Chapter 10: We Give Thanks

Dick's POV

Yes! Thanksgiving is finally here! The food! Family! Fun! The countdown to Christmas! This is going to be Jason's first Thanksgiving with us! I'm so excited!

Jason's POV

Dick gets way too excited over holidays. I mean it's only a day where you get to eat. Rich people can do that every day. What's so special about it? At least we don't have to go to school, only one more day before we get out.

********Break********

What! We have to do homework over the stupid holiday! I thought holidays meant no homework! My teacher is oblivious. She gave us an assignment to do a paper about what we're thankful for.

Hmm, let me think… I'm thankful for Alfred's cookies, TV, pie, cake, chocolate, Napoleon Ice-cream, food, my Gameboy, Dick's Gameboy when I lose or break mine, our PlayStation 2, my computer, my bike, my treehouse, my teddy bear…

"Jay, what are you doing?"

"Dick! You made me lose my track of thought!" I whined.

He snatched my paper from me.

"Hey! Give it back!" I yell at him.

"Jason, is this all you're thankful for?"

"No, I forgot to add chilidogs."

Dick rolled his eyes at me. "Jay, I'm glad you don't take chilidogs and Gameboys for granted, but you're also supposed to put non-materialistic things on the list."

I hate when he uses big words. "I put food on there."

He sighed. "No Jason, non-materialistic. You know, stuff that can't be replaced."

I rolled my eyes at him. He clearly didn't understand. "Dick, if I lose my memory card for my PlayStation 2 then I lose all of my game data. That can't be replaced. Duh."

He sighed. "Never mind. We're about to leave anyway."

"Where are we going?" I asked.

"The soup kitchen."

********Beak********

Dick and I stood next to Bruce as he handed a really big check to the soup kitchen people. As soon as he handed over the check, reporters bombarded the kitchen and TV cameras and microphones were shoved in our faces, separating us from Bruce.

I really don't like the press. I feel really nervous and insecure around them. I shrank back against Dick, clutching the lining of his jacket.

They began shouting questions at us. "How does it feel to be taken in by Bruce Wayne, so you never have to eat in places like this again? How does it feel to finally have money? How often did your real families eat in places like these?"

"No comment." Dick replied to their questions.

A woman grabbed my arm and pulled me away from Dick and towards her camera. Her nails dug into my skin. "How does it feel to living in a mansion instead of on the streets like other people? How does it feel knowing you finally have enough to eat while others are starving?"

Dick pulled me out of her grip and he pushed me out of the kitchen and into the dining room. Luckily they didn't follow us.

"You okay? She didn't hurt you, did she? Jay?" He asked, bending down to my level.

"I'm-" I lost my thought as a room full of shabbily dressed people stared at us. Most of them were sitting alone, silently eating what little food they had been given.

Then it hit me. This is what Dick was talking about. I was writing about how thankful I was for my PlayStation and cookies, when I should have been writing about how thankful I was to have a family, a roof over my head, clean clothes, a warm bed, and Alfred's cookies. These people had nothing and a few months ago I had nothing. I was one of them.

"Boys, are you okay?" Bruce asked coming out of the kitchen.

"We're fine." Dick answered.

"Good. I don't know how they found out about this. They shouldn't have even been here." Bruce ranted. He didn't like reporters except for Vicki Vale or Summer Gleeson.

********Break********

Dick's POV

I was a little worried about Jay. He's been really quiet the entire day. I know the paparazzi bothers him, but he normally gets over it in a little while. But Thanksgiving is in the morning, I hope he's in a better mood.

I climbed out of my bed and walked into his room.

"Jay, are you asleep?" I whispered.

"No, I'm… I… I can't sleep." He replied.

I walked over to his bed and slid in beside him. He scooted closer to me and I wrapped my arms around him and his teddy bear.

"What's wrong, Little Wing? Is something wrong? Do you feel bad? Did something happen… Did that reporter hurt you?" I asked.

I can't believe she grabbed Jason like that. If she had hurt him… Bruce would sue or file a restraining order or… Or Batman and Robin could pay her a little visit.

"No… am I a bad person?" he whispered quietly.

"No Little Wing. You're not a bad person… why would you ask something like that?"

"The woman asked how do I feel living here while other people don't have anywhere to live and about how it feels knowing you get to eat a lot while other people cant." He whispered, trying to push back tears.

"Thankful. I'm thankful that I have a father, a grandfather, a grandmother, friends, and a little brother who love me no matter what." I replied. I paused to wipe away a tear from Jay's cheek. "Not everybody has those things and there's only so much you can do to help those people. That's why Bruce donates a lot of food, clothes, and money to the shelters and soup kitchens around here. And that's why we celebrate Thanksgiving, because we're lucky that we have each other."

"Dickie? Will… will you stay with me?" he whispered.

"Always. As long as you need me." I replied while pulling him closer.

*******Break********

Bruce's POV

I saw Dick and Jason watching the Thanksgiving parade, while Alfred and Leslie were busy in the kitchen as I walked down the stairs.

"Bruce, do you wanna watch the parade with us?" Dick called over to me.

I moved to take a seat beside them. As soon as I sat down, Leslie entered the room.

"Boys, it's ready." She called.

"I'm glad you could make it, Leslie." I greeted.

"Now Bruce, I've never missed this holiday before and I don't plan on it now."

We moved into the dining room. I sat at the head of the table; Dick to my right, Jason to my left, Alfred beside Jason, and Leslie beside Dick.

We joined hands because, Alfred was about to lead us in prayer when Jason spoke up.

"Bruce?" Jason asked.

"What is it, Bluejay?" I asked.

"Can I say it?"

I looked over at Alfred and he nodded in agreement.

"Alright Jason, when you're ready."

"Um, thank you for letting us come together to eat and stuff. Thank you for Alfred's cookies. Thank you for giving us all of this food that Alfred and Leslie cooked and a place to eat it in. Thank you for allowing Leslie and Alfred to cook, because we'd all starve if Bruce had to do it. And thank you for giving me a family. I'm thankful that you gave me my brother, Dickie; even if he is bossy. I'm thankful that you gave me my grandfather, Alfred; even if he can't cook chilidogs and talks funny. I'm thankful that you gave me my grandmother, Leslie; even though she gives me shots and makes me take yucky medicine. And most of all, I'm thankful that you gave me my daddy, Bruce; even if he can't cook and spanks me and takes away my toys when I'm bad. Amen."

We opened our eyes to see each other smiling.

"That was wonderful dear." Leslie calls.

"I couldn't have said it better myself." Alfred replies.

"That's way better than a Gameboy." Dick says.

I smile taking in the sight before me. I'm thankful for my children and my parents. And why is Dick talking about a Gameboy?