Can I Have That in Writing?

Emily: Amazing Grace

I had a lot more fun at the play than expected. Maybe because I was absorbed in the story. Or maybe because I had two people I felt safe with on either side of me.

Writing club wouldn't meet on the fourth Thursday of the month, since it was Thanksgiving. So for our one and only November meeting, we did our themed prompt.

"Write about someone's first Thanksgiving with their significant other."

I knew the prompt was worded like that to include all types of couples. Yet I didn't exactly feel invited to depart from the norm. I'd have to hide my work from my parents. Not only that, but I had to hide it from Riley.

I was going to tell her. Just not yet. I needed some time, and I needed a lot more courage.

My short story would be from the point of view of a girl bringing home her boyfriend. Her family would ask well-meaning but invasive questions. I tapped my pencil as I thought of how to end it. Would her family come to accept her choice of partner? Or would they reject him and grow disappointed in her?

Wow. Even when I was writing straight romance, I managed to make it gay.

As usual, Riley and Allison made stops around the room. They checked on members' progress, asked if anyone needed anything, and joked around. I was relieved that Allison had approached me first. I had another dilemma, one which only she would understand.

Allison drummed her hands on my desk. "How's it going?" she asked.

"Good," I replied. "I have most of the story planned out. I just don't know where to set it."

"Hmm. Well, the obvious answer would be present day, present location. But hey, if you want to write in the 80s, 90s, another planet who has the same holiday-"

"Well, I know I want to do present time. It's just..."

I looked down at the desk. "I didn't know whether to set it here, or back in Tennessee."

My sister went silent, as expected. I didn't mind revisiting my old memories, but it was painful for Allison. Probably because she was older and more aware of everything that had occurred.

"I'd say whatever you feel like writing more," Allison eventually replied. Then she left to see Vera.

A few minutes passed before Riley approached. "How are you doing, Em?"

"Fine," I said, looking up to meet her eyes. "How about you?"

"Good. I wrote some ideas down, I just have to choose one of them!"

"Nice."

A silence lingered between us. I wouldn't call it an "awkward" silence, per se, because I was finally becoming comfortable around her. Yet after the way I complimented her at the play, after the way her outfit caught me off guard by how pretty she looked... I needed to be careful not to let anything else slip.

"So what are your plans for Thanksgiving?"

Thank goodness Riley was good at changing subjects.

"We might have some family over," I said. "My uncle, aunt, and cousins live out-of-state, so we never really know until the week of. If they can't make it, we'll have a family call."

"Nice! I'll be going to my grandparents' with my aunts and uncles."

"Good. I hope you have fun."

Riley's face flushed pink. "Thanks. You too."

Okay, how did we always end up here- with blushes and reciprocated sentiments? And how do we stop?

Fortunately, Riley moved on to help Anthony. The next and final people to approach were Matt and Vera.