"Pass the macaroni!" someone yelled across the dining room table.
"Can I have the grated cheese?" called out cousin Joely.
"Where're the meatballs?" shouted Young Joseph.
Every Sunday, and especially on holidays, the Normale¢ family gathered at Grandma and Grandpa’s house to eat dinner together. They would laugh and talk above their silverware clanking against their dishes. They were a large Italian-American family.
Yet Young Joe Normale¢ felt ordinary among them.
Every family member was named Joe in some form. His Grandpa was named Joe, his twin cousin's names were Joseph and Joey, the dog was named JoJo and the cat was called Johanna, and his Grandma's real name was Josephina. Additionally, all of the girls had "Jo" in their names too. His cousins were Joely, Joanne, Jodi and his sister was Josie. Uncle Joe had married a woman named Joan. His mother, Josette, had married his father Joel. Each time someone called the name "Joe," every family member would look up.....
