Innocence

Together We Pray - Part I

December 15th, Friday. 8:00pm.

We were all seated in the dining room.
Starting from the left were me, my uncle Kyle, his son and my cousin Franklin, and my father.
On the other side were my mom, my grandma Beth, and aunt Jade.

We've just finished the prayers and are grabbing food onto our plates.
The usual Christmas Dinner. But early.

The vacation to Rhode Island is early in the morning. Two weeks visiting family, but mostly just living out in an entirely new city to me.
I've never been outside of this town, nor been on a flight.

Anyways, we were all eating the dinner.
And I noticed aunt Jade was looking over at me.
Before she quickly snapped away, that is.

I didn't think it was much, but I felt really awkward.
_________________________
8:47pm

I was the last person at the table, I had thirds.
Everyone has finished their meals already, and grandma Beth left as soon as she was done hers.
Not even a goodbye.

As I was scraping the last pieces of food into my mouth and lower the plate, I see my mother standing in front of me.

"Make sure to pack your bags before you go to sleep. And you sleep early too! We leave at 6:45. Flight is at 7:30."

I replied, "I don't have a suitcase or anything though."

"And that's why your uncle is being kind enough to give you one for the two week trip. Say thank you. Kyle?"

Uncle Kyle comes in from outside, he quickly puts out his cigarette before coming in.

"Heya Trace, here you go." He says, passing me a suitcase almost half the height as me.
"Thanks" I replied.

His son, Franklin, walks over to me in the living room.
"So you're going to Rhode Island, huh?"
"Uhh, yeah."

"That's cool! Say hi to all of our family over there for me, okay?" He says, looking at both me and my mom.

"We sure will." She says.
"Now Tracey, go do what I told you to do." She adds.
______________________
9:23pm.

I've put the last piece of clothing I needed for the trip into the suitcase, as I was zipping it up, aunt Jade walks down the stairs into my bedroom again.

I quickly gulp.

I can hear her walking behind me, her foot steps were getting closer and closer to me.

"You going to look and say hi or what?" She says.

I snap around quickly, "Oh sorry, didn't know you were going to talk to me."

"Why else would I come down here for?" She says.
She lifts up her arm, revealing a large bottle of liquor.
Vodka.

"Come come, let's sit!" She says. Walking towards my bed.

As she sits down on the edge of my bed and I sit on my bed near the corner, she cracks open the top of the bottle.

"Turn on some music already." She laughs.
"It's awkward if we just sit here while we drink, wouldn't it?"