Disclaimer: I do not own Back to the Future.
November 29, 1997
3:00 PM PST
Rose Unger, who was seventeen years old, felt very nervous. This was the one time of year she dreaded, for this was actually the one time of year that the entire Unger family would all gather by Grandma Lillian's house for Thanksgiving dinner.
Granted, she was quite fond of her Grandma Lillian - and she always loved spending time at Grandma's house. However, it was her aunts and uncles - and cousins - that she sure dreaded spending any time with. Her mother, Regina, was the black sheep out of her family - for bullying was pretty much a legacy the rest of the family.
Her father, Daniel, also really wasn't fond of the idea. He did agree to come along, though - after he realized how much Lillian may have to suffer. She was not one to exclude any of her children, so Thanksgivings were always a huge nightmare.
"You sure seem tense, Rose," observed her identical twin sister, Rita. "It's not going to be too bad. Uncle Ivan and Aunt Roll will be there, as well as Ian and..." Her face became ashen, as she added, "Oh, my gosh! Just what will Uncle Ivan and Aunt Roll say about me dating Bobby? It's perfectly legal by California laws, but what will..."
"Just play it quite naturally," suggested Ron, and he and Rex were sitting behind the girls. The boys were also identical twins, and they were two years older. "It's not like they're stodgy old codgers. I mean, they were always such liberal-minded folks."
"Ron is absolutely right," added Rex. "I mean, it's not like you're actually related to him through blood. It was just after Betty married Ian, that it made the two of you become step-cousins. I'm sure everything will really be fine. I'm sure worried about facing our cousins, though - especially Rajan. He never did like us, all that much."
"Rachel and Ronny are holy terrors, too," commented Rose, nervously, "and they're only ten. They're friends of Kimberly O'Malley, and they just pick on Verne's younger sister. Speaking of which, I really feel bad that things didn't work out with Verne."
"You've actually been fretting about that, for months," Rita chided, gently. "I'm sure you'll meet your man, someday. Besides, I'm sure that Verne had some rather similar insecurities - with regards to Jules. When he met Linda O'Shea, though - I think..."
"All right, kids," called out Regina, as turned into the driveway. "I know you children really didn't want to come along, but we are family - and it is just our duty to attend these events. Anyway, Mom always cooks a very fine meal - and Roll and Ivan sure would be happy to see us. The two of them are doing rather great, at their age."
"Yeah, even at 85 years old," commented Ron, "they are healthy as a horse. It's so amazing how well Grandma Lillian has turned out, as well. It's sure a shame that she was so sick some time back, and Uncle Ralph actually took care of raising Aunt Rissy and Uncle Ray. Otherwise, the latter two might have become behaved people."
"I wonder what young Rafe is like," Rose said, as she stepped out of the car. "I quite do remember Bobby telling me about how Uncle Ray had terrorized his older brother - as well as Marty McFly. It's sure strange to think how Marty once wasn't so famous."
"It's so hard to believe his wife is pregnant again," Rita added. "Patti is pregnant, as well. I do wonder what the young kiddies will be like. I wonder if they'll grow up, and become good friend. For all we know, the two of them may even marry each other!"
"Do you remember Fox J Michael?" Rex asked. "It was strange how he actually bore a very striking resemblance to Marty McFly and Michael J Fox. I guess it quite does help that he was related to the latter. I also thought Emily Green really was nice. I wonder if the two of them managed to marry by now. I loved spending time with them."
"Well, it's about time you guys showed up," called out Roll, as she ran up to Rose and the others. "Everyone else has been driving me batty. Rafe rather has a tendency to bite everyone, and Ronny and Rachel are sure creating a huge ruckus. Even many of the grown men here actually seem to have reverted into grade-school children."
"I can't say I'm surprised about that," replied Regina, as she hugged Rose. "The kids rather dreaded having to come along - but they agreed it'd be very nice to, at least, be able to see some of you again. Maybe the party won't be all too bad, after all."
"Bobby's here!" called out Rita, excitedly, as a car was pulling up. "I do have to admit that he and I really are going out. I sure figured it'd be okay, as we aren't biologically related. It will certainly make Thanksgiving a little bit more bearable, at least."
Rose watched, as Bobby stepped out of the car with Ian and Betty. There were also Betty's twin daughters, Clara and Carla - who were fourteen. Finally, there was Tina Marie - who was the three-year-old daughter that Ian and Betty had together. They made one happy blended family. Billy and Beth Winterson probably won't show up.
"It's so good that you could make it!" gushed Roll, as the Wintersons walked up. She then scooped up Tina Marie, as she added, "How's my little Tina Marie doing? Do you have any new pictures you'd like to show me? We can make some cookies tonight."
"I really didn't want to come," Ian admitted, quietly. "Betty managed to convince us, though. I know Lillian isn't the kind of person to wish to exclude anyone, and we just couldn't leave her to the clutches of the bullies. We really need some sanity here!"
"You and me both," added Daniel. "Regina managed to rope me into it, though. I sure do agree with you about needing to balance out the bad side of the family. I'm rather concerned about Rafe. I simply reckon that Ray is doing the best he can... to corrupt that little tyke. Having your family here will just make the experience more bearable."
"Well, let's head inside," suggested Ivan, as he put his arm around Roll. "The turkey should be done very soon. I sure have to admit I'm concerned that the others could be rough on poor Tina Marie. You know how ruthless these people could really be."
Rose took in a deep breath, as the crowd began to step into the house. She glanced over at Rita and Bobby, and saw how happy they were. The house quite smelled like cinnamon and spice, so it sure had a nice homey feel to it. It was too bad that not all the guests were the most pleasant of people. At least the food would be very good.
Rose noticed Tina Marie looking up at her, and smiling. "Hi, darling," Rose greeted, as she picked up the little girl. She really had lovely blond curls and blue eyes. "We could play a game together. We could maybe play Sorry. I know you really like that game."
"Well! Well! Well! Look who's finally showed up!" smirked Rachel, as she reached over to pull on one of Tina Marie's curls - which made the little girl cry. "It's quite the freaks of nature." To Rita and Bobby, she added, "What have we here? Inbreeding freaks?"
"It's really none of your goddamn business!" snarled Rose. "You know, I'm ashamed to have inbred assholes like you in our family! You both should feel ashamed... picking on a sweet little girl like Tina Marie! Seriously, you'd really better learn some manners!"
"Now, kids!" Grandma Lillian said, as she stepped into the room. "Let's not be fighting like this. The turkey should be ready in ten minutes. It's Thanksgiving! It's sure a day of family togetherness - of peace, harmony, and tranquility. It'll be great if we would all just put aside our differences for one day. It's sure a day for us all to be festive!"
"Right, of course, Grandma!" Ronny gushed, just as she and Rachel ran to hug their grandmother. "We meant no such harm. We were just having a little fun and playing around." Turning around, with a smirk, she added, "Isn't that about right, Rita?"
"Uh, yeah, right," Rita replied, nervously. Turning to Rose and Bobby, she added, "I think we should head outside for a few minutes." Lowering her voice, she added, "I'll just be so glad, after the day is over. Esther and Pauline were wrong. Family or not, we really shouldn't have to placate the family clod just for the sake of family peace."
"It really does disgust me," Rose agreed, "how Rachel and Ronny can just turn on the charm like that, when Grandma is in the room. Of course, they're all trying to win such favour from her. She is a very nice lady, but I think she can sometimes be real naive."
"Hey, kids!" called out Ivan, as he stepped into the kitchen. "Don't go anywhere! The food is on the table. There'll be plenty of time later for you to play. For now, it is time for us to spend time together as a family - and, hopefully, for all of us to get along."
Rose followed everyone into the dining room. As Tina Marie's sobs died down, Rose kissed the top of her forehead. As she glanced at the food on the table, she rather thought that the food looked to be quite appetizing. She placed Tina Marie in a high chair, before she took her seat next to Rita. Bobby was sitting on the other side.
Her heart sank, as she saw Rajan take a seat across from her. He and his gang were really always picking on Jules and Verne Brown - along with their scientist father. She sure hated the idea of being related to him. A smile began to spread across her face, as she thought of how the mysterious Fox J Michael made him crash into manure.
"All right, everyone," called out Lillian, as she was carrying a platter of turkey into the dining room. "Dinner's ready! I think this is so good, all of us here together. Now, let's try to make this an enjoyable dinner. For one night, we should be like a real family!"
