Second Chances: The Return of Gollum

Chapter 39

Soon, it was Thanksgiving, and we had invited both Sarah and Jamal over for dinner. Hayley cooked the turkey and stuffing while Sméagol and Gollum made mashed potatoes and macaroni and cheese, and I set the table in the dining room. Jamal brought freshly made dinner rolls, and Sarah brought deviled eggs and green bean casserole.

As the six of us sat down to eat, we folded our hands to say grace.

"Dear Heavenly Father," said Hayley, "thank you so much for this food we are about to eat in the hope that it will nourish our bodies, and give us the strength to do thy will. Thank you so much for the wonderful company we are so blessed to share this Thanksgiving meal with. Please, Lord, we ask that you bless us all, those of us who are here, loved ones who are far away, and everyone else in the world, as we know some of us are less fortunate. God, we hope everyone has a wonderful Thanksgiving, and thank you, again, for your many, many blessings you have bestowed upon us. In Jesus' name we pray, amen."

"Amen," we all said.

Then, we each shared things we were thankful for, starting with Jamal.

"So, I'm thankful for Hayley and Sméagol, who got me back on my feet after my parents kicked me out. Both of them showed me that... I do matter, and there ain't nothin' wrong wit' bein' bisexual. They were the first ones to show me what love looks like, and they showed me that God ain't no wrathful dude that hates the LGBT peeps. He loves everybody. So... Hayley, Sméagol... thanks."

Hayley and Sméagol smiled at Jamal.

Then, it was Sarah's turn. "Okay, well, I'm thankful for Sméagol, because he gave Snowball one last happy moment before she died. And, when she did die, Sméagol was there for me. A lot of other people gave me shit for grieving for a dog, because apparently, dogs aren't as important as humans."

"Man, that's bullshit," Jamal snarled.

"Yeah," Sarah scoffed. "But, Sméagol showed me that my feelings matter, and that Snowball's not gone. She's always alive in my heart. So, thanks, Sméagol."

Sméagol smiled warmly. "Bless you, Sarah."

"Okay, my turn," said Hayley. "Well, I am so thankful to have so many amazing friends whom I love so, so, so much. I'm thankful to be working with Jamal at the music store. He is a wonderful teacher, sales person, and is going to be an incredible DJ. He's also a very bright, intelligent, kindhearted person. I'm thankful that I met such a sweetheart like Sarah, and that she joined our choir. She has a beautiful voice to match her beautiful heart. I am so thankful to have wonderful friends like Gollum and Sméagol, and even more grateful to have them living in my house with me. They have both been so kind to everyone around them, including myself and my baby sissy-poo, which brings me to..." She put her arm around my shoulders, "Cheyenne!" She kissed my cheek. "She is my best friend, and the best baby sissy-poo I could ever ask for. I wuv you so, so much, Cheyenne."

I smiled at Hayley. "Thanks, sis."

Gollum decided to go next. "Very thankful I am to finds friends like Hayley and Cheyenne... and reunites with my dear Sméagol. They all shows me what love is, how it feels to love someone and be loved in return. So much better than the Precious it is. Now, I knows... a gold ring of power is not the Precious. Love is, and I loves you all with all my heart."

"Awwwww." Hayley wrapped her arm around Gollum, and rested her head on his shoulder. "We loves you, too, Honey."

Gollum grinned at the adorable way Hayley imitated his speech.

"I goes next," said Sméagol. "So much there is to be thankful for, Precious. God, music, a warm bed, delicious food, a second chance at life, friends, a family that loves me..." He smiled at me, and wrapped his arm around me. "And... the most wonderful girlfriend a hobbit could ever ask for." He smiled at all of us. "Sméagol loves you all so very much, my sweet, beautiful, precious friends, so very much I do. Thank you, God, for the wonderful elveses that gives Sméagol a second chance. Never dreamed I could be so happy."

"Awwww, we love you, too, Sméagol," said Sarah.

"Yeah, man," Jamal agreed, "you the best thing that ever happened to me."

"Awwwww!" Sméagol cried.

I nodded. "I second that statement."

Sméagol smiled at me.

"Okay, well, I guess it's my turn." I took a sip of my Dr. Pepper. "So... I'm really thankful for Hayley, because she's the best sister ever. When everyone else turned on me, she stayed by my side, even when I was a huge pain in the butt, and trust me, that's a lot. I'm really thankful for a family that loves me the way I am. I'm thankful for music, because singing and writing songs is my greatest passion. I'm thankful for soft, fluffy sweaters, because they're so cuddly and snuggly, and they tickle."

Everyone laughed and giggled softly.

"I'm thankful for Celtic Woman."

"Amen to that," Hayley agreed.

"I'm really thankful I finally found friends that don't run away from me when they see the ugly side of Autism or depression or whatever. They don't run away when they see my dark side, and that really means a lot to me."

"Of course not, Precious," said Gollum. "We loves you too much to ever runs away from you."

I smiled. "And... I'm really thankful for Sméagol, because he's the best boyfriend I could ever ask for. After so many bad relationships, one heartbreak after another... and even abuse, I finally found true love, someone who loves me the way I am, and he treats me like a queen. He is the sweetest guy I have ever met, ever." I smiled at Sméagol. "I love you, Sméagol Bear."

"Awwwwww." Sméagol pulled me into his arms, and kissed my cheeks. "Sméagol loves you, too, Precious."

Everyone smiled at each other. Then, the delicious aroma of our dinner brought us back to Earth.

"Okay," said Hayley, "let's eat."

So, we all enjoyed a hearty Thanksgiving meal.