Unexpected

Thanksgiving Dinner

Aunt Lori is Grams' older sister and Uncle Jim is her husband. Aunt Jen and Uncle Bob are siblings, the product of Grumps' first marriage. While Aunt Lori and Uncle Jim were often around as I grew up since they lived so close and were so amiable by nature, I only ever saw Aunt Jen and her daughter Kylie who was maybe six years older than me every other holiday, same goes for Uncle Bob and his wife Dina and their incredibly spoiled, destructive son Morgan. Of course I've never been an angel, nor had my parents, but in comparison to our respectable if somewhat tragic lives, the poor money management of these step-relatives, Aunt Jen's numerous boyfriends and drinking habit, and the poor parenting of Uncle Bob's made a sharp contrast.

This contrast came to play at these awkward family dinners, and this Thanksgiving was no exception. So much had happened since I had last seen most of them. As soon as Aunt Lori and Uncle Jim arrived, early of course with some sort of cheesy casserole in hand, I was swept up in hugs and questions.

"Your cast is off! How are you doing? Feeling well? You're walking normally now aren't you?" her blue eyes that matched my grandmother's raked over me, "Oh you're so beautiful. I love the dress. Where'd you get it?"

"Now Lori, you'll smother her." Uncle Craig, thinned hair and clunky rectangular glasses, came up beside her before wrapping an arm over my shoulder, "Hey kiddo. How ya been?"

"I've been fine, and how about you? Still playing with your drones?"

"Driving me up a wall more like it." Aunt Lori huffed, placing her casserole on the counter next to the relish tray. Uncle Craig glanced down at me and winked, admitting to Aunt Lori's claim.

The two sisters stayed in the kitchen gossiping and chatting eagerly with each other as usual as Grams worked on thickening the turkey gravy. The men and I traveled to the living room where a while later the rest of the guests migrated to upon arrival. Kylie was looking wane as ever. From what Grams could gather, she had taken up a drug habit maybe a year ago, the effects were becoming visible as she stared almost blankly down at her phone. We'd never been close, but I always tried for some sort of vague companionship with her.

"So, how's Peter? That's your boyfriend's name right, or was it Paul?"

"I don't know how he is." She mumbled, "Probably too high to realize that that whore he's fucking around with is stealing the money that he doesn't have."

Internally I sighed, oh dear Lord, and sucked my lips into my mouth while nodding slowly, "So you're not together anymore then?" I don't know how Kylie responded because Morgan jabbed his yellow truck toy into my side, practically swinging it at me like it was a baseball bat. "Hey! Morgan-"I warned, but he started winding up to swing again, "Don't hit people like that. It's not nice."

"You're not my mom."

That's right I'm not your mom, because she never puts her foot down with you, you little-! I twisted my face into a stern look, "It doesn't matter. Don't do that, okay?"

He rolled his eyes, and slumped away mumbling under his breath before trudging over to his mother to complain no doubt. Soon we were called to the dinner table. Grams and I had decorated it with a theme of gold and cream with a creamy tablecloth and napkins and golden silverware and gold rimmed plates that Grams had discovered in their basement maybe two months ago. Luckily I was as far away from Morgan as possible, seated with Grams on one side and Aunt Jen on my other. Huge platters of holiday delicacies were passed around and soon my plate was piled up.

"This looks great." Uncle Jim said tucking his napkin on his lap before cutting into a thick slice of turkey, "I think I might just lose my girlish figure."