An Exchange

Chapter Twenty-One - Thanksgiving

Penny

Jonas and I sat under the back porch, snuggled up in thick blankets, watching the snow slowly fall.

"It's early this year," Jonas muttered.

"Mmm." It felt odd to see snow in November instead of the early signs of bushfires.

"Thanksgiving's this week." A grin spread across his face. "My favourite holiday."

I laughed. "I thought Halloween was?"

"It was, until Thanksgiving."

"You're a dork."

"I'm awesome."

"Whatever."

He lifted his foot and kicked my leg. "Come on, who doesn't like to stuff their face until they feel like they’ll explode?"

I laughed again. "You, Jonas, are one of a kind."

"The best kind."

"If you say so."

We fell quiet as Pat brought us out a hot chocolate each. We thanked her and Jonas gave her a quick kiss on the cheek before she went back inside.

"So," he said, stroking the mug in a way that made me think he might whisper, my precious. "Do you want the run down for the holidays?"

"Sure." I sat back and sipped my hot chocolate.

"Well, we do Thanksgiving with the Hamilton's. Their family all lives down in Arizona, and ours are in Idaho, so we’ve always done a thing together, and it's their turn this year. Then, for Christmas, my brother and sisters will be coming home… which will suck. My brother isn't so bad, but my sisters are all losers who think they own me or something. They’ll have their significant others with them except Naomi who isn't married yet, but the good thing is that they will be bringing my niece and nephews who are somehow all awesome like me, even though they are still miniature people." He turned to face me with a huge grin across his face. "And for New Years, we should host a party."

"We?"

"Yes you and me, and maybe Giles if he feels like being cool."

"Ah..." I hesitated, unsure.

"Come on, Penny. Your music with mine, and our combined ability to be totally awe inspiring, it would be the best party ever."

I sat back, contemplating it. He watched me closely, waiting for my response. I did like the idea. It would be a lot of fun to have all my friends together to usher in the New Year. A smile slowly crept across my face. "Will your parents let us?"

"Heck yes they will. I'm the youngest after all. I can get away with anything."

"You're very self-assured."

"I know, that's why I know how awesome I am."

I chuckled and shifted my chair closer to him to snuggle and fend off the cold. "Let's do it then."

"Sweetness."

*

Just after midday, we made our way over to the Hamilton's carrying a slow baked honey ham and a green bean casserole. Inside the house, the smell of the meal filled my nostrils as Giles' sisters argued about setting the table. Sarah turned bright red at the sight of Jonas and dashed downstairs to hide her embarrassment at being caught arguing.

"Goofy kid," Jonas muttered as I giggled.

I nudged him with a grin. Sometimes I wondered why there was such a big age difference between Giles and Sarah, but I thought it rude to ask. I figured his parents had waited for some reason or they had had trouble conceiving again. Either way, it wasn’t my place to pry.