December 20, 1773 Dear Diary, Today, Grandfather came for tea. I truly love Grandfather, and he tells very good stories. But, he is a strong Loyalist, and he and Father are now very cold toward each other. Well, Mother brought out the teakettle, which held tea, and poured some into my grandfather's cup. Then she brought out the metal pitcher and poured coffee for William, Father, herself, and me... My, did Grandfather sputter so! He slammed his glass down so hard that tea sloshed onto the lace tablecloth. Father stood up, and so did William. Mother then sent me from the room but, being a true Patriot, I listened through the keyhole. Well, there was quite a lot of yelling, and Father, Grandfather, and even William, said some truly horrible things that I will not repeat here. What stirred me most was when Grandfather knocked over the table--I could tell from the crashing of glass and splintering of wood--and said, "If you are not loyal to the true king, then I am not loyal to you... Margaret, I shall not be in contact until the males of your family are back to where their loyalties should lie!" He stormed out of the house, and I ran into the dining room. "Is Grandfather truly loyal to King George?" I asked. I knew that I could not deny that I had been listening, and Mother, though distressed by Grandfather's moves, smiled a bit at my listening. "Yes, Eliza," Father said, sighing, as he starred at the mess on the floor. "Go get a broom, and sweep up this mess. I shall discuss this with you and William tonight... Yes, Margaret," he said as Mother made a disapproving noise in her throat. "I do intend to tell Eliza. She is not a child anymore, and old times are changing all the time." Now, after cleaning up the mess in the dining room, I wonder at what Father said about times changing...I wonder how times will change with the 'tea party'?