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Chapter 14: Good Grief It's Thanksgiving

"Nick, I swear to God, If you drop that cake I will personally murder you." My mother screams at Nick who was running from the car with the third cake we bought this week. My mother doesn't like to bake cakes, so she buys them from the old lady down the street. This was one of the reasons I hated Thanksgiving. The other reason was because everybody from all over the world would be coming to my house and stay here for at least a week. Literally, all over the country. My grandmas are from England and Kansas, my aunts are from Australia and Nashville, and much, much more. Sadly for me, Carolyn, Dana, and Autumn went out of town to go to their grandmother's house. So, it's just me and Nick, who surprisingly feels the same way about everyone coming here, too.

"Nick, just don't run with the cake in your hands. Mom already has a lot to deal with today." I tell Nick quietly. He nods his head sadly and stops running. My dad walks into the kitchen and bumps into the knives that my mom left on the corner of the counter. Before it could see the floor, my mother grabs it. "For the love of Pete, watch where your going, Holden! " she yells and my dad goes pink in the face. I try to hold in my laughter, but I can't for long. My mom gives me a stern look and I automatically know its time for me to go to my room and change clothes.

***

It's 6:30 and we get the first ring of doom. I walk downstairs and open the door. I almost felt like passing out, because the smell of cologne filled my nostrils. "Uncle Wagner, so good to see you." I say, trying to sound happy. He hugs me tightly and I gasp for clean air. After more doorbells and more hugs, Nick finally decided to take the job. I thank him and find my way to the living room where, no one wanted to be. I sit by myself for a few minutes before start to close my heavy eyelids. "Oy, what are you dozing off for? I know we're not that boring." A familiar voice says in my ear. I open my eyes and try not scream. "Aunt Helen, what are you doing here?! I thought you had a show to do." "It's Thanksgiving dear, my boss is not that heartless. But you should come out to the kitchen, there are more people who want to see you."

She sings and pulls my arm into the family room where everybody and their mama was. I scan the crowd and suddenly, someone taps me on the shoulder. I turn around and wrap my arms around a tiny body. "Well, damn someone missed me!" My grandma Judy shouts over the loud chatter. I loved my grandma Judy. She was the other person I trusted to tell all of my deepest and darkest thoughts to. She hugs Helen for a short second and they exchange some words before breaking away and Judy grabs my hand and we walk into the kitchen where I get another surprise. "Shannon, Sheryl. What are you doing here?"

I ask, shocked. "Well your mother invited us and she said that she needed help and, well, here we are... helping." Shannon says, washing her hands. Sheryl smiles at me while she wipes her hands on a napkin. "Ethan and Magenta are in the family room." Sheryl hugs me. She wore an orange dress with little turkeys on them and Shannon wore... a dress too? I'm used to her wearing her usually pant suits and boots, but she actually wore a dress and heels. I give her a quick smile before my mother hands her some pies to put on the table. "Who's Ethan and Magenta?" Judy asks me. "Let's go so you can meet them for yourself." I say to her quietly. We both walk out of the kitchen and stop occasionally to hug people. I walk over to the couch, thinking I see them, but I really saw my grandma Elizabeth.

She gives me a smile and I sit down next to her. " Hello Liz." I say to her. She never did like it when we called her grandma, so we called her Elizabeth, Liz, or Beth. "Oh for Christ sake, it's Thanksgiving. Hug me." She opens her arms. "Hello Liz, do I get to hug you this year?" Judy asks her quietly. "Oh, why not, Judith." It shocked me she was doing this, because when we visited her for Christmas last year in Liverpool she didn't even cook for us. I look up and see Helen walking in our direction. " I think I see them over there, lets go." I tug on her arm. When Helen and Liz get near each other, there's going to be an argument.