the TV, and nobody ever said so. When my cousin sat there once, I ate my whole meal craning my neck like a bird. The cat bit made me laugh because ours has a stool near the fridge. If I move my plate even a little, my mother asks if I'm feeling unwell.

We have the same thing at home. My uncle once sat in my father's chair during a visit. The whole table went quiet for a second, like somebody had switched off the fan. Nobody said anything. My father just ate standing near the sink, which was somehow worse than shouting. I couldn't tell you when our seats got fixed. It happened without a single conversation.