"Let's go around the table and say what we're grateful for?"
"Not you."
"Excuse me?"
"Nothing mother."
My hands clasped firmly in my lap I looked between Jared and our mother. Shaking her head in blatant disgust she raised her sixth glass of line up to her lips and drained it. Setting it down on the table so roughly I feared it would smash she hiccupped before speaking.
"I'm grateful that cancerous wart on my ass is dead."
Reaching out and gripping the table like he wanted to flip it on top of her Jared licked the dry scabbing skin on the corners of his lips left over from the numerous times a day he did it. It was a tick which had gotten increasingly worse after Dad's death a little over six months prior.
"Who's next." Mom sighed, pouring herself a near overflowing glass of wine.
Taking a shaky breath I reached up and ran my fingertips through my hair.
"Justin." Mom said turning to me.
"I'd be a lot more grateful if you let Helena come out of the basement and eat with us." I whispered.
"Jesus fucking Christ!" Mom spat, "Can't you little fuckers just give thanks like normal people the food is getting cold!"
Wincing I looked at the KFC which was laid out on the coffee table which we were gathered around, the tv playing quietly in the background.
"I'm um....I'm grateful for this....this bucket of mystery meat and the runny mashed potatoes we have to eat." My older brother Mikey said nervously scratching the back of his neck.
"Thank you." Mom sighed, "Gee?"
Looking uncomfortable my oldest brother Gerard crossed then uncrossed his legs.
"I'm grateful for my um...Lindsey."
Smiling he turned to his expecting wife who was beginning to grow quite plump around the middle.
"I'm greatful for you." Lindsey said smiling, "And for all of you, for letting me into your family."
"You must be batshit insane." Jared muttered, "Entering this clan of c8nts voluntarily."
"Jared!" Mom shouted slamming her fist on the table, "Don't fucking swear."
Rolling his eyes, Jared propped his elbows up on the table then rested his chin on his palms.
"Are we done now?" he sighed, "With the bullshit thank yous."
"No." Mom snapped, "Justin, let's go we're waiting and the food is getting cold."
I wanted to say that I was no thankful for anything but knew that that would just earn me a swat, with a shoe, to the back of the head so after a moment of hesitation I spoke, "I'm grateful for Helena."
"Christ." Mom grumbled downing more wine.
"Justin." Gerard mumbled.
"I am." I said defensively, "She makes me happy."
"She killed Dad." Mikey said slowly.
"It was an accident!" I said quickly.
"She beat him to death." Mikey argued.
"Only good thing the retard has ever done." Mom muttered
"She's not retarded." I said quickly.
"She's seven feet tall and still shits in a diaper." She laughed.
