Misalignment | ✔

stuffing

Tomorrow is Thanksgiving,
and as such,
we only have
a half day of school
today.
Only half the number
of classes -
and art class
is not one of them,
luckily.
Even so,
I catch sight of
Seth
as I head to my locker
at noon
to collect my things.
He barely even
acknowledges my existence
for once,
something I am
extremely thankful for.
Considering the
upcoming holiday,
my sentiments seem
rather appropriate.

I don't know how
Matty did it,
but today's lack of
'queer calling'
is a miracle
in and of itself.
I just hope that
it doesn't end
after we return
next week.

Matty again
walks home with me
after school today,
a product of
my mother's
repeated insistence
that she teach her how
to bake and cook.
Matty has informed me
on multiple occasions
that she already knows
both those skills,
though -
she even makes dinner
for her culinarily inept aunt
every night
in return for staying with her.
Still, she humors
my mother,
for which I'm grateful.

The last time
she roped me into
helping prepare a meal,
the house was nearly
burnt down.
I'm still not quite sure
whose fault that was.

Speaking of Matty's aunt -
she tells me
as we stomp the snow
off of our boots
just inside my front door
that her aunt had left
yesterday
on a lengthy business trip.
"She really didn't
want to go
during the holidays,"
Matty says with a sigh,
"but her boss
wouldn't listen
to reason.
The house is
really empty now
without her..."

"I'm sorry
to hear that,"
I reply -
at the same time
that my mother
pops in
behind us
and says:
"You can come
eat dinner
with us!"

We both jump
and then turn
to stare at her
in shock -
on my part,
it's mostly because
I had forgotten
that she had taken
the day off
from work
to start preparations
for tomorrow's meal.
I never expect her
to be home
when I return
from school;
she usually works late
and gets home
just in time
to inform me that
she had left me
leftovers
for dinner,
and why haven't I
eaten them yet?
Usually,
they don't actually exist,
but that is only the fault
of her patchy memory.

"But what about
Lydia?"
I ask her as
she beams in
Matty's direction.
I think she has
too much of an
obsession
with my friend
(which would be
mighty strange
if I didn't know her
as well as I do).
Whenever she's over,
my mother just
won't leave her alone.

"Wrong side of
Ohio,"
she shrugs
as she pushes back
some stray strands
of her pollen-blonde hair.
"And Stacey
from work
has actually gone
to visit her niece
in Florida -
so she can't make it,
either."
She pauses
for a moment,
and then mutters,
"I miss Florida...
Lucky duck."

"I would love to,"
Matty butts in
a little awkwardly,
"but it wouldn't
feel right
to intrude on your dinner
like that-"

"Nonsense!
I insist -
and it'll be
your dinner, too,
once you help me
make the stuffing."

Stuffing is by far
my mother's favorite
part of holiday meals.
You know she's serious
if she lets anyone else
help prepare it.
"That means
she really
wants you to come,"
I inform Matty in
a stage whisper;
my mother just
pulls a face at me,
while Matty herself
cracks a grin.

"I guess I can't
argue with that,"
she laughs
after a moment
of thought.
Her happiness
is contagious;
I can't keep
a smile
from forming on
my own lips.
It's a nice change
to see Matty
so happy and
carefree
when she hasn't been
for so long.
"I guess it's
a date, then,"
she beams
in my mother's
direction.
"I'd be happy to help
with dinner,
Mrs. Shills."

×

This is honestly more of a filler chapter than anything, but after the day I've had, I couldn't really be bothered to do much proofreading, let alone make it more interesting and important. Sorry. I actually might pass out or throw up or bawl my eyes out at any moment. Or maybe all three...simultaneously.

If you guys liked this chapter, I would love if you would vote and leave me some feedback! It would be much appreciated.

And, as requested, slightly happier Matty here. It gets better from here on out, no worries. I think the worst is behind all of them now c: