T2: Family Arrival.

November 24th, (2024)

The next day, in the kitchen, Monica and Alice were at the counter in the center of the kitchen, cooking Thanksgiving dinner. Although Thanksgiving was only three days away, the family decided to plan ahead and cook the dinner so that when Thanksgiving rolled around, they'd have everything ready. Monica had fixed her hair into a bob style after getting out of bed and getting dressed for the day.

"Well, it's confirmed." Said 24-year old Brooklynn Qing, entering inside the kitchen. She had long black hair that went past her shoulders and stopped at her upper-back, her eyes were brown, and she wore pink lipstick. Brooklynn was one of Cameron's cousins and was spending Thanksgiving week with the family. "I'll be volunteering at the shelter on Thanksgiving."

"Oh, Brook, i think it's wonderful that you're helping the less fortunate on Thanksgiving." Alice said.

"I guess. Did i tell you that the Idaho News channel is sending a camera crew down to cover this? Heaven knows famous YouTubers like me could use some publicity." Brooklynn said.

"There is no limit to your giving, is there, Brooklynn?" Alice said.

"Thank you, Alice, that's so sweet." Brooklynn said.

"You're welcome." Alice said.

"Hey, where they at?" Olivia Qing asked as she and her husband, Ned Qing, and their 11-year old son, Leo Qing, Brooklynn's little stepbrother, and their cousin, 55-year old Skye Tait, entered into the kitchen, having just arrived at the house.

Olivia had light brown hair that went past her shoulders and stopped at her upper-back, and her eyes were brown. She was Brooklynn's stepmother.

Ned had dark gray hair and brown eyes. He was Brooklynn's father.

Leo had long dark brown curly neck-length hair, brown eyes and pale skin. He wore a red/black plaid un-buttoned short sleeve shirt, a gray short sleeve t-shirt, blue pants and black and white sneakers with white laces and white and black trims.

Skye was middle-aged, she had brown shoulder-length hair and brown eyes.

Olivia, Ned, Leo and Skye were also cousins of Cameron.

Brooklynn, Alice, Skye, Olivia, Ned and Leo all ran up to each other and embraced with a hug, laughing. Brooklynn, Olivia, Ned and Leo then ended the hug.

"Oh, my goodness, you get prettier every year, sweetie. It's like looking in a mirror." Olivia said to Brooklynn as she looked at each other.

"Alice." Said Skye, hugging Alice, who was hugging her back. They then ended the hug.

"I'm sorry i have to go, but they're expecting me down at the shelter." Brooklynn said.

"But i thought you weren't suppose to be down there until Thanksgiving." Monica said.

"I am, but i figured i'd have the food delivered there before then. You know, plan ahead like you guys." Brooklynn said.

"Okay. We'll see you later." Monica said before Brooklynn exited the kitchen to leave the house.

"Alright. Bye-bye." Said Alice.

"Bye." Leo said, waving with his right hand.

"Alright, alright." Monica said. "Hear that, Ned? She's off to help at the shelter. Isn't Brooklynn a saint?"

"A regular Mother Teresa. I should know. She is my daughter after all." Ned said.

"And my step-daughter." Olivia added.

"So how was the plane trip?" Alice asked.

"A little bumpy." Olivia answered.

"Turbulence?" Alice questioned.

"No. Nothing like that. For six hours straight, Skye never stopped moving." Olivia said.

"Well, that's why i've always had a boyfriend." Skye said.

"You know that's right." Olivia said. "Monica, you look younger every time i see you."

"Oh, you're just saying that. But don't feel like you need to stop." Monica said before she, Alice, Olivia, Ned, Leo and Skye laughed.

"Hi, Olivia, hi, Ned, Skye, hi, Leo." Said 77-year old Tracy Qing, Ned's mother, as she entered into the kitchen, having just arrived at the house. She had short brown hair and blue eyes.

"Hi, Mom." Ned greeted.

"Hello, my son. Hello, Leo, my grandson. Hello, Olivia, my daughter in-law." Tracy said.

"Hi, Grandma." Leo said.

"Hi, Mom...in-law." Olivia added.

"Oh, Tracy, sweetie-pie." Skye said as she walked up to Tracy and hugged her.

"Hello." Tracy greeted, hugging Skye.

"How are you doing?" Olivia asked.

"I'm fine." Tracy answered before she and Skye ended the hug.

"So...i guess you're gonna be rolling up those sleeves and helping us in the kitchen this year? I can't wait to get elbow-deep in those turkey gizzards." Skye said.

"Honey, you need to get cable." Olivia said.

"Just because i'm a woman, i'm suppose to don an apron on Thanksgiving week? I don't think so." Tracy said before leaving out of the kitchen.

"Well, i guess somebody burned their training uniform." Alice said.

Cameron and Bill came into the kitchen, breathing heavily, with Mickey following them, as both father and son had just finished un-loading Olivia's trunk in the back seat of her and Ned's rented car.

Cameron wore a white short sleeve shirt, blue overalls and black and white sneakers with white laces and white and black trims.

"Cousin Liv, you ever heard of travelin' light?" Cameron asked Olivia.

"And that's probably just her make-up." Skye said.

"Did you take my trunk upstairs?" Olivia asked.

"No. We sat it down in the living-room." Bill answered.

"Why'd you leave it in there? The guest-rooms are upstairs." Monica said.

"I know, we just left it in there and came in here to catch our breaths." Bill said.

"Oh, sweetie, is it your back." Alice asked, walking over to Bill.

"Yeah." Bill answered.

"I told you the pressures of that camping trip you and Cameron took last summer were gonna get to you." Alice said.

"Are you okay, son?" Monica asked.

"Yeah, i'll be alright, Mom." Bill said.

"Good. Now get that trunk out of the living-room. We need that place to relax in." Monica said.

"I'll help you." Said Ned.

"Me too." Leo added.

"And i gotta get back to my dressing." Alice said as Cameron, Bill, Mickey, Ned and Leo left out of the kitchen.

"Wait, no. You made the dressing last Thanksgiving." Skye said.

"That's because you were sick. This is my natural turn." Alice said.

"Well, wait a minute, it's my turn to make it after you." Olivia said.

"Okay. Now you're guests in my house. I'll make the dressing. Besides, everybody loves it." Monica said.

"Funny, i don't remember voting." Olivia said.

"Uh, no offense, you guys...but none of you can hold a candle to my dressing." Skye said.

"That's because it's so dry, it'd go up in flames." Olivia said.

"All i know is that i've been making my stuffing for Billy since he was a boy. And he always asks for more." Monica said, referring to Bill as Billy. She had always called him that since he was a baby and she wasn't going to stop now just because he was all grown up with a family of his own.

"Well, we all know what a picky eater he is." Olivia said.

Cameron, Mickey, Bill, Ned and Leo came back into the kitchen.

"Now, Cameron...Cameron...you grew up on my dressing." Said Alice as she walked up to Cameron. "Now, you tell everybody who's the best."

"Oh, well, come on, Mom-"

"Uh-uh-uh." Said Bill, cutting Cameron off. "Excuse us." He said to Alice. "Son. Son, come here." He said as he placed his left arm around Cameron's shoulder and led him away from Alice. "Let me give you a little piece of advice, huh? Never take sides when girls are arguing. You can't win."

"(Scoffs) Dad, this is Mom. I think it'll be alright." Cameron said before be turned to go back over to Alice.

"Look at me, boy." Bill said, pulling Cameron back to him. "Lesson number 1: "Whatever you say is wrong"."

"We're all family here, Dad. I don't think it's quite that serious." Said Cameron before Bill took his left arm off the 10-year old boy, allowing him to go back over to Alice. "Well, Mom, i think your-" Just then, a light-bolb went off in his head. He had gotten an idea. He turned to face Monica, Olivia and Skye. "Here's a thought: Instead of fighting over who's dressing is best...how 'bout yall make 'em all this Thanksgiving?"

"That's a good idea." Alice said.

"Hey, yes." Monica said.

"Okay, i'm for that." Olivia added.

"I guess i'll guess i'll get to cook this year." Skye said.

Cameron walked back over to Bill. "See? Problem solved."

"I wouldn't say that too soon." Bill said.

"And you can judge which is best, Cameron." Alice said.

"Say what?" Cameron asked as he turned to face Alice.

"Hahahahahahaha!" Bill, Ned and Leo laughed.

"All four of you can." Olivia said, referring to Cameron, Bill, Ned and Leo.

Bill, Ned and Leo stopped laughing.

This was going to be a long Thanksgiving week.

THANKSGIVING

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