𝐖𝐓𝐃𝐑.

036.

' 𝐓𝐔𝐄𝐒𝐃𝐀𝐘, 𝐍𝐎𝐕𝐄𝐌𝐁𝐄𝐑 𝟐𝟖, 𝟏𝟗𝟗𝟓 '
mika richardson's residence ━━
beverly hills, california !

It was the day to celebrate family while gathering for a feasting. The history of this holiday wasn't quite pleasant, but we looked it in a more positive and different light. I was having a dinner at my place and opened my home for my family and friends to stop by and get festive. I wasn't as jolly as I once was but I put that behind me for the sake of the holiday and because I wanted the day to go by smoothly as possible.

It was going to take a lot for me to prepare the meal all by myself so Rage, Jewell, and I were in the kitchen preparing everything while Afeni and my mother shadowed us, giving us valuable pointers every now and then.

"Now, stuffing is one of the most important dishes to make on Thanksgiving Day, so you should be very mindful of making it properly-classic, herby, and moist." My mother was most definitely putting me under a lot of pressure.

I turned the stove on to 225°F as I spread the bread cubes on a large, rimmed baking sheet in an even layer. "You're gonna bake it until it's crispy, stir every thirty minutes, and when you take it out, turn the heat on the stove just a little bit more." I listened to her intensively, beads of sweat forming on my temple.

She was making me nervous, so nervous that if I were to mess up, I'd literally hate myself for it. "Okay, Robin, melt 4 tablespoons of butter in that large skillet over there. Oh, and make sure it's medium-high heat too. Then you're gonna add those chopped up vegetables in there." Afeni ordered Rage, who her and my mother called by her government name.

Amara's wailing could be heard on the baby monitor which interrupted my focus but she needed my attention. "You stay here, I'll go check on my grand baby." Afeni reassured me as she disappeared down the lengthy hallway.

"You should stop acting all nervous. Even though I had no intentions on participating in cooking the meal, I know we're gonna throw down regardless. You're doing a great job." Jewell squeezed the side of my face playfully, giving me a much needed compliment to strengthen my weakened confidence.

I watched as Rage pull out the toasted cubes with her oven mitt, setting it on the table. "Turn that radio on now, she's awake." Afeni announced, holding onto Amara on her hip who was too busy rubbing her eyes, trying to wake herself up fully.

I wasted no time reaching over for the remote to turn on the radio, Evelyn 'Champagne' King's Love Come Down began to play, getting my mother fully energetic as she made her way into the middle of the kitchen, moving her hips before dropping down to the floor with ease. My mother was forty years old so she could get around just fine, her black didn't crack at all.

"Go, Mama!" I smiled, watching her get her groove on. Once the song came to a conclusion, Maze and Frankie Beverly's Before I Let Go caught the attention of Afeni, causing her to hand Amara over to my mother before clapping her hands to the melody. "Now, this is my song right here!" Pac's sister, Set made her way into the house with her two children Nzingha and Malik.

"What did we just walk in on?" Set smiled as she watched her mother show off her rhythm. "Hey, Set, would you like to help us in the kitchen?" I questioned, offering her an apron. She nodded her head and grabbed a hold of it before looking down at her son. "Malik, you go take your sister over there so you two can spend some time with your baby cousin." Malik held onto his little sister's hand and went over to Amara who was now in her walker.