The essence of Simic's story is stated as, "Come to think of it, none of us, individually or collectively, make much sense. We are all composite characters, made up of a half dozen different people, thanks to being kicked around from country to country" (Perl and Schwartz 273). A dinner table seems like the perfect place to bring together such disparate personalities. The story begins as the family is arguing as they are eating and drinking. We meet Uncle Boris as he is making an argument that makes the author say, "Is he kidding?  (Perl and Schwartz 271). While it seems like the family members are apart on many issues they come together at the beginning around their love of the pork roast and then later over the conversation and the wine. Simic's family enjoys being argumentative but there are also many times during the dinner when they are in perfect harmony. Even when they are discordant, they have mutually agreed to enter this state, but this collectivity is more noticeable in times of affection such as when the author kisses Uncle Boris on top of his bald head. His family members have shaped Simic's personality, as well as most aspects of his life, if only subconsciously. The reader can relate to the narrator's personality by watching his reactions to and interactions with his family.  In this sense, the family itself is a character in the story. It is a composite of the narrator, his brother, father, uncle, and aunt. And, like an individual, this character has disagreements, funny and dramatic moments. This narrative is a chaotic mixture of many pieces that come together to tell a story. These pieces are rather eclectic; politics, operatic singing and red wine, but they all fit together to tell the tale of a family dinner. Each individual piece comes together to make the story some what more understandable and unique, just like the actual family. Each member of the family has different personalities and opinions but they f