Thanksgiving

To: Starchilde

PurplePuma

From: Starchildejunoir

Subject: Thanksgiving

Hi There:

I've been talking things over with Peridot and now that things have settled down I am formally inviting you over for Thanksgiving dinner. Amethyst it is time to let bygones be bygones. Peridot is still shaken up after her treatment at the Crystal Gems hands but a show in civility would go a long way. By the way Bismuth is invited as well.

Peridot and I have been saving up our money for a simple Thanksgiving dinner. Since Peridot is working full time, I myself, will be preparing Thanksgiving dinner.

Dad, you don't have to worry about driving all the way to Rossmore. Just go to the Beach house and use the warp pad when the day comes.

Love Steven

Steven finished the email looking very satisfied. While he hadn't discussed who they'd invite to their first Thanksgiving dinner, Peridot entrusted him with the preparations. Smiling to himself Steven wrote out a shopping list of all the things he needed. This was going to be so great.

"Hey Steven, I'm back," called out Peridot. "Man work was hard today."

Steven couldn't help smiling, "Hey Peridot, you know how you said I could arrange Thanksgiving Dinner for us?"

"Yes?"

"Well I invited Dad, Bismuth and Amethyst over for Thanksgiving."

"Steven, I was thinking of a small dinner. Maybe one or two guests and you invited Amethyst."

"I thought that you and Amethyst could be friends again."

"That's not the point, Amethyst is a bottomless pit. We're going to have to prepare a lot of food and we haven't even installed a stove."

"No problem. I've got it all figured out."

"Steven I love you but I can't help feeling I'm going to regret this."

To: Starchildejunior

From: PurplePuma

Subject: The banquet

Hey there Little Man:

I got your message and Pearl was ecstatic. She is bringing Sheena with her to your Thanksgiving. After the coup Pearl decided to patch things up. It is going so well here at the Beach house. Pearl was having trouble with our young guest but once she got Peridot 2 or Spunky to wear clothes the young gem was no trouble at all.

The farm is doing well. Bismuth and Pearl have got it in hand. Several of Peridot's patients have fully recovered and Pearl has released a few more of the bubbles. But let me tell you we could sure use your healing spit and the advice of a more mature Peridot on how to control robinoids.

Jasper has still not left the Beach house. She and Spunky have become great friends. When she isn't playing with the little gremlin, Jasper is guarding one of the temple's fallen hands. The townsfolk are okay with Jasper. They think she is some sort of gem dog.

Catch your later

Amethyst.

To: Starchildejunior

From: Starchilde

Subject: Bringing a date

Hey Stu ball:

It is great to hear from you. I am so glad that you and Peridot have settled down in your new home. I'd love to have Thanksgiving dinner with you guys, only there's a little snag. Barb's been feeling down with her daughter in jail so it would really be great if she could come to. The change of scenery would really be great and she was asking for you.

Love

Dad

Steven blinked as he looked at his emails. Now he had at least 5 people coming over for Thanksgiving. Peridot was going to love this. Now he had to make some adjustments to his menu. He wondered how he was going to fit 7 people around the table let alone feed them all.

Steven sighed he was going to need one large turkey and yams lots of yams.

To: Starchildejunior

From: PurplePuma

Subject: Thanksgiving Dinner

Hello Peridot and Steven:

I am using Amethyst as a scribe for this email. Amethyst told me about your plans for Thanksgiving and I would be glad to come. Steven Centipeedle or the Nephrite captain of the saucer 13m1970 wants to come as well. Peridot, Snowflake misses you and wants to come as well. I said yes because Gems don't really need to eat and it will only be for a day.

It's a pleasure doing Bismuth with you

Peridot's eyes widened when Steven told her the guest list. She was silent for a little while then she spoke.

"Steven you don't do things halfway do you?"

"It isn't that bad. Gems don't need to eat."

"But they will. Look would you feel if you were left out on a banquet? Let's look at your menu."

Steven handed her his menu and the shopping list. His lover hmmed for a moment and then handed it back.

"Steven what you've planned here will set us back $500. That's not taking into consideration of how we're going to find a table big enough for them."

"What about the picnic tables at the trailer park? Maybe I can go to Farmer Dan and barter for some stuff."

"Actually I have an idea and it will work out with the gems."

To: Starchilde

PurplePuma

From: GreatGreenRepairGoddess

Subject: Thanksgiving Dinner

Greeting Everyone:

I have been discussing our Thanksgiving plans with Steven. A party of 3 human guests and at least 7 gems is going to be a lot of work. It would help us out immensely if each guest could bring a little something to the table. So I am proposing a potluck supper. Steven and I will provide the turkey and stuffing everyone else can provide the pie and other dishes.

With luck and teamwork this will be a memorable Thanksgiving.

Peridot out

Once Peridot sent the email out she congratulated herself on a job well done. It was a pity that she and Steven couldn't serve gem delicacies then a brilliant idea popped into her head. She pulled out her cellphone.

"Hello Bismuth are you still receiving those robinoids? Good well I have a brilliant idea. Look I get a break in a couple of days. I was thinking of returning to the farm and making some adjustments to a robiniod or two. Great see you there, bye."

The next morning after Peridot left for work, Steven decided to go to the grocery store. While Thanksgiving was a still a week away at the very least he could buy a Turkey and get some supplies. Once he got there he was in for an unpleasant surprise. The turkeys were gone and most of the vegetables too. What was left was scraggly and did not look good to eat.

In desperation he stopped a grocery store attendant.

"Excuse me, can you tell me when your next batch of groceries is coming in?" asked Steven.

The pimply faced young man thought for a moment, "We'll be getting our next batch in 3 days. You'll be able to get some groceries then but the turkeys, man, a small one can go for a hundred easy. You live at the trailer park don't you? Well my advice is to take your girlfriend out and buy a turkey dinner in a restaurant."

"I can't I'm having over at least 8 people," said Steven.

"And you live in that van? You do realize that you have to reserve the picnic tables?"

"I'll figure something out, I was thinking of setting up some tables and chairs in the desert but that still leaves the turkey."

"How about you try the farmer's market?"

Steven sighed. He stayed for a little while buying the spices and some paper plates. Then he drove down the highway to farmer Dan's vegetable stand. When Steven went in farmer Dan couldn't help but notice the look on Steven's face.

"Steven what's the matter? You look down," asked the older man.

"It's just that I invited a few friends over for Thanksgiving and now I'm hosting a dinner for over 10 people. I can't even find a decent turkey."

Farmer Dan smiled, "I think I have an idea. You're a strapping young man aren't you?"

Steven didn't like the sound that conversation was going, "Yes?"

"Well if you help me around the farm for the next 3 days, I will give you a free turkey plus all the veggies you need. Deal?"

"Deal, when do I start?"

"Tomorrow at 6 am and bring the van."

The next morning Steven woke up at about 5 am. He gently shook Peridot awake. The green gem gave him a dirty look as she headed for the shower. After sending Peridot off on the motorcycle Steven drove the van to Farmer Dan's. He was still bleary as he drove his van into the farmer's driveway.

Farmer Dan was annoyingly perky. "Okay Steven, first off I would like you to repair the generator and the windmill, then I would like you to help me carry my prize vegetables to the State Fair."

"Mr. Dan," Steven said hesitantly. "Peridot is the repairman in our business. I'm just the front man."

"Oh, ok I did not know that. Okay how about we carry over the giant veggies one at a time to in your van?"

Steven laughed, "Farmer Dan I think I can do better than that."

With a proud flourish Steven opened the back doors to the van. The old farmer's jaw dropped as he looked inside.

"Well I'll be. Are you some sort of space alien or something?" gasped Farmer Dan.

"Just on my mother's side. No Peridot is the true alien. That costume she wears on the Frying Saucer well it's not a costume."

"Whoa does this mean you can fly your van over to the fair then?"

Steven merely shook his head. Then the farmer was in for an even bigger surprise as Steven easily carried the large pumpkin and the giant vegetables by hand into his van. Still the man was happy as the ride was smooth with none of the vegetables getting bruised. He got quite a few stares once he entered his produce into State Fair contest, not for the size of his vegetables but rather for the strength of his new farmhand.

Once his vegetables were in place Farmer Dan signaled for Steven to leave.

"I don't like standing around while the judges make their decision, plus I have to harvest my real crops," announced Dan.

And so Steven spent the entire day, plucking, pulling out the vegetables while Dan used the tractor to harvest the corn. By the time the sun set Steven ached all over. Farmer Dan looked out in satisfaction at the work Steven had done.

"Well it is safe to say you did far more than a mere mortal could do today. I was hoping that I could use your help repairing the equipment today but tomorrow you can help me get the turkeys into the truck on their trip to the slaughterhouse. Say would your girlfriend have some time to repair the generator tomorrow?"

"I don't know. I'll go see," confessed Steven.

He found Peridot rubbing her feet at a picnic table after he drove back home. When he asked how her day was Peridot glared at him.

"It was awful first the patrons were poking and prodding all day. They wanted to see how I put on my costume," complained Peridot.

"Yeah well, kids will do that. You need to develop a thicker skin," laughed Steven.

"It wasn't the kids. Steven, when you're manhandled by conspiracy theorists all day, then you can talk about developing a thicker skin. Then I was vomited on, this time by a kid. It was just as my shift was ending so I rode back to the trailer park. Only to find that you haven't returned yet. So here I am smelling of vomit at a picnic table with our neighbor Mr. Kruger yelling at me that I needed to reserve a table before I sat down. The one good thing that came out of this was that I was able to get all day off for Thanksgiving."

"Oh that's too bad. Speaking of which I gotta talk to our super," with that Steven marched straight towards the Park Manager's office.

Their neighbor a bad tempered man seeing this, ran straight after Steven. As the young man was about to open the screen door. Mr. Kruger in his dirty undershirt shoved his way into the office first. The manager a young man with lank hair looked with disinterest at the pair.

"So what do you guys want?" the landlord asked as he leaned back on his chair.

"Yeah I would like to book a couple of picnic tables side by side for Thanksgiving," said Steven.

"No I was here first. I want the last two tables," butted in Kruger the man smelt like a still.

"Mr. Kruger you don't want those tables you just don't want me to get them," said Steven.

"You can't prove that. I'm having guests," lied Kruger.

"No you're not," piped in the manager. "In the 15 years you've been here you have had no guests ever."

"Well I want it now and unless Steven and his weird girlfriend pay for my broken garden gnomes that isn't going to change."

"We had nothing to do with that. Peridot and I were asleep at the time. Besides everybody was creeped out by your gnomes."

"Well somebody smashed my gnomes in the middle of the night and with all that rocking of your van I know you two weren't sleeping that night."

"Enough dude, everybody hated those gnomes. Don't blame the new guy. Steven you're very lucky I do have two picnic tables left only they aren't covered by a roof."

"This is a desert what do I have to worry about rain?"

When Steven returned to the van he found Peridot in the shower washing her hair. Steven slipped out of his clothes.

"Mind if I join you?" he asked as he slipped into the shower.

"Steven, what do you want?" asked Peridot.

"Can't a boyfriend give his girlfriend a good scrubbing?" he rubbed the liquid soap onto her belly.

"Steven this shower is a little cramped -oh that feels nice," Steven soaped up her breasts. "As much I like this when you do this sort of thing. This only happens when you want something."

"Maybe what I want is this," he sniffed her hair. "Oh that's awful. I'm getting more shampoo."

Then Steven started to seriously wash his lover's hair. He used his sandalwood shampoo hoping the strong scent would get rid of the smell.

"Steven I'm going to smell like you," giggled Peridot.

"When I'm done with you, you'll smell a lot like me," he said.

Once he was satisfied that the smell had gone from Peridot's hair, he hoisted her up. Still dripping he carried them both out of the shower and started drying Peridot with one of their towels. Once he was done he carried her to the bed.

"You're all dry now," he said as he joined her on the bed.

"Oh no I'm not," she said in a husky voice. Encouraged Steven kissed Peridot as he climbed on top of her.

That night the van stared rocking again.

When they were done Steven held Peridot in an embrace as she stroked his hair.

"Okay, now that you softened me up. What is it you want done?"

"It's just that Farmer Dan wants some help repairing his generator and windmill. So could you help us out tomorrow?"

"Steven you know that isn't a problem I just have to visit Bismuth's farm for a little while tomorrow."

"I know but it is so much fun convincing you."

"That it is," giggled Peridot as she cuddled him.

The next morning Steven drove the van bright and early to Farmer Dan's. The old farmer stood with a younger man. He waved at Steven and Peridot as they left the van.

"Steven, Peridot I'd like you to meet my son Roy, he's going to help us out. Steven you're just in time help me load these turkeys into their crates and then set them into the tractor trailer for delivery to the slaughterhouse. Peridot I need your help in fixing the generator and the windmill."

"Does the windmill generate electricity?" asked Peridot.

"No, I use it pump water up from the well. It started to break down a couple of days ago. Fortunately, my crops were ready for harvest," replied Dan.

And so the group set to work. Peridot grabbed her tool belt and shimmied up the windmills while Steven, Farmer Dan and his son rounded up the turkeys.

"Remember 1 turkey, 1 crate," ordered Farmer Dan.

"These crates are rather small," observed Steven as he shoved a turkey into a crate.

"That is so the turkeys don't hurt themselves," said Roy. "The meat would lose value if it got damaged on the way to the abattoir."

Over the morning the men shoved about 1000 turkeys into the crates and onto the tractor trailer. By the time they were done Peridot had finished working on the windmill and was fixing the generator.

"Mr. Dan the windmill's components are rusted. I have cleaned the parts and put on a fresh layer of oil but what you really need to do I replace these components," the green technician as wiped her hands with a rag. She then handed a list to Farmer Dan.

Roy just stared at her. "So that isn't makeup you're wearing?"

"No I am an actual alien."

"So can you repair anything? It's just that my computer has a virus."

"Look you can take your computer to my business in the trailer park. I would gladly fix it for you," said Peridot getting a little impatient.

"No offense but you guys live at the trailer park. I wouldn't be caught dead in that part of town," said Roy.

"Oh great! Yet another reason to leave the trailer park," said Peridot.

"Well never mind that," said Dan cheerfully. "The wife has made a genuine farmer's lunch. So sit down and tuck in. Both of you guys have earned it.

The lunch proved to be filling. Farmer Dan's wife had put out all the stops with turnip greens, pork chops and an apple pie. Roy's mother tried to be polite but she couldn't help glancing at Peridot every once in a while. When lunch was done Peridot thanked Farmer Dan and his wife and drove off in her motorbike to the warp pad at the Beta Kindergarten.

When Peridot warped back to Bismuth's farm she found the large rainbow haired gem peering over a strange contraption. As Peridot greeted Bismuth she couldn't help but ask what the device was.

"Oh this is my energy still," laughed Bismuth. "I'm making a little something-something for the Thanksgiving feast. You and Steven will really get a kick out of this."

"Oh really what does it make?" asked Peridot intrigued.

"It makes, you know, gem booze. No wait, you were just a trainee on Home world and Pearl would never expose Steven to that sort of thing." Bismuth sighed. "It's making an intoxicant Peridot sorta the way humans make beer or wine at parties. You wanted to program some robiniods for something?"

"Yes I was thinking about programming a couple of robinoids to procure some delicacies from Homeworld."

"As much as I like stealing from right under the noses of the upper crust that's a little dangerous. How about we salvage some stuff from the old gem sites?"

"Bismuth it's just that there are so many sites and not all of them would have luxury rations."

Suddenly a small green form raced out of the Quonset hut and collided with Peridot's legs. The technician looked down and saw a very young peridot. Like the elder Peridot the little gem had a green gem on her forehead. Unlike Peridot she had green hair cropped close to her scalp. The youngster's ears stuck out comically from the sides of her head and she was short even shorter than Peridot was. The gem wearing only a pair of underpants looked to be about 6 years old.

Bismuth laugher "Forgive me Peridot, I'd like to introduce you to Spunky. She rode in on one of the robinoids through the warp gate."

"They were going to chop off my limbs and give me yucky robot parts," said Spunky.

"Er, hello," said Peridot.

Spunky looked up at Peridot, "Amethyst says you have sex with Steven every night."

Bismuth gently pushed the young gem away, "Okay it is time you put your clothes back on. Pearl's expecting you back home for dinner."

"But I want to look for candy," protested Spunky.

"Maybe you can help Pearl look for it tomorrow." Called out Peridot. Once the youngster was gone Peridot turned to Bismuth. "Actually Pearl is the best one to look for these goodies. Let's see if I can't help you with the robiniods and your patients."

As Peridot turned around she saw several modified robiniods staring up at her. They had been modified into mobile healing chambers and had a gem in each one. Peridot picked one up to take a closer look. The gem inside was new, a ruby, released after Peridot had left Beach City.

"Hmm I was thinking a new line of treatment. What if we were to graft a healthy gemetic code to the corrupted gem?" asked Peridot.

"I don't know half of the words you're saying girl. That would be Pearl's department," said Bismuth.

"So how is everything going with Pearl in charge?"

"Better, I mean she's a little overwhelmed with the robiniods but Spunky's helping. Well as much as a newborn can. Actually I think Spunky for all her quirks has been good for Pearl and Amethyst."

"Really in what way? I would think my little successor would have driven Pearl crazy."

"Oh she does but the Beach house was empty without Steven. Pearl especially missed taking care of somebody so when Spunky rode in on her giant robiniod it was just what the doctor ordered."

"Have been having any troubles now that I'm gone?"

"Well mainly it's boredom. The gems that are lucid but still not in humanoid shape are getting stir crazy. They have nothing to do here and they can't go into Beach City."

"What if we got some of the more lucid gems to monitor the transmissions from Homeworld?"

"A lot of them are doing that since you set up the TV here."

"No I mean seriously like at the moonbase. You could get the technical castes to help you. It's already set up for habitation. Steven and I lived there for a couple of months. We could turn it into a proper military base."

"That's a good idea in theory but we have Spunky in charge of the robinoids," laughed Bismuth.

"Well, I have made my drones idiot proof. Pearl used them."

The two spent the rest of the day talking over plans to refurbish the moonbase. When Peridot finally rode back to the trailer park she found Steven exhausted. The Thanksgiving meal may be free but Steven certainly was paying for it. At least Steven didn't have get up early tomorrow.

The next day Steven drove his van to Farmer Dan's place in the late afternoon. As he stepped out of the van the old farmer walked up to him.

"We're just going to pick up my vegetables at the state fair and then I'll hand you your turkey and vegetables. Deal?" said Farmer Dan.

It was three hours later when they returned back to the farm. Farmer Dan was disappointed that none of his vegetables had won anything. The size of the winning pumpkin made Steven doubt that even with his van that he could have carried it. As Steven rolled the vegetables off the van he asked the old farmer where to put them. The farmer mentioned something about a compost pile and waved Steven away. When Steven found the compost pile he piled the vegetables on there then to be safe he chopped them up with a nearby axe. Satisfied he returned to Farmer Dan.

"Steven, you and your girlfriend have been an enormous help to me and as promised I will give your veggies and turkey," said Dan.

The old man guided Steven to a large pile of vegetables. Steven eyes sparkled as he saw the perfect squash, onions carrots and other vegetables. Dan had even placed a cookbook titled 'A Country Thanksgiving.'

"But wait there's more. Come with me to the back and I'll give you your turkey," said Dan.

Steven heart sank as he turned around the corner. The Dan had given him was one of the largest turkeys Steven had ever seen. It was also very much alive. Small avian eyes glared at him with malice.

"er sir I was hoping the turkey would have already been dead," said Steven.

"That job is done at the abattoir," said Dan. "Here's the carrier. Just shove that boy in there and you can slaughter and dress him yourself when you get home."

Steven walked up slowly. The turkey gobbled menacingly. Once Steven was within range he knelt down with the carrier.

"Okay Mr. Turkey, I'm not going to hurt you. We're just going to take a little trip," crooned Steven.

The feathered monster launched himself at Steven. It pecked and slashed at Steven's face and chest over and over. Steven tried to bat it away. With any other mortal, the turkey would have stood triumphant but Steven was a gem and a seasoned warrior. With a mighty roar he shoved his tasty nemesis into the carrier.

Full of pride he loaded the shaking carrier into the back of the van. Steven drove his van back into the trailer park where Peridot was massaging her feet. He stepped proudly out of the van.

"Woman, make me a fenced in pen I have brought food for the feast," he boasted.

"Steven what happened to you?" gasped Peridot.

"Nothing, I just retrieving our turkey," said Steven.

"Oh it is not nothing. Have you taken a look at yourself?" Peridot flipped open her makeup compact.

There in the mirror Steven saw his badly scratched face. His shirt was torn and feathers stuck to him everywhere. He squawked at the sight.

"Now let's take you inside and I can clean your wounds," soothed Peridot. "We can deal with your turkey after your patched up."

Later after Steven had literally licked his wounds and changed his shirt, he and Peridot looked down at the turkey as it sat down in its pen. As the turkey surveyed its new domain Steven turned to Peridot.

"I think we should have a vegetarian Thanksgiving. I'll go get some birdseed in town," said the young man.

To: Starchilde

From: Starchildejunior

Subject: A slight setback

Hi Dad:

Turkeys are expensive here and the supermarket was pretty well cleaned out. So in exchange for three days' work at a farm I was able to get a turkey with all the fixings for a Thanksgiving dinner. There was one small problem the turkey was very much alive. Honestly I believe Farmer Dan was afraid of the thing since it was so vicious. So I got it feathers and all. I tell you it was hard work shoving that thing in a carrier but now it is sitting in our lot, fenced in. The lord of all it surveys.

Peridot is giving it some water right now. It looks like we got a pet instead of a meal.

Love your Stu ball