Theo and Reed's Blessed Groomzilla Event

Chapter Eight

Dennis was also laughing as he said," Ma ! No. That's not my Winnie. You never listen when people talk. " He gently lead Winnie forward.  " That's one of Winnie's friends Theodore Walton Fisher. This is my Winnie Pooh Bear. "

The very enthusiastic woman released Theo from her fierce grip and Theo immediately hid behind Reed. She looked at tall skinny Winnie with his bright tight clothes, his jangling colorful bracelets , his long thick honey blond braid. Winnie smiled confidently at his future mother in law. And the future mother in law lost all her previous enthusiasm. She looked from Winnie to Theo behind Reed to Dennis back to Winnie again. The disappointment in her demeanor screamed at them all including Winnie whose smile slipped away from his face. Winnie looked crushed and Theo wanted to let loose a few emotions of his own on the woman for hurting the son of his heart.

To Winnie's credit he put on a good face and a good show as he moved gracefully forward to hug her. " I'm Winnie, ma'am. It's so good to finally meet you, Mrs. Davis! You're as pretty as your son said! "

Mary nodded rigidly and pulled away from Winnie.

Reed whispered to Theo ," Don't worry, darling. I'll protect you. "

Theo glared up at him. " Hush up , sweetie. "

From the house came barreling out what seemed like dozens of people. They were all yelling out welcome to Dennis who just stood there blushing and holding Winnie's hand. Then the horde stood back and looked hard at the rest of them like they were some type of exotic specimen in a zoo.

A tall well built Black man holding a short slim White man.

The all American looking golden boy  Saint holding hands with his aging twink husband who wore lip gloss and eyeliner and held a rainbow colored man bag.

Benji and Livvie.

And of course Winnie.

An older man with steel grey hair and similar eyes stepped forward to shake everyone's hands and ruffle the kids' hair much to their disgust. He introduced himself as Dennis's father Jonah. " And this be all his kin back there making enough noise to wake the durn blessed dead in the grave yard down the road yonder there. Been a while since my boy been back home. Good to see you, son. "

Dennis blushed harder. His arm slipped around Winnie's shoulders in a rare public gesture of loving affection. Jonah looked at Winnie and after a long while nodded. " Nice to meet you, Winston. Welcome to the family. Hell. All y'all welcome to the family! Come meet everyone! "

And they did. They met Dennis's four uncles and aunts. His numerous cousins. His two older brothers who were nice enough although Rudy only grunted and refused to shake hands. Rudy was the oldest brother and a coal miner while the middle brother was Lane. Lane was a kindergarten teacher. Rudy's really tall and big bodied son Junior Boy lumbered over to the kids to pull them into a sudden game of kick the rusty old can. And Dennis's only sister Kelly who was strangely quiet and uncertain as she looked at Dennis and Winnie. Her mother proudly told them that Kelly was the editor of the local weekly newspaper The Miner.

Kelly ignored her mother's praise and spit out," Baby brother, you picked a rotten time to come back home! Y'all need to go back to the city! "