You arrive while everyone is getting ready.
Someone is chopping vegetables. Someone else is setting the table.
“Can I do anything?”
“No, we’re good. Just sit down.”
You sit.
A few minutes later, you get up for some water.
“Are you sure you don’t need help?”
“We’re sure.”
You sit down again.
Everyone else keeps talking while they work. Nobody seems to notice that you’re not doing anything.
You notice.
When someone finally carries a stack of plates toward the table, you’re already on your feet.
“Here. I’ll take those.”