Happy Thanksgiving to my American friends! Unfortunately, seeing as I am holed up in Britain I do not have the pleasure of turkey and awkward family reunions so I have not had the time to offer you a full Thanksgiving Fostering Fun - but I do have the first half. The second will be posted tomorrow (when I have completed it). Now don't get me wrong - this story is ridiculous and predictable but I'm hoping you've all eaten too much to care! I hope you enjoy it anyway!
Big thanks to Mea23 for helping me craft a lot of this and TheTBone for giving me some basic idiot's guide guidance in the world of American football and Thanksgiving.
Artistic license is desired as I have never celebrated Thanksgiving in my life and did not have the day off work today to properly look into making this perfect.
Hope those of you who are celebrating have had a good holiday! To those of you who aren't, here's a ridiculous story.
"Wanna know what I'm thankful for...?" Stef asked suggestively rolling over to Lena from a sleepy daze. She was surprised to see Lena sat up and covered in paperwork.
"Hmm?" she asked through a daze of her own, deep in figures and clearly not having heard.
Stef sat up slightly.
"Now you mention it I guess I'm thankful we at least had a few years of a marriage before you became a work bot." she added raising her eyebrows.
"Huh?" Lena looked across to her before clocking the agitated look.
"I'm sorry Stef, I have to get this stuff done, Karina is getting restless. And we've only been married a few months."
"You know what I mean - and so you were listening." Stef folded her arms.
"I'm always listening - I'm just sometimes ignoring you." she went back to her figures.
"Wow. That's a nice way to greet your wife on Thanksgiving." Stef quipped taking the paper away from under her as Lena babbled slightly in protest. She flopped her arms down and looked at Stef.
"Come on love. They call it a holiday for a reason. Can't you put it down for just one day?"
"I'm sorry, Stef." Lena replied earnestly, grabbing it back from her reluctant grasp.
"I really owe Karina and if we don't get this stuff done before the charter meeting tomorrow..."
Stef's face dropped down.
"I will make it up to you, I promise, but right now I have to make up a lot to Karina. I owe her after all of the...distractions...we've had over the last few months."
Stef sighed, knowing full well that all of the time the adoptions and complications had taken out of Lena's work commitments. Her imminent response was eclipsed by Lena's phone ringing.
"Hang on, I gotta take this...Karina?"
Lena hopped up out of the bed putting her phone to her ear as Stef flopped back into the bed. It was their first Thanksgiving with Callie and Jude and she had hope they would be able to use it to celebrate that. She wasn't sentimental and hated cliches, but at the same time the last few months had been one hurdle after another and if she'd learnt anything it was to not take things for granted. She knew Lena felt the same way too but she had been so stressed at work recently that the holiday was proving more of an inconvenience than anything else. She would much rather appreciate the family in a less forced scenario - especially as the powers that be had deemed the Friday while the kids were still on Thanksgiving break as being the perfect one to hold the charter review.
Lena slinked back into the room with a beaming smile and approached Stef on the bed."So...what were you saying?" she smiled crawling on top of her as Stef crinkled her eyebrows in slight confusion.
"Did Karina let you off the hook?" she asked surprised as Lena began to kiss her. She enjoyed it for a few moments getting lost in the temporary numbness before snapping her lips away.
"Hang on a minute...nothing good usually comes from a holiday phone call from scrooge...what is it you're trying to distract me from?" she interrogated as Lena's face dropped.
"I just have to go in for a little while..." she admitted as Stef rolled her off gently.
"No! Absolutely not. Lena! It's Thanksgiving! Not to mention our first thanksgiving with Callie and Jude!" she protested.
"Stef look - a couple hours in the school and I'll be back for dinner - that's the most important part. We'll just be stressing about cooking and trying to get the kids out if bed anyway."
"But we'll be doing it together! You gonna leave me alone with a hungry rabble of 6 kids while I try and cook and control?"
"I will make it up to you - I promise...I will tell Karina that she has 2 hours and that's it. You know how much..."
"Yes I am grateful to her for the slack she's cut you but really - I mean doesn't she have a family of her own to be with?"
"You know she doesn't. Just think of it as doing a good deed - sharing me with the needy. Isn't that what thanksgiving is about? Lena's eyes opened wide and pleading as Stef rolled hers.
"Oh spare me the true meaning card!" Stef grumbled with a groan and a playful squint. Lena knew she was yielding, she couldn't resist. "What about the IOU card?" she poked her head forward with a devilish smile and began to kiss her neck again. Stef resisted as best she could, cursing her powerlessness but eventually she gave in and rolled her head back with a "Fine!" Lena gave her another big kiss on the cheek as she batted her away. Go get it over with and get your charitable ass back here as soon as you can. But if all hell breaks loose you're not allowed to take it out on me!" Stef folded her arms.
"Deal." Lena smiled. "I am meeting her in a couple hours. We always have a late lunch anyway - we'll just have a big brunch before I go." she hopped over Stef who slapped her on the behind as she did.
"OK kids - I'll be back in a couple hours. You all have to help Mom, OK? She's not your personal slave."
"But you're all mine! Mwahaha!" Stef quipped before taking a sip of coffee to a chorus of quiet groans.
"We'll help!" Jude beamed proudly as Stef threw him a wink and Lena smiled bidding a final goodbye.
"OK - let's see what's needed..." she turned to the fridge and began to narrate the contents that would be needed before turning back to find the room empty bar Callie and Jude.
"Oh wow, desertion within 5 seconds. Super. Looks like they just volunteered for every job I can think of." she snarked.
"We can still help you." Jude offered as Stef gave him an affectionate smile.
"I can make a dessert if you like? I always used to help my Mom bake." Callie volunteered.
"That would be wonderful - hey we can make a pumpkin pie. Can you do that?"
"Sure. Easy enough!" she replied.
"You're my new favourite child - oh well, except you Jude..." Stef quickly added almost forgetting his timid presence "Well that means you're off the hook for another hour or so anyway. Go enjoy yourself."
Callie smiled and disappeared as Stef turned back to various locations of groceries before tapping her knuckle on the side of the counter.
"One small problem..." she admitted to Jude biting her bottom lip. "We don't have a pumpkin!" she looked into the distance for a moment before Jude piped up.
"I can go get one! They'll have the market on for another hour or so. I think they rely one people forgetting - it's why they cost three times as much!" he laughed as Stef ruffled his hair. "Very good point. OK - that would help. I don't want you going alone though. Mariana!" Stef yelled.
"You can come back voluntarily or I can get creative!"
Both her and Jude looked to the door as eventually Mariana crept back in.
"Yes?" she asked innocently.
"I need you to go with Jude to the market. Need you to pick up a pumpkin."
Mariana's face dropped. "Shopping on Thanksgiving? Are you crazy?"
"Well, Callie is going to make a pumpkin pie which I think is a wonderful and very generous gesture so the least you can do is help me out by getting a pumpkin."
"Can't she just make something else?"
"No." Stef exerted.
"You forgot we didn't have a pumpkin and suggested it already didn't you?" She retorted, accusingly.
"Well whether I did or I didn't you're going, so you may as well be happy about it. It'll be fun! You two can bond." she suggested shepherding them towards the door.
"If we make it out alive." she grunted.
"Keep moaning and there's no guarantee your chances here will be any higher. Let's go! Let's go!" she threw their coats at them and gave them some money before guiding them out the door.
"Right. Boys." she tapped her fingers on the counter before going to face her next challenge.
"Heads up!" Jesus shouted flinging a football at Brandon who leapt up off the sofa and caught it.
"You're asking for trouble, bro." he mumbled.
"why? Because you catch like a girl?" Jesus teased back as Brandon threw it back sharply to him and the TV chattered away with the pre-football line up.
"No, because you can't aim - as evidenced by the lack of vases Moms keep in the house."
"Hey, I was younger then. Watch out!" he quickly added trying to catch him out and firing the ball towards him. Brandon once again tried to leap but clipped it and sent it flying over into Stef's hands. The two boys swung round in fear, only feeling part of the relief that there hadn't been a smash.
"How many times guys?" Stef scolded.
"Don't play ball with people who can't catch?" Jesus quipped back as Brandon pulled a face at him before rolling his head back to Stef.
"How about don't give me reason to divert a year's worth of your allowance to a home insurance fund?"
"That works too..." Jesus pulled back sheepishly.
"I need you guys to help me out with the cooking."
"What? Why?" Jesus moaned.
"The football will be on soon." Brandon added.
"Yes it will, so it would be wise to help me now so we can watch it. Come on guys - we need to all chip in."
"OK." Brandon heaved himself up as Stef patted him on the back.
"I'm gonna prepare the turkey and get it cooking. Brandon, can you get the veg ready and Jesus as you're being so proactive you can set the table in a little while. You may have to prize yourself away from...ugh, the Packers are playing? Boy do I hate the Packers."
Stef's attention diverted slightly to the call of the pre-match commentary.
"Tempted Mom?" Jesus asked with a smile as Stef's eyes locked on the screen. "Mom?" he repeated to her deaf ears.
"Hmm?" she asked after a few moments. "Turkey!" she blurted out snapping back from the pull. "Turkey." she repeated giving Brandon a slap on the back. "Let's get on this."
"I can't believe we're being made to go out shopping on thanksgiving." Mariana groaned.
"Don't you wanna help out?" Jude asked sweetly, causing a moment of guilt.
"It's not that..." she replied, slightly surprised. "I just...well just seems unnecessary."
"But it's the gesture that's important, right?" Jude qualified his feelings as Mariana couldn't help but smile at him. He was such an unassuming and non-judgemental boy, she was powerless to not feel warmed by him.
"Hey, isn't that your friend Kelsey over there?" he asked pointing her out, skirting the stalls.
"Oh my God! You're right. Kelsey!" she shouted as the girl turned around. "You get sent out too?"
"Isn't it the worst?" she responded with a grumble.
"Nah...I guess it could be worse." Mariana winked at Jude as he smiled in return.
"Hey you wanna get a coffee, while we're here?"
"I dunno we..." she began looking at Jude, clearly torn.
"It's ok, I'll go choose a pumpkin. I leave the market and I have my cell phone. Meet you in a half hour?" he offered with a smile.
"You're the best, Jude!" Mariana said kissing his cheek before springing off with Kelsey.
He gave himself a contented smile and began to explore. He was surprised at how many stalls were out but he figured it would be a good opportunity for traders with the day being a prime one for people only discovering last minute they were out of vital ingredients.
After exploring all of the things on offer and succeeding in his task of purchasing a pumpkin he checked his phone for the time. He still had a few minutes before he was due to meet Mariana so his eyes began to wander around to look for other distractions. Suddenly a sign caught his eye. It was cheap and homemade but the words were clear as anything. "Kill it and cook it" next to a pen which had a lone turkey staggering around. A shady man stood next to it picking his fingernails.
"That poor turkey!" Jude whimpered looking at the dejected creature. He walked over to have a closer look.
"Why would people want to kill him? He's so oblivious." he sympathised seeing it jerk its head back and forth and gobble away.
"Where else do you think your dinner comes from?" the man growled without looking up.
"I've never really thought of it like that..." Jude added gripping his fingers round the pen and looking over.
"How many were in here?" he asked noting the size of the pen. "Just flogging them like this..."
"What are you kid? A representative for PETA? You gonna buy him or not?"
The turkey was now right up to him in the pen.
"He seems really tame."
The man threw a quick side glance.
"Well he'll be for the pile. Noone's gonna be buying him. Too scrawny."
Jude looked up at him with fear.
"What's the pile?" he asked.
"Reject pile. We just wring 'em and get rid when we can't make any money. No point keeping 'em past thanksgiving. No-one wants 'em on turkey day they ain't gonna get a look in at Christmas and I ain't wastin' my money feedin' 'em."
The turkey gobbled and Jude felt the money weighing heavy in his pocket as it locked eyes with his.
"Jude! What the hell?" Mariana ran after him as he approached the house. "Are you trying to get me killed going back home alone? I got your text that you were heading back - why didn't you...what the hell do you have in the box?"
"Jude tried hard not to break his stride but was clearly struggling with the weight of the box in his left hand and pumpkin in the other.
"I couldn't let him kill it!" he exclaimed without explanation spinning round to Mariana whose eyes flared as she realised.
"Please tell me you're joking?"
His guilty look was enough of an answer.
"Hells no! No, no, no! Jude! How are we meant to take a live turkey back to the house?"
"I figured Moms would know what to do with it."
"Jude! We're about to eat one - I'm not sure Moms will share your compassion when dealing with livestock. What do you think they're gonna do? Keep it in the backyard?"
His eyes widened in fear.
"You think they'll kill it too?" he asked pulling the box towards himself slightly.
"Yes! Maybe not themselves but they'll probably...I don't know...but they're gonna kill me for leaving you! We can not take that back to the house!" she tried to get the box off him but he pulled it back.
"Maybe we can find a farm for him..."
"We live in San Diego!" Mariana exclaimed before putting her hand on her forehead.
"OK look - let's just keep him till after dinner. Moms will be in a lot better mood after dinner...then we can tell them and figure out what to do...or figure out a plan in the meantime."
"Where can we put him?" Jude asked peeking in. "The guy said they go quiet in the box because they think they're nesting."
"Well we can't keep him in the box - what if he wakes up and gets out or something?"
Jude shrugged.
"We could keep him in the garage. He'll be safe in there...Moms never go in there and we just cleared it out so there's room. Turkeys can't fly, right?"
Jude shrugged again.
"You're clearing up after him by the way!" she ordered turning briskly towards the house.
"Don't worry buddy - you'll be fine." he whispered into the box as he scurried behind.
"Well that's turkey in and on. Few hours and it'll be all go. Jesus I got out the good china out - can you set the table please? As it's a holiday we may as...woah! What a touchdown!" Stef's attention quickly snapped towards the TV as Jesus sprung up.
"It's been coming right from the beginning. About time. What were you saying?"
"Wow that was a nice pass...Oompa Loompa there placed it beautifully."
"Mom?" Jesus tried to get her attention back as she slowly edged towards the TV.
"Hmm? Right! Good china. The one with the fancy bowl thingy that Mama puts that flowery stuff in for no purpose whatsoever other than to take up room. I brought it down, just unpack it and don't break anything."
"The one we always have to use when Grams is here?"
"Yes. I want it to be perfect so Lena feels guilty about leaving me all mor- oh my God! That guy came out of nowhere!" once again Stef's eyes diverted as she slapped her hands up to her head. "Come on. Scoot." she ordered without even breaking gaze.
"You're not getting into the game are you Mom? You won't impress Mom if you forget to make dinner." Jesus smirked.
"Shh! Let's get going." she guided him out with a small slap on the back still without taking her eyes off the TV.
"How's that veg coming along, B?" Stef chirped as they entered the kitchen.
"Are we even gonna eat all this?" He complained, elbow deep in chopped veg.
"Keep at it - you're doing good. Jesus, you know where the china is. I'm gonna peel some potatoes." She ducked her head back round as the volume of the commentators on the TV raised. "You know...I may take this next door..." she added poking her head beack towards the door. She grabbed the bag of potatoes along with a couple of bowls and the peeler before giving in and heading through with a few more mumbled words. Brandon and Jesus exchanged a smirk as she followed hypnotising sound of the television
"Now I remember why Mama never lets us put the TV on before they cook." Jesus commented through a smirk.
He grabbed his formerly confiscated football from the side and began to mimick the commentary.
"And J. Foster makes it up the wing clocking B. Foster headed towards the line. He dodges the linebacker's dive and throws the ball right into B's hand for a..."
"Jesus!" Brandon yelled as he dropped his knife to grab the ball as it hurdled towards him. "Are you insane?" He scolded throwing the ball back hard at Jesus. Before he could react it ricocheted off the oven dial and bounced back crashing neatly into the brought out china and splitting the decoration bowl into 5 neat parts. Both boys gawped in fear and quickly swung to the door to listen for any sound that the smash had been audible from Stef's position. The cheer they heard from the other room confirmed that it hadn't been.
Part 2 coming tomorrow...broken china, a live turkey and 2 distracted Moms. What could possibly go wrong?