Thanksgiving
I grunted as someone shook my shoulder.
“Wake up. It’s already eight,” Ari said.
My eyes shot open and I sat up, narrowly missing her head. “It’s eight?” I threw the covers back and hopped out of bed. “Dennis is gonna be here in an hour. I have to get cute. I’ll be back.” I gathered an outfit and headed for the bathroom.
“Hi, guys.”
“Hey Ari,” Sean’s voice came next, followed by a ‘hi’ from Dennis.
I glanced at my phone to see we only had five minutes until the parade. I ran downstairs, holding my chest on the way so my boobs wouldn’t run amok. Sean and Dennis both looked up at the loud ruckus.
“I’m Christmas!” I reached the bottom and struck a pose. “Lookie, I have Christmas socks,” I held a foot out, “boxers,” I pointed to my boxers, “and snowflake panties!” I pulled down my boxers to show them.
“Oh my god, Emy.” Ari yanked them up. “Why don’t you show them the matching bra, too?”
“I don’t have one. It’s my only Christmas outfit downfall.”
Sean laughed while Dennis smiled.
“I brought us blood.” Dennis held up three glass bottles of red liquid. “Your hair looks nice. I like the curls.”
I thanked him and took the bottles to the kitchen, which was filled with food for later.
Uncle Tom, Aunt Helen, Ari, and I had spent the entirety of last night cooking so that all we had to do today was roast the turkey and warm up the rest of our feast. Or more accurately, the three of them had cooked all night while I sang Christmas songs and cheered them on.
The parade was just starting when I returned to the living room. I went back and forth a couple times, bringing complimentary hot chocolates to my favorite cousin and our guests, before I pounced on the couch beside Dennis.
“You seem happy.”
“Because it’s Christmas.” I grabbed his arm and started singing the first Christmas carol that came to mind, then switched songs when I ran out of lyrics I knew. I rocked back and forth, pulling him along with the performance.
“You’re so tone deaf. Please stop singing.” Ari clamped both hands over her ears. “You’re seriously hurting my ears. Also, stop being so ahead. At least wait until tomorrow for Christmas songs. It’s still Thanksgiving.”
“No. It’s Christmas. What?” I turned to Dennis, who’d just said something.
“Me?” he asked. I nodded. “I didn’t say anything.”
“Huh.” I decided it didn’t matter and turned back to the parade.
We watched for the next hour, me taking each commercial break to sing while Ari told me not to.
Eventually Santa and Mrs. Claus came out.
Ari and I both sat up straight, cheering while we watched them be jolly and wave at the kids and camera.
“Santa’s here! Now can I say it’s Christmas? ”
“Santa’s here, so it is officially Christmas time,” she said. “I guess you can start today.”
“And now it’s game time.” I set my empty mug down and stood.
“Yes!” She hopped up excitedly. “Stay here,” she told the guys.
We went upstairs to her large bookshelf. The bottom row was entirely board games. We chose three of our favorites and headed back downstairs, placing them on the table right as Uncle Tom emerged from his room.
“Morning, girls.” He yawned as he joined us. “Morning.” He nodded at Dennis and Sean.
“We’re about to start games,” I said, retaking my seat beside Dennis.
“Wait a minute, let me get Helen.” He did an about-face and went upstairs to the guest room.
“We’re playing games?” Dennis took the first box from the table.
“It’s our other tradition,” Ari said. “We play games every year while the turkey roasts. Speaking of, I forgot to put the turkey in. I’ll be right back.” She hurried off to the kitchen.
“You guys,” I motioned for Dennis and Sean to come closer because I was whispering, “when we play games, do not get scared.”
“Why would we get scared?” Sean asked.
“Ari. She has a problem.”
“What kind of—”
“Kay, the turkey is in.” Ari’s voice preceded her as she came around the corner. “Is my dad back yet?”
“Right here.” Uncle Tom was descending the stairs, followed by a cheerful Aunt Helen.
“Good morning everyone.” She smiled around the room. “Did Emy warn you yet?”
“Warn us about what?” Sean asked.
“Ari.” Uncle Tom laughed as Ari gave him a confused look. “She gets pretty competitive.”
“Pretty?” Aunt Helen raised her eyebrows as she sat in an armchair. “She gets completely out of control. It’s terrifying. Just wait. You don’t know what you’ve gotten yourself into, binding her.”
“I’m not that bad.” Ari scoffed and crossed her arms.
Aunt Helen, Uncle Tom, and I all shot her the same droll look.
“This should be interesting.” Dennis smiled as we started setting up the first game.
“I’m really not that bad,” Ari lied, pushing her glasses up. “I’m just a little—”
“Evil?”
“Mean?”
“A bully?”
“No.” She glared at me, Aunt Helen, and her dad. “Whatever. Let’s just play so I can beat you all.”
“And so it begins.” I took a minute to set everything up, then passed out game pieces according to everyone’s favorite color.
“Black for me, ‘cause I love purple and black but purple is closer to magenta, which they don’t have, so here Ari, purple for you.” I gave her the purple one and kept the black one.
“Red like blood for you, Dennis.” I gave him the red one.
“Blue for Aunt Helen.” I tossed it to her. “Sean, what’s your favorite color?”
“Green.”
“Perfect! Here’s the green one.” I gave it to him. “Uncle Tom, you don’t have a favorite color.” I frowned as I flipped the yellow piece over in my hand. It was the only one left.
“Yellow is fine.” He held out a hand and I tossed it over.
“Here are the dices—”
“They’re called die,” Ari interrupted.
“We roll to see who goes first,” I said, ignoring her correction. “Does everyone know how to play?” I waited while everyone nodded or said some form of yes. “Good, ‘cause I suck at explaining things. Who wants to roll first?”
Ari snatched the die from my hand before anyone could answer. Just like that, the game began. It went for a while until I was the first one out. Followed by Aunt Helen, then Uncle Tom, and eventually Sean went bankrupt as well. Ari got consistently meaner as the game progressed.
About an hour in, she and Dennis were the only players left.
Sean seemed honestly shocked by her behavior, while Dennis seemed to enjoy it more than her usual personality.
After a good back and forth between the two, Dennis finally landed on her most expensive property and ran out of money to pay the fee.
“I’m out.” He gave Ari his very last bill.
“Yes! In your face, bitch!” She slammed the money down and hopped up to dance. “I kicked all your asses.” She sat back down as Sean started laughing. “What’re you laughing at, loser?”
“You’re such an obnoxious winner,” I said on Sean’s behalf. “Be nice. They’ve never played with us before. You’re gonna scare them away.”
“You’re gonna scare me away!” Uncle Tom shouted before bursting into laughter.
I brought out the next game as Ari mumbled a bashful apology. Not that it would change anything—she’d be back to her usual antics the moment the next game started.
We played games for the next couple of hours, with Ari getting more cutthroat with each game or round she won. By the time we finished the final game, Sean was downright disturbed.
“I had no idea you could be so…” he was searching for a word.
“Rude?” I finished for him. “Cruel? Aggressive? A terror? This has been three hours of absolute madness. You’re out of control.” I directed the last part at Ari, who was smiling smugly while she cleared the board.
“I thought it was fun,” Dennis said.
A loud beeping came from the kitchen.
“The turkey’s ready.” Ari stood. “Emy, come help me set everything up.”
“Roger that.” I saluted and skipped after her.
It only took a few minutes to get everything ready in the dining room. I set the very last dish on the long table while Ari went to collect everyone.
“This looks delicious.” Sean was the first to walk in.
He sat across from me and Ari promptly sat beside him. Dennis came to sit beside me next, while Aunt Helen and Uncle Tom took either end.
“Here you go.” I gave Dennis a serving of blood. I had put them in fancy wine glasses so we could be classy. “And one for you.” I placed another glass in front of Sean.
“Nice glass choice,” Dennis remarked, setting it beside his empty plate.
“Is that wine? I want some.” Aunt Helen was eyeing our glasses.
I shook my head. And then it dawned on her.
“Is that blood?” Her face twisted in disgust when I nodded.
Dennis chuckled and she quickly fixed her expression.
“Sorry. I’m really not used to this. I guess it’s better than you leaving to suck a person’s neck, right?
” She laughed. “It’s interesting, either way.
Where’d you get it from? Is there a blood bank or something nearby for you to place a to-go order?
” She laughed while I glanced at Dennis, who had an unsettling smile.
“We probably shouldn’t ask,” I said before he could answer. So far, Aunt Helen seemed to think he was normal. I wanted to keep it that way.
“Everyone get some food!” Uncle Tom exclaimed.
None of us needed to be told twice. We started piling things onto our plates, including macaroni and cheese, mashed potatoes, greens, biscuits, turkey, and like a million other things. Once we were all finished getting food, it quieted down.
“Should we pray?” Uncle Tom asked.
“No,” I blurted. Everyone looked at me and I started laughing. “Sorry, it was a reflex. We can if you want to?”
“How about we each say something we’re thankful for instead? I know we’re not much of a praying family. I’ll go first.” He paused to think, then smiled at me. “I’m thankful that my niece came to live with us, and that you’re doing so much better.”
“Aw, thanks Uncle Tom.” I smiled brightly. That was super sweet.