Never Grow Up

Chapter XII: Family Thanksgiving

     "Okay, does everyone remember what they're supposed to do tomorrow for Thanksgiving?" Mom asked as dad, Esther, Jaden and I sat around the dining room table. We all nodded but my mom didn't look convinced. "I need everyone to tell me their roles."

     "I keep Striker busy!" Esther exclaimed and my mom smiled with a nod. Last year, we did the mistake of not watching Striker and he ended up with the Turkey dinner. It wasn't his fault though; we were so busy that day we forgot to feed the poor dog!

     "Mines is to make sure Esther is keeping Striker busy, but also be around if anyone needs help." Jaden says and crosses his arms on the table.

     "I help mom in the kitchen along with making sure Esther and Jaden get dressed appropriately for dinner." I spoke and mom smiled approvingly. We all then looked to my dad, afraid he wasn't listening.

     "I help set the table and as well help in the kitchen with the small stuff so I don't burn the house down." Dad spoke almost robotically.

     Mom clapped her hands with a smile. "Thank you all for listening. Now remember, Jazzy and Gracie are returning from college and will join us tomorrow along with Pattie, my mom and dad. Be on your best behaviors, please! We need this to go smoothly, okay?" Mom practically begged and we all nodded. Everything was going great and was going to end great without a yelling match until Esther asked if Ryan was coming.

     Mom had to explain Ryan was out of town visiting family. This made Esther sort of sad because she's grown close to Ryan. Dad seemed a little pissed that his own child rather be around Ryan than him, but whose fault was that?

     Mom dismissed us in the end and we all went our separate ways. Dad went to his office to catch up on work before break, but we all knew it was really to keep himself busy. Mom started organizing the kitchen to get ready for tomorrow by setting out her supplies. Esther went outside with Striker in the cool air and Jaden followed them with his soccer ball. I went up to my room to take a break from my family.

     For the past weeks, we've all been going to therapy. Yeah, you heard me right, therapy. Apparently, mom thought it was a good idea for all of us to talk out our problems and stuff like that. But the main clients were my mom and dad. I guess they thought they could fix the mess they had. I told our therapist, Matthew, that it was too late for that. They should've done that years ago. they're already too deep into the mess, I don't think there's any fixing to be done. To make things worse, Matthew mentioned that Ryan be invited to sessions as well.

     Mom wanted Thanksgiving to go well, which is really the number one reason why she thought we all needed therapy. Most times we didn't talk as a group, only a couple of times have we done so. At first I was apprehensive about this whole idea, but once I got talking, I couldn't shut up. I didn't really talk about my parents, even though that was the whole idea, but instead talked about myself and my own issues at hand. Matthew didn't seem to care, he sat there and listened while I laid on the brown leather couch. Cliché, right?

     Matthew was a nice guy though. He wasn't as nosy as I thought therapists are supposed to be. I learned a lot about Matthew because I told him I refused to talk to a stranger about my problems. Matthew is only 27, and hot must I add. I so wish I wasn't dating Tyler, and of course 18. I got a feeling Matthew felt the same from the flirtatious eyes I get from him but deep down I think my hormonal teenage self is just seeing things. I was shocked when Matthew told me he was single so I mindless blurted out and asked if he was gay. The rest of our session I was completely red but Matthew just laughed. He said no, and just said he really hadn't had time for dating because of his work.