Operation: Random
Chapter Two: Thanksgiving
By Skye and Toad Rocket
Disclaimer: We don't own anything mentioned in here. A/N: We hope you enjoyed the last chapter. It was quite long. Yeah.
*~*~*
It was 8 AM in the house. It was quiet. No one stirred. Well, except the three dogs, two fish, two birds, and Trevor's toad. Licorice the black miniature dachshund dozed quietly in Mary's bed while Erika, her mother, slept on Trevor's pillow. Her sister Snickerdoodle slept under a small, old robe belonging to Mom in Mom and Dad's bed.
The two fish sat in large, clear vases on the kitchen table. Aberdeen, Mary's bird, was in a cage hanging from a large hook on the basement wall, aka in her room. PJ was in a cage on top of Trevor's dresser.
The clock switched over to eight-oh-one. The whole house erupted into different sounds.
In Mom and Dad's room, it was the sound of a radio DJ saying 'Happy Thanksgiving.' In Trevor's, it was the sound of Eminem screaming. And down in the basement, it was Mary's stereo, blasting 'Mrs. Robinson' by the Beatles.
Mary groaned sleepily and held her pillow over her head. Trevor leapt onto his bed and began rapping along with his music. And Mom and Dad got up to get dressed.
The dogs hopped out of bed, and the birds began chirping along to the music. The toad remained under his water dish.
Hermione and Ginny leapt a foot into the air as the beginning of the song began. Feet pounded down the stairs. Trevor flung open the door. His hair stood straight up, and he was in a t-shirt and shorts. He jumped on Mary's sofa.
"Wake up! Wake up!" he yelled. The springs on the old white couch creaked. Mary mumbled a curse and made a rude gesture at her brother.
"Fine! I'm awake," she snapped.
"That's all I wanted," Trevor said calmly, leaving the room.
"Little brat tried to break my sofa," Mary grumbled, crawling out from underneath the heavy black blanket and the flannel sheets. Ginny gave an uneasy smile. Hermione blinked sleepily. "Ugh. I suppose I have to get up." She dragged herself from bed. She was obviously not a morning person.
Clumsily she wobbled over to her stereo and switched the CD to some classical Mozart music. She gave a sleepy smile.
"Oh yeah. You want some clothes, I'll betcha," Mary said. Her voice was hoarse. She sort of floated over to the large wardrobe next to her desk. "Ummm, lemme see what I have. Obviously, you won't really be able to wear your wizard robes, huh?"
"Um, I'd guess not," Ginny said quietly. Mary fished a 'Pittsburgh State' t- shirt, black turtleneck and flared blue jeans out of her dresser.
"Those are for me," she explained, carelessly tossing them onto the bed. "Ginny, do you like skirts?"
"Well, yes, I'd say so," Ginny said. Mary thought for a moment and then opened her sock drawer. She pulled out a half-length black skirt.
"Here ya go. I bought this once and I never wore it. And I don't plan on it either. You can keep it," she said, wiping at her eye. She also handed Ginny a white blouse. "Merry Christmas." Ginny went into the downstairs bathroom to change.
"OK, what should I wear?" Hermione asked. "I don't really like skirts."
"Whoa, same here," Mary said with a grin. "Hermione, I can see you have great and interesting tastes."
"Really?"
"Sure! So that's why I am going to give you my black jeans and this shirt," Mary said, holding up a t-shirt, which was tie-dyed and said 'Save a Tree' on it. "Hope ya like it. It's one of my favorites."
"Ooh, I do," Hermione said. Mary smiled happily. "Well, I guess I'm going upstairs to change."
"OK. Seeya later." Mary changed quickly and ran up the stairs.
Mom was pouring herself a quick cup of coffee before they had to leave. Oliver was standing on the landing.
"Morning," he said.
"Good morning," she greeted. "Didja sleep well? Trevor's room was OK?"
"Yes, yes, it was, but up until that music began swearing at me. Did you know he lets that play all night? He says it helps him sleep."
"Oh yeah. He always has. I trust it kept you up?"
"Yeah. Actually it did," he said with a chuckle.
"And he gave you some of his clothes, I see?" Mary gestured to the 'Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles' t-shirt Oliver wore.
"Yes, but I don't really know what that means," he said, pointing to his chest and the name of the TV show printed on it.
"Well, it's a TV show," she tried to explain.
"Oh."
"Yeah. Well, I'm going to get me some breakfast." She opened the freezer and took out an ice cream sandwich. Just then, Lucius Malfoy stormed down the stairs.
"What in the world is the matter with the shower?" he cried. He was wearing a fuzzy blue robe and a shower cap. "I turn it on and I get scalded. I try to turn the heat down and I get pelted with freezing cold water."
"Erm," Mom said from in the kitchen. "It might be because you're turning the thingy the wrong way. Ours turns a lot more if you aren't careful."
"Fine," Mr. Malfoy spat and stormed back to his shower.
"Mary, honey," Mom said. "Don't eat that. We're going to eat soon anyway."
"Gotta keep up nutrient levels, Mom," Mary informed her. "Remember, in health, I learned the basic food groups: chocolate, cake, ice cream, candy, gum and soda."
"Fine. As long as you remember to brush your teeth."
"Score. Sure thing Mom," Mary said. Oliver was beginning to get the feeling that this was a semi-relaxed atmosphere.
"Oliver, sweetie," Mom began. "Would you like some normal breakfast food?" She shot Mary a telling look when she said 'normal breakfast food.' "We have toaster waffles."
"Um, yes ma'am. That sounds good." Mary shrugged and went down the hall to find her brother.
"Hey," she said, entering his room. Trevor was handing Ron and Harry each a pair of cargo pants and Old Navy shirts.
"Hey sis," he said. "I was just helpin' out our buddies. They seem to be in need of some clothes."
"So I see," Mary acknowledged. "Um, I think you best hurry. We're leaving soon and although Mom has time to make Oliver some Eggo-ness, then we have to hurry? It doesn't make sense."
"You're just upset because she yelled at you for eating ice cream," he replied. And it was the truth. Mary shrugged. She bit of a chunk of the sugary treat.
"Hey, in Home Living we learned that -gasp- it doesn't matter what you eat as long as you eat," Mary snapped.
"Yes, well. You only paid attention because of the cookies you all made," Trev reminded her. She shrugged.
"At least I paid attention."
"That is true," Trev mused. "Besides. I only pay attention in homeroom because I am usually up doing my homework. It's pointless. Not to mention boring." Trevor really did not like school.
"Waste of ten minutes," Mary agreed. "We could be playing truth or dare."
"What?" Trevor yelped. "That's the dumbest thing I've ever heard." Mary shrugged her shoulders.
"Well. I just wanted to say hello. And tell you to get ready right now," she added. Trevor scowled.
"Did mom say that? Huh?" he said.
"Sheesh. Too many questions," Mary said. "Yes. She did say that."
"Oh. OK." Trev turned to Ron and Harry. "Sometimes, Mary lies." Mary turned even paler than usual, and then she blushed.
"See. Mom thinks that stories are cries for attention. Apparently no one in this family trusts me or cares to believe me." She shot a look at Trevor. "Anywho, I'm gonna go down the hall. To feed the fish."
"I don't know how you can stand her sometimes," Ron said to Trevor.
"Ron!" Harry scolded. "It's early. She's had lots of stress." Trev raised an eyebrow.
"Obviously you're new to this game, Potter," Trev sighed. He switched off his radio, grabbed some clothing, and left the room.
*~*~*~*
Lucius had had no desire to partake in such a Muggle tradition. Lockhart was looking forward to staring at his reflection in the mirror. When the two had snapped to Mom that they were staying home, Mom looked crestfallen. It wasn't until Snape added that he, too, was not a 'Thanksgiving-y sort of dude' (as Trevor would say) that she let it go to her head.
"What if they don't like us?" she asked Mary as the two covered the pan of cake with plastic wrap. Mary rolled her eyes.
"Who cares?"
Mom sighed. "Sweetie, it's always good to know what people think of you." Mary frowned.
"Mom, I love you. But that statement makes you seem very insecure," she said seriously. Mom rolled her eyes.
"Sometimes I wonder if so much sarcasm is bad for your system, Mary Jane," Mom said. Mary blushed at hearing her middle name used.
"Leave it to you to accidentally name me after a drug," Mary sighed.
"You know perfectly well: your Grandmother's middle name is Jane. And my mother's first name was Mary. Mary Jane," Mom explained. Mary sighed.
"This is an odd conversation." A pause.
"Yes. It really is," Mom said with a laugh, sealing the plastic over the cake. Mary sighed and picked up the tray. She carried it into the living room.
Dad sat with Erika in his lap, watching a football game. Sirius and the Weasley twins (Fred and George, were those their names?) sat, watching with interest. Mom came into the room behind her with an enormous bowl of salad.
"Trevor!" she yelled. Mary jumped a foot into the air.
"What?" Trevor shouted back.
"Come on!"
"I can't find my shoe!"
"It's right here," Mary said loudly. Oliver emerged from the dining room, Ron and Harry behind him. Remus stumbled down the stairs, and Ginny and Hermione walked up from Mary's room.
Soon everyone had gathered on the landing.
"Let's go," Mom sighed.
*~*~*
Trevor was shoved into the back seat of the van, between Ginny and Neville. He crossed his arms. He was NOT having fun.
Mary sat in the front seat of the van. Mom was driving. In the captain's chairs were Sirius and Remus. Sitting on the floor were Oliver and Percy. Yes. It was illegal.
In Dad's car, Dad drove, the Weasley twins and Harry sat in the backseat, and Ron sat in the front in the middle. Hermione sat next to Ron.
No. It wasn't fun. Not in the least. Trevor was beginning to think he was a claustrophobic.
Mary sighed. She flicked on the radio.
"Do we have to listen to oldies?" Trevor piped up. Mary turned around as the beginning strains of a song played.
"Yes!" Mary said dramatically. "Music these days is nothing but sex, violence, drugs, and did I mention sex?" She clapped her hands as she heard the song that was playing. "I love this song." It was 'I Heard It Through the Grapevine' by Marvin Gaye.
"We know," Mom and Trev choused. Mary blushed.
*~*~*~*~*
The aroma of turkey wafted through the air. Ginny gulped and straightened her skirt as she followed Ron and Harry up to the blue front door of the large yellow house. The door was open, and Mary was motioning for them all to come inside.
Ginny sighed and walked through the door, Trevor at her side. Immediately, the room erupted into noise.
"Trevor!" two boys yelled.
"Hey Alden, hey, Austin," he replied to his cousins. Ginny stood awkwardly by the coat rack. "Guys, this is Ginny."
"Since when did you get a girlfriend?" Alden said, enunciating the 'girl' part. Trevor's face flushed.
"She's not my girlfriend. She's a wizard. Your mom must've told you, right?"
"Ohh yeah," Austin said. "That is something she said. And she clearly said something about not teasing Mary this year."
"You tease your sister?" Oliver asked Trevor.
"Oh, of course not!" Trevor said, winking. "Just because last year, we." His voice trailed off.
"Told her that the dog got outside and then when she went to check, locked her out of the house!" Alden said with a snigger. Mary caught sight of the four of them (Oliver, Trevor, Alden and Austin) laughing like maniacs. She gave Trev a pissed-off look.
"Yeah, well. She got back at us though," Austin recalled. "By hiding our remote-controlled cars in the bathroom."
"Remote controlled-what?" Oliver was confused.
"Hmm? Oh, go ask Mary," Trevor sighed. He rolled his eyes. Ginny still stood around as if not knowing what to say or do. Oliver walked away.
"So." Austin was not a man of many words at times.
"Yeah. Oh. Let's go watch TV. Wanna come, Ginny?" Trev asked. Ginny blushed.
"I guess so," she responded. Austin ran down the flight of stairs near the door. Trevor sat on the stairs and slid down them. Alden rolled down the flight, making loud thunking noises and landing in a laughing heap at the bottom the stairs. As for Ginny, she just walked down into the dark room below. This was how all kids in this odd family unit acted.
Fred and George hurried down the stairs. It wasn't surprising to Ginny how they would just storm down a random flight of stairs in someone else's home. They stormed through passages in Hogwarts all the time.
"Let's see what's on," Trevor said, pressing buttons on a wide, flat, strange looking wand. They had one at his house too. He called it a 'remote control.' It turned on the 'TV.' Ginny and her brothers had heard of it from their father. He loved Muggles and the objects they used.
The TV flashed on with a small popping noise. Ginny felt her heart leap into her throat. Even though it wasn't the first time she had seen the 'TV', it was still odd to see Trevor and Mary and their family using it so frequently. Her father had gotten one from work once, but her mother hated the noises it made and ordered Arthur to take it back.
"Ho hum," Alden said, flopping onto the large rocking chair. Austin fell awkwardly onto the rug. Trev sat down at the opposite end of the couch from Ginny.
There was a huge thud over their heads, which was in the kitchen.
"Mother!" someone yelled. Trevor rolled his eyes, mouthing the word 'Mary.'
"You're not hurt. Get up," Mom snapped back.
"What the heck was that all about?" Fred asked. Trevor sighed and rolled his eyes.
"Well, Dad has this thing where he likes to sort of, you know, push Mary along. Mary is not very good at balance and stuff, so usually she just falls down," Trev said. "And Mom laughs at her. Every single time. And Mary hates getting laughed at. So she gets mad."
"Oh," George said dumbly. Austin blinked at the TV, which prominently featured a boy in a red coat and blue-and-yellow skiing hat. Cartman was his name, as Alden explained.
It was a show called South Park, about little boys with foul mouths. Parents hated it and banned their children from watching it. That was why the volume was turned sort of low, which was why you were not allowed to talk during the show.
"Screw you guys! I'm goin' home!" Cartman shouted on the screen. Fred, George, Austin, Alden and Trevor doubled over in laughter. Ginny cracked a small grin.
"Fine!" the boy named Stan yelled back and called Cartman a foul name. They were all rolling now.
There was just so much to learn in the Muggle world, Ginny thought with a smile.
*~*~*
"Oliver," Mary hissed at him. "Put that down!" Oliver and Harry were playing with a glass, dog-shaped cracker holder while Ron stole small pieces of lettuce out of the salad. "Ron. Don't eat the salad."
"You're just mad that you fell down," Harry said. Mary's pale face flushed.
"Now. That may be true," she confessed, instructing Ron to carry the salad into the dining room. The adults and Mallory, Mary, Ron, Harry, Oliver, Draco, Neville, Percy, Remus and Sirius were all going to shove into the large dining room around the large table to eat a heaping meal.
Everyone else's food was in the kitchen, waiting for them to get it. Mary took her seat, between Percy and Mallory. Percy eyed the noodles in a large silver pot on the table.
"What are those?" he asked Mary in a whisper. He didn't want to insult the aunt who had cooked them.
"Noodles. A family tradition. Try some," she urged just as quietly. Percy shrugged and reached for the serving spoon in the pot. With lightning fast reflexes, Mary snatched his hand away from the pot and put it back into his lap. She blushed and patted his hand.
"What was that about?" he questioned in a whisper.
"We have to say Grace first. It's a big deal," she added. "And if my Grandma cries, don't be alarmed."
"I'll keep that in mind," he acknowledged. PawPaw, who he knew was Mary's grandfather, sat down at the table. Everyone was now ready.
"Let's say Grace," he said in a frustrated tone. "Um, Karen, since you did such a good job last year, how about this year?" Mom blushed a little.
"OK, Dad. Let me see." A pause. "Um, God bless this food which we will consume for the nourishment of our bodies. Also bless those who cannot be with us, whether it be from travel inconvenience or, well, death."
Mary and Percy exchanged a puzzled glance.
"We've lost a wonderful lady this year. And we know you're taking good care of her. Some of us, like Mary, have had a difficult year, but we know you've been with us each step of the way."
Mary's eyes bugged so far out of her head that Percy was afraid they'd roll out and fall into her glass of grapefruit juice.
"Bless this food and this family. Amen," Mom concluded.
"Amen," everyone, except Mary and Percy, repeated. Mary looked like she had just been told the moon really was made of cheese. Her face was bright red. Percy didn't know what to say.
"Please excuse me for a moment," Mary said, standing up and hurrying to the restroom. She didn't see Percy and Oliver following her. She walked into the bathroom and splashed icy cold water into her face, glaring at the mirror.
"Ask her never to mention it and she does it anyways," Mary grumbled to Oliver and Percy, noticing their reflection in the mirror.
"What?" Oliver asked. Percy nudged him with his elbow. Mary motioned for them to join her in the bathroom. She shut and locked the door.
"Oh. Nothing major. I just had the worst frickin' teacher ever for sewing. She insulted me. No big deal. That and the fact that I've just been all 'Bleaugh' about everything," Mary said softly.
"Are you okay?" Percy asked.
"Um. Yes," she informed them after a minute of pushing hair out of her face. "Please, please, please, guys. Don't tell anyone that I talked about it with you. I don't even talk about this crap with Trev. Although I'm perfectly fine." She sighed. "I'm going to eat now."
She hurried from the room, leaving Oliver and Percy to stand, stunned for a minute, before joining her.
"Sorry," they could hear her saying. "I must have gotten some dust in my eye or something."
"No problem," Dad said as Oliver and Percy sat down.
"Dear, would you like some turkey?" Grandma asked Neville. Neville looked downright nervous.
"Umm. Sure?" he responded, but it came out more as a question.
"Light or dark meat?"
"I don't really care," Neville stammered.
"Make up your mind, boy!" PawPaw urged in a loud, joking tone. Unfortunately, Neville didn't take this as the joke that it was meant to be. He blinked and shivered. Ron and Harry exchanged a glance. The whole table stared at Neville.
"Light," he finally said, sounding world-weary. Grandma scooped several medium-seized pieces of turkey onto his plate. He collapsed into his chair, looking humiliated.
"Aww. It's OK," Aunt Marleena said. Neville blushed. Mary lowered her gaze to the platter of mashed potatoes. She put some onto her plate and passed it to Mallory. Percy handed her the bowl of corn, which she put on top of her potatoes.
"Ah. Just like her father," Grandma said. Mary stopped from putting a seemingly large amount of turkey onto her plate and smiled at Grandma.
"Why?" Ron asked suddenly.
"Corn on top of mashed potatoes," Uncle Tommy said. "She's done that since she was a little kid. Just like her dad."
"Um. Yes." Mary seemed like she just wanted to change the subject.
"Oh, Karen. You know what I was thinking about the other day?" Tommy asked.
"What's that?"
"That time we went to Ponderosa and Dad was trying to laugh really quiet and ended up going 'HA' really loud," he replied. PawPaw, Grandma, Mom, Dad, Tommy, Marleena and Mallory doubled over in laughter. Mary smiled a large grin. Oliver and Percy smirked. Ron and Harry also laughed at this. The whole table laughed enthusiastically. And at what?
Ah ha. Another one of those stupid-unless-you-know-the-family stories. Mmhmm. It was absolutely one of those, no question about it.
"So, um, Kurt, how's work going?" PawPaw asked.
"Fine, just fine," he said, eating a piece of the regular stuffing. He hated sea food. Mary coughed and picked up a small piece of her light turkey. Percy watched as she fed the meat to the large golden retriever who was flopped lazily underneath the table.
"I heard about your school, Mary," Aunt Marleena said. Mary chewed and nodded. "I'll bet that was just awful."
"Well, it wasn't that bad. I mean, it was, um, semi-upsetting while it was happening, but, uh, looking back it wasn't terrible," Mary informed the table.
"What was going through your head?" Oliver asked suddenly.
"Oh. Well, in truth, I was kind of upset and a little skittish. It was sort of like 'I hope I can get to my locker and get out in time.' I didn't want to lose my CD player but at the same time I needed to catch up to my friends. It was in fifth hour, and so a lot of people who ride our bus weren't there," Mary recalled, looking down at her plate. There was silence.
"So our teacher was yellin' and screamin', and if we might not have gotten almost sucked into the ground, it mighta been sorta funny, you know?" Mary asked rhetorically. "I followed my best friend, Willa, outta the class and we went to our lockers, grabbin' our stuff. I found Trev and so, we just left. It wasn't so bad."
"It sounds awful," Remus spoke up.
"Nope. Seriously. It wasn't so bad. Other people might tell you it was just positively awful," Mary stated dramatically. "But it really wasn't." She paused, as if desperately searching for a new topic.
Luckily she didn't have to say anything. Trev emerged from the kitchen, just as an excruciatingly loud man sang out the words "Where were you, when they built the ladder to heaven?"
Trevor paled visibly, as downstairs, Fred, George, Alden and Austin collapsed in fits of giggles. "Excuse, you fine ladies and gentlemen," Trev said in a rambling tone and ran down the stairs.
"Guys, I'll be right back," Mary said, attempting to get up.
"Sit down and finish your dinner," Dad ordered with a mouth full of turkey.
"OK. Grandma, these are lovely potatoes," Mary complimented.
"Oh, well thank you." Mary beamed. "So, Karen, these wizards in your house. How did they get there?"
"Well, Trev told me that they just appeared somehow," Mom informed her, her tone thoughtful. "Actually, I'm not sure." Well, at least she was being honest.
*~*~*~*
It was much more fun downstairs. There was, for some reason, a South Park marathon. Fred and Alden were playing pool on PawPaw and Grandma's small pool table. Ginny was playing with a deck of cards. Austin was drawing a picture on a writing tablet, and Trev was leafing through a mystery novel. George was watching South Park intently.
Somehow it remained quiet enough to hear the voice of Cartman, Stan, Kyle, Butters, and all the other South Park citizens. Suddenly Mary hurried down the stairs, looking distressed.
"What in the world was that?" she hissed quietly.
"What was what?" Trevor asked innocently. Mary practically exploded in fury.
"'Where were you, when they built the ladder to heaven?' Man! You should've seen Mom's face! She was so confused!" She doubled over in laughter.
"How's dinner going?" Alden asked as he smacked the 'three' ball into a corner pocket.
"Awful. I'm being inquizitized left and right!" she moaned in horror. "Listen. I gotta go. I told Mom and them all that I needed to check up on you." She headed for the stairs. "Have fun."
"Will do," Austin assured her, not looking up.
*~*~*~*
"So. How were they doing?" Grandma asked. Mary pasted on a smile.
"Just fiiiiine," she said.
*~*~*
"Who wants to play football?" Dad announced in a crooning tone, walking slowly down the stairs. The TV was switched off. The six teens were sitting on the floor, engaged in a peaceful game of Monopoly. Austin, Alden and Trevor yelled that they would.
"How about you, Fred-and-George?" Trev asked. "Ya up for it?"
"Are we ever," George said. Which obviously meant yes. Ginny shook her head and walked upstairs. Dad and the kids followed her.
"What about you, Oliver?" Fred asked.
"Do you want to play football?" George asked. Oliver shrugged.
"I suppose so."
"What about you, Monkeyshines?" Dad questioned to Mary.
"Daddy!" she said with a laugh. She thought for a moment. "Sure," she accepted. Soon, Remus, Sirius, Harry and Ron had also accepted the offer, along with Uncle Tommy. Percy and Neville were reluctantly forced into playing along. Finally, to round things out, PawPaw finished doing the dishes, and so he to joined in.
The teams were split up as soon as the large group reached the cul-de-sac. The 'Silver' team (as christened by Austin) contained Trevor, Alden, Austin, Neville, Dad, Ron, Sirius and George. The 'Evil Gecko' team (as christened by Mary) contained Uncle Tommy, Percy, PawPaw, Oliver, Mary, Fred, Remus and Harry.
Austin produced a nickel from his pocket and handed it to Dad. He flipped it as Oliver and Trev faced off.
"Heads!" Trevor yelled at the top of his lungs as Oliver stood on it confusion. Dad sighed and picked up the small silver coin.
"It is heads," he informed the small crowd in a dramatic tone. The Silver team cheered. The Evil Gecko team cringed.
Soon the ball was thrown. Trevor caught it and faked a pass to George, who laughed. Trev hurled it to Neville. He tried to catch it, but was knocked roughly to the concrete, resulting in a large scrape down his elbow. His face contorted in pain.
"Trevor!" Mary scolded. "Look what your idiotic fake pass did!" She knelt next to the boy lying on the ground. Neville was whimpering, and Austin, Alden and Trev fought viciously to not laugh.
"Come on, Mary. Why don't you take this dollar and buy a sense of humor?" Austin asked seriously. Alden and Trevor doubled over in laughter.
"Shut up!" Mary snapped. "Come on, Neville," she sighed. "We'll get ya fixed up."
"Are you coming back?" Dad yelled after her.
"Yes," she shouted back, not turning around and keeping a firm grip on Neville's arm. "You'll have to excuse my brother and cousins. And the rest of my family, as a matter of fact. They all seem to be insane," she muttered.
"Ah, it's ok. Not the first time I've been laughed at," Neville said with a sigh. "Or the first time I've fallen down."
"Ohh. I'm sorry," she consoled. "Maybe we should start a club." Mary giggled.
"Yeah," Neville agreed with a smile. She led him through the garage, and not letting go of his elbow (the non-hurt one), walked up three stairs, opened the door, walked through the laundry room, down a small hall and finally into the living room.
"Grandma? Do you still have BandAids?" Mary asked Grandma, who was sitting on the sofa with Marleena, Mallory and Mom were watching a movie, along with Draco, Hermione and Ginny.
"Holy crap!" Mom said loudly. She coughed. "I mean, hmm, what happened?"
"Trev faked a pass to George and threw it to poor Neville here, who fell down and scraped his arm," Mary informed her.
"They're under the sink in the bathroom," Grandma said.
"Thanks." And so Mary and Neville walked to the bathroom, where she instructed the boy to sit on the sink. She retrieved a little blue semi- transparent box and opened it up.
"Here, hon, lemme see your arm," she muttered. Mary pulled a little glass bottle and a cotton ball out of the box.
"Um, what's that?" Neville asked. Mary gave an embarrassed smile.
"I don't exactly know, to be honest, but Grandma always used to use it on my many cuts and scrapes and the like when I was little," she recalled, spilling a little onto the little cotton piece and dabbed it onto the wound on his arm.
It felt like fire on his skin. His eyes grew as wide as dinner plates. Mary closed her eyes in shame.
"Oh lord. I'm so sorry!" she exclaimed. "I forgot, I forgot, I forgot! That's the crap that I would cry when they used!"
Neville gritted his teeth and turned his eyes to the floor.
"You know, Neville," Mary said. "You can yell if you want or whatever. They're all watching 'Bye Bye Birdie.' You can't distract them from that movie if you were to drive a train through the kitchen."
Neville whimpered. "Gosh that hurts," he forced out between gritted teeth. Mary ruffled his hair.
"It's okay. I am here for you," Mary comforted solemnly. He smiled at her. "OK. That's done." She wiped away some of the blood with a Kleenex and put a large patchy-like bandage on his elbow. "There ya go, chief. Now, let's go whoop Trevor's sorry behind." Neville laughed.
"Sounds good to me," he agreed.
And so they made their way back to the game, where the Silver team was absolutely maiming the Evil Gecko team.
"Hey," Oliver greeted.
"Hey dude," Mary replied. "How come we're losing?"
"Because your brother and cousins are pretty good," he explained regrettably.
"They aren't that good," Mary said with a sigh.
"Catch!" Uncle Tommy yelled to Mary, hurling the ball to his niece. Mary squealed and caught the ball, running as fast as possible towards the designated spot where she would score, screaming 'You'll never take me alive!' and holding onto the pigskin with a kung-fu grip. She reached the line and gave the whole group (of all guys) a very satisfied smirk.
"Hmm, how did that happen?" she said innocently. Trevor grumbled and folded his arms while muttering a few well chosen swears.
~*~*~
The second part of Thanksgiving will be posted.as soon as we get it done.
Seeya Later, Alligator,
Toad and Skye Rocket
Disclaimer: We don't own anything mentioned in here. A/N: We hope you enjoyed the last chapter. It was quite long. Yeah.
*~*~*
It was 8 AM in the house. It was quiet. No one stirred. Well, except the three dogs, two fish, two birds, and Trevor's toad. Licorice the black miniature dachshund dozed quietly in Mary's bed while Erika, her mother, slept on Trevor's pillow. Her sister Snickerdoodle slept under a small, old robe belonging to Mom in Mom and Dad's bed.
The two fish sat in large, clear vases on the kitchen table. Aberdeen, Mary's bird, was in a cage hanging from a large hook on the basement wall, aka in her room. PJ was in a cage on top of Trevor's dresser.
The clock switched over to eight-oh-one. The whole house erupted into different sounds.
In Mom and Dad's room, it was the sound of a radio DJ saying 'Happy Thanksgiving.' In Trevor's, it was the sound of Eminem screaming. And down in the basement, it was Mary's stereo, blasting 'Mrs. Robinson' by the Beatles.
Mary groaned sleepily and held her pillow over her head. Trevor leapt onto his bed and began rapping along with his music. And Mom and Dad got up to get dressed.
The dogs hopped out of bed, and the birds began chirping along to the music. The toad remained under his water dish.
Hermione and Ginny leapt a foot into the air as the beginning of the song began. Feet pounded down the stairs. Trevor flung open the door. His hair stood straight up, and he was in a t-shirt and shorts. He jumped on Mary's sofa.
"Wake up! Wake up!" he yelled. The springs on the old white couch creaked. Mary mumbled a curse and made a rude gesture at her brother.
"Fine! I'm awake," she snapped.
"That's all I wanted," Trevor said calmly, leaving the room.
"Little brat tried to break my sofa," Mary grumbled, crawling out from underneath the heavy black blanket and the flannel sheets. Ginny gave an uneasy smile. Hermione blinked sleepily. "Ugh. I suppose I have to get up." She dragged herself from bed. She was obviously not a morning person.
Clumsily she wobbled over to her stereo and switched the CD to some classical Mozart music. She gave a sleepy smile.
"Oh yeah. You want some clothes, I'll betcha," Mary said. Her voice was hoarse. She sort of floated over to the large wardrobe next to her desk. "Ummm, lemme see what I have. Obviously, you won't really be able to wear your wizard robes, huh?"
"Um, I'd guess not," Ginny said quietly. Mary fished a 'Pittsburgh State' t- shirt, black turtleneck and flared blue jeans out of her dresser.
"Those are for me," she explained, carelessly tossing them onto the bed. "Ginny, do you like skirts?"
"Well, yes, I'd say so," Ginny said. Mary thought for a moment and then opened her sock drawer. She pulled out a half-length black skirt.
"Here ya go. I bought this once and I never wore it. And I don't plan on it either. You can keep it," she said, wiping at her eye. She also handed Ginny a white blouse. "Merry Christmas." Ginny went into the downstairs bathroom to change.
"OK, what should I wear?" Hermione asked. "I don't really like skirts."
"Whoa, same here," Mary said with a grin. "Hermione, I can see you have great and interesting tastes."
"Really?"
"Sure! So that's why I am going to give you my black jeans and this shirt," Mary said, holding up a t-shirt, which was tie-dyed and said 'Save a Tree' on it. "Hope ya like it. It's one of my favorites."
"Ooh, I do," Hermione said. Mary smiled happily. "Well, I guess I'm going upstairs to change."
"OK. Seeya later." Mary changed quickly and ran up the stairs.
Mom was pouring herself a quick cup of coffee before they had to leave. Oliver was standing on the landing.
"Morning," he said.
"Good morning," she greeted. "Didja sleep well? Trevor's room was OK?"
"Yes, yes, it was, but up until that music began swearing at me. Did you know he lets that play all night? He says it helps him sleep."
"Oh yeah. He always has. I trust it kept you up?"
"Yeah. Actually it did," he said with a chuckle.
"And he gave you some of his clothes, I see?" Mary gestured to the 'Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles' t-shirt Oliver wore.
"Yes, but I don't really know what that means," he said, pointing to his chest and the name of the TV show printed on it.
"Well, it's a TV show," she tried to explain.
"Oh."
"Yeah. Well, I'm going to get me some breakfast." She opened the freezer and took out an ice cream sandwich. Just then, Lucius Malfoy stormed down the stairs.
"What in the world is the matter with the shower?" he cried. He was wearing a fuzzy blue robe and a shower cap. "I turn it on and I get scalded. I try to turn the heat down and I get pelted with freezing cold water."
"Erm," Mom said from in the kitchen. "It might be because you're turning the thingy the wrong way. Ours turns a lot more if you aren't careful."
"Fine," Mr. Malfoy spat and stormed back to his shower.
"Mary, honey," Mom said. "Don't eat that. We're going to eat soon anyway."
"Gotta keep up nutrient levels, Mom," Mary informed her. "Remember, in health, I learned the basic food groups: chocolate, cake, ice cream, candy, gum and soda."
"Fine. As long as you remember to brush your teeth."
"Score. Sure thing Mom," Mary said. Oliver was beginning to get the feeling that this was a semi-relaxed atmosphere.
"Oliver, sweetie," Mom began. "Would you like some normal breakfast food?" She shot Mary a telling look when she said 'normal breakfast food.' "We have toaster waffles."
"Um, yes ma'am. That sounds good." Mary shrugged and went down the hall to find her brother.
"Hey," she said, entering his room. Trevor was handing Ron and Harry each a pair of cargo pants and Old Navy shirts.
"Hey sis," he said. "I was just helpin' out our buddies. They seem to be in need of some clothes."
"So I see," Mary acknowledged. "Um, I think you best hurry. We're leaving soon and although Mom has time to make Oliver some Eggo-ness, then we have to hurry? It doesn't make sense."
"You're just upset because she yelled at you for eating ice cream," he replied. And it was the truth. Mary shrugged. She bit of a chunk of the sugary treat.
"Hey, in Home Living we learned that -gasp- it doesn't matter what you eat as long as you eat," Mary snapped.
"Yes, well. You only paid attention because of the cookies you all made," Trev reminded her. She shrugged.
"At least I paid attention."
"That is true," Trev mused. "Besides. I only pay attention in homeroom because I am usually up doing my homework. It's pointless. Not to mention boring." Trevor really did not like school.
"Waste of ten minutes," Mary agreed. "We could be playing truth or dare."
"What?" Trevor yelped. "That's the dumbest thing I've ever heard." Mary shrugged her shoulders.
"Well. I just wanted to say hello. And tell you to get ready right now," she added. Trevor scowled.
"Did mom say that? Huh?" he said.
"Sheesh. Too many questions," Mary said. "Yes. She did say that."
"Oh. OK." Trev turned to Ron and Harry. "Sometimes, Mary lies." Mary turned even paler than usual, and then she blushed.
"See. Mom thinks that stories are cries for attention. Apparently no one in this family trusts me or cares to believe me." She shot a look at Trevor. "Anywho, I'm gonna go down the hall. To feed the fish."
"I don't know how you can stand her sometimes," Ron said to Trevor.
"Ron!" Harry scolded. "It's early. She's had lots of stress." Trev raised an eyebrow.
"Obviously you're new to this game, Potter," Trev sighed. He switched off his radio, grabbed some clothing, and left the room.
*~*~*~*
Lucius had had no desire to partake in such a Muggle tradition. Lockhart was looking forward to staring at his reflection in the mirror. When the two had snapped to Mom that they were staying home, Mom looked crestfallen. It wasn't until Snape added that he, too, was not a 'Thanksgiving-y sort of dude' (as Trevor would say) that she let it go to her head.
"What if they don't like us?" she asked Mary as the two covered the pan of cake with plastic wrap. Mary rolled her eyes.
"Who cares?"
Mom sighed. "Sweetie, it's always good to know what people think of you." Mary frowned.
"Mom, I love you. But that statement makes you seem very insecure," she said seriously. Mom rolled her eyes.
"Sometimes I wonder if so much sarcasm is bad for your system, Mary Jane," Mom said. Mary blushed at hearing her middle name used.
"Leave it to you to accidentally name me after a drug," Mary sighed.
"You know perfectly well: your Grandmother's middle name is Jane. And my mother's first name was Mary. Mary Jane," Mom explained. Mary sighed.
"This is an odd conversation." A pause.
"Yes. It really is," Mom said with a laugh, sealing the plastic over the cake. Mary sighed and picked up the tray. She carried it into the living room.
Dad sat with Erika in his lap, watching a football game. Sirius and the Weasley twins (Fred and George, were those their names?) sat, watching with interest. Mom came into the room behind her with an enormous bowl of salad.
"Trevor!" she yelled. Mary jumped a foot into the air.
"What?" Trevor shouted back.
"Come on!"
"I can't find my shoe!"
"It's right here," Mary said loudly. Oliver emerged from the dining room, Ron and Harry behind him. Remus stumbled down the stairs, and Ginny and Hermione walked up from Mary's room.
Soon everyone had gathered on the landing.
"Let's go," Mom sighed.
*~*~*
Trevor was shoved into the back seat of the van, between Ginny and Neville. He crossed his arms. He was NOT having fun.
Mary sat in the front seat of the van. Mom was driving. In the captain's chairs were Sirius and Remus. Sitting on the floor were Oliver and Percy. Yes. It was illegal.
In Dad's car, Dad drove, the Weasley twins and Harry sat in the backseat, and Ron sat in the front in the middle. Hermione sat next to Ron.
No. It wasn't fun. Not in the least. Trevor was beginning to think he was a claustrophobic.
Mary sighed. She flicked on the radio.
"Do we have to listen to oldies?" Trevor piped up. Mary turned around as the beginning strains of a song played.
"Yes!" Mary said dramatically. "Music these days is nothing but sex, violence, drugs, and did I mention sex?" She clapped her hands as she heard the song that was playing. "I love this song." It was 'I Heard It Through the Grapevine' by Marvin Gaye.
"We know," Mom and Trev choused. Mary blushed.
*~*~*~*~*
The aroma of turkey wafted through the air. Ginny gulped and straightened her skirt as she followed Ron and Harry up to the blue front door of the large yellow house. The door was open, and Mary was motioning for them all to come inside.
Ginny sighed and walked through the door, Trevor at her side. Immediately, the room erupted into noise.
"Trevor!" two boys yelled.
"Hey Alden, hey, Austin," he replied to his cousins. Ginny stood awkwardly by the coat rack. "Guys, this is Ginny."
"Since when did you get a girlfriend?" Alden said, enunciating the 'girl' part. Trevor's face flushed.
"She's not my girlfriend. She's a wizard. Your mom must've told you, right?"
"Ohh yeah," Austin said. "That is something she said. And she clearly said something about not teasing Mary this year."
"You tease your sister?" Oliver asked Trevor.
"Oh, of course not!" Trevor said, winking. "Just because last year, we." His voice trailed off.
"Told her that the dog got outside and then when she went to check, locked her out of the house!" Alden said with a snigger. Mary caught sight of the four of them (Oliver, Trevor, Alden and Austin) laughing like maniacs. She gave Trev a pissed-off look.
"Yeah, well. She got back at us though," Austin recalled. "By hiding our remote-controlled cars in the bathroom."
"Remote controlled-what?" Oliver was confused.
"Hmm? Oh, go ask Mary," Trevor sighed. He rolled his eyes. Ginny still stood around as if not knowing what to say or do. Oliver walked away.
"So." Austin was not a man of many words at times.
"Yeah. Oh. Let's go watch TV. Wanna come, Ginny?" Trev asked. Ginny blushed.
"I guess so," she responded. Austin ran down the flight of stairs near the door. Trevor sat on the stairs and slid down them. Alden rolled down the flight, making loud thunking noises and landing in a laughing heap at the bottom the stairs. As for Ginny, she just walked down into the dark room below. This was how all kids in this odd family unit acted.
Fred and George hurried down the stairs. It wasn't surprising to Ginny how they would just storm down a random flight of stairs in someone else's home. They stormed through passages in Hogwarts all the time.
"Let's see what's on," Trevor said, pressing buttons on a wide, flat, strange looking wand. They had one at his house too. He called it a 'remote control.' It turned on the 'TV.' Ginny and her brothers had heard of it from their father. He loved Muggles and the objects they used.
The TV flashed on with a small popping noise. Ginny felt her heart leap into her throat. Even though it wasn't the first time she had seen the 'TV', it was still odd to see Trevor and Mary and their family using it so frequently. Her father had gotten one from work once, but her mother hated the noises it made and ordered Arthur to take it back.
"Ho hum," Alden said, flopping onto the large rocking chair. Austin fell awkwardly onto the rug. Trev sat down at the opposite end of the couch from Ginny.
There was a huge thud over their heads, which was in the kitchen.
"Mother!" someone yelled. Trevor rolled his eyes, mouthing the word 'Mary.'
"You're not hurt. Get up," Mom snapped back.
"What the heck was that all about?" Fred asked. Trevor sighed and rolled his eyes.
"Well, Dad has this thing where he likes to sort of, you know, push Mary along. Mary is not very good at balance and stuff, so usually she just falls down," Trev said. "And Mom laughs at her. Every single time. And Mary hates getting laughed at. So she gets mad."
"Oh," George said dumbly. Austin blinked at the TV, which prominently featured a boy in a red coat and blue-and-yellow skiing hat. Cartman was his name, as Alden explained.
It was a show called South Park, about little boys with foul mouths. Parents hated it and banned their children from watching it. That was why the volume was turned sort of low, which was why you were not allowed to talk during the show.
"Screw you guys! I'm goin' home!" Cartman shouted on the screen. Fred, George, Austin, Alden and Trevor doubled over in laughter. Ginny cracked a small grin.
"Fine!" the boy named Stan yelled back and called Cartman a foul name. They were all rolling now.
There was just so much to learn in the Muggle world, Ginny thought with a smile.
*~*~*
"Oliver," Mary hissed at him. "Put that down!" Oliver and Harry were playing with a glass, dog-shaped cracker holder while Ron stole small pieces of lettuce out of the salad. "Ron. Don't eat the salad."
"You're just mad that you fell down," Harry said. Mary's pale face flushed.
"Now. That may be true," she confessed, instructing Ron to carry the salad into the dining room. The adults and Mallory, Mary, Ron, Harry, Oliver, Draco, Neville, Percy, Remus and Sirius were all going to shove into the large dining room around the large table to eat a heaping meal.
Everyone else's food was in the kitchen, waiting for them to get it. Mary took her seat, between Percy and Mallory. Percy eyed the noodles in a large silver pot on the table.
"What are those?" he asked Mary in a whisper. He didn't want to insult the aunt who had cooked them.
"Noodles. A family tradition. Try some," she urged just as quietly. Percy shrugged and reached for the serving spoon in the pot. With lightning fast reflexes, Mary snatched his hand away from the pot and put it back into his lap. She blushed and patted his hand.
"What was that about?" he questioned in a whisper.
"We have to say Grace first. It's a big deal," she added. "And if my Grandma cries, don't be alarmed."
"I'll keep that in mind," he acknowledged. PawPaw, who he knew was Mary's grandfather, sat down at the table. Everyone was now ready.
"Let's say Grace," he said in a frustrated tone. "Um, Karen, since you did such a good job last year, how about this year?" Mom blushed a little.
"OK, Dad. Let me see." A pause. "Um, God bless this food which we will consume for the nourishment of our bodies. Also bless those who cannot be with us, whether it be from travel inconvenience or, well, death."
Mary and Percy exchanged a puzzled glance.
"We've lost a wonderful lady this year. And we know you're taking good care of her. Some of us, like Mary, have had a difficult year, but we know you've been with us each step of the way."
Mary's eyes bugged so far out of her head that Percy was afraid they'd roll out and fall into her glass of grapefruit juice.
"Bless this food and this family. Amen," Mom concluded.
"Amen," everyone, except Mary and Percy, repeated. Mary looked like she had just been told the moon really was made of cheese. Her face was bright red. Percy didn't know what to say.
"Please excuse me for a moment," Mary said, standing up and hurrying to the restroom. She didn't see Percy and Oliver following her. She walked into the bathroom and splashed icy cold water into her face, glaring at the mirror.
"Ask her never to mention it and she does it anyways," Mary grumbled to Oliver and Percy, noticing their reflection in the mirror.
"What?" Oliver asked. Percy nudged him with his elbow. Mary motioned for them to join her in the bathroom. She shut and locked the door.
"Oh. Nothing major. I just had the worst frickin' teacher ever for sewing. She insulted me. No big deal. That and the fact that I've just been all 'Bleaugh' about everything," Mary said softly.
"Are you okay?" Percy asked.
"Um. Yes," she informed them after a minute of pushing hair out of her face. "Please, please, please, guys. Don't tell anyone that I talked about it with you. I don't even talk about this crap with Trev. Although I'm perfectly fine." She sighed. "I'm going to eat now."
She hurried from the room, leaving Oliver and Percy to stand, stunned for a minute, before joining her.
"Sorry," they could hear her saying. "I must have gotten some dust in my eye or something."
"No problem," Dad said as Oliver and Percy sat down.
"Dear, would you like some turkey?" Grandma asked Neville. Neville looked downright nervous.
"Umm. Sure?" he responded, but it came out more as a question.
"Light or dark meat?"
"I don't really care," Neville stammered.
"Make up your mind, boy!" PawPaw urged in a loud, joking tone. Unfortunately, Neville didn't take this as the joke that it was meant to be. He blinked and shivered. Ron and Harry exchanged a glance. The whole table stared at Neville.
"Light," he finally said, sounding world-weary. Grandma scooped several medium-seized pieces of turkey onto his plate. He collapsed into his chair, looking humiliated.
"Aww. It's OK," Aunt Marleena said. Neville blushed. Mary lowered her gaze to the platter of mashed potatoes. She put some onto her plate and passed it to Mallory. Percy handed her the bowl of corn, which she put on top of her potatoes.
"Ah. Just like her father," Grandma said. Mary stopped from putting a seemingly large amount of turkey onto her plate and smiled at Grandma.
"Why?" Ron asked suddenly.
"Corn on top of mashed potatoes," Uncle Tommy said. "She's done that since she was a little kid. Just like her dad."
"Um. Yes." Mary seemed like she just wanted to change the subject.
"Oh, Karen. You know what I was thinking about the other day?" Tommy asked.
"What's that?"
"That time we went to Ponderosa and Dad was trying to laugh really quiet and ended up going 'HA' really loud," he replied. PawPaw, Grandma, Mom, Dad, Tommy, Marleena and Mallory doubled over in laughter. Mary smiled a large grin. Oliver and Percy smirked. Ron and Harry also laughed at this. The whole table laughed enthusiastically. And at what?
Ah ha. Another one of those stupid-unless-you-know-the-family stories. Mmhmm. It was absolutely one of those, no question about it.
"So, um, Kurt, how's work going?" PawPaw asked.
"Fine, just fine," he said, eating a piece of the regular stuffing. He hated sea food. Mary coughed and picked up a small piece of her light turkey. Percy watched as she fed the meat to the large golden retriever who was flopped lazily underneath the table.
"I heard about your school, Mary," Aunt Marleena said. Mary chewed and nodded. "I'll bet that was just awful."
"Well, it wasn't that bad. I mean, it was, um, semi-upsetting while it was happening, but, uh, looking back it wasn't terrible," Mary informed the table.
"What was going through your head?" Oliver asked suddenly.
"Oh. Well, in truth, I was kind of upset and a little skittish. It was sort of like 'I hope I can get to my locker and get out in time.' I didn't want to lose my CD player but at the same time I needed to catch up to my friends. It was in fifth hour, and so a lot of people who ride our bus weren't there," Mary recalled, looking down at her plate. There was silence.
"So our teacher was yellin' and screamin', and if we might not have gotten almost sucked into the ground, it mighta been sorta funny, you know?" Mary asked rhetorically. "I followed my best friend, Willa, outta the class and we went to our lockers, grabbin' our stuff. I found Trev and so, we just left. It wasn't so bad."
"It sounds awful," Remus spoke up.
"Nope. Seriously. It wasn't so bad. Other people might tell you it was just positively awful," Mary stated dramatically. "But it really wasn't." She paused, as if desperately searching for a new topic.
Luckily she didn't have to say anything. Trev emerged from the kitchen, just as an excruciatingly loud man sang out the words "Where were you, when they built the ladder to heaven?"
Trevor paled visibly, as downstairs, Fred, George, Alden and Austin collapsed in fits of giggles. "Excuse, you fine ladies and gentlemen," Trev said in a rambling tone and ran down the stairs.
"Guys, I'll be right back," Mary said, attempting to get up.
"Sit down and finish your dinner," Dad ordered with a mouth full of turkey.
"OK. Grandma, these are lovely potatoes," Mary complimented.
"Oh, well thank you." Mary beamed. "So, Karen, these wizards in your house. How did they get there?"
"Well, Trev told me that they just appeared somehow," Mom informed her, her tone thoughtful. "Actually, I'm not sure." Well, at least she was being honest.
*~*~*~*
It was much more fun downstairs. There was, for some reason, a South Park marathon. Fred and Alden were playing pool on PawPaw and Grandma's small pool table. Ginny was playing with a deck of cards. Austin was drawing a picture on a writing tablet, and Trev was leafing through a mystery novel. George was watching South Park intently.
Somehow it remained quiet enough to hear the voice of Cartman, Stan, Kyle, Butters, and all the other South Park citizens. Suddenly Mary hurried down the stairs, looking distressed.
"What in the world was that?" she hissed quietly.
"What was what?" Trevor asked innocently. Mary practically exploded in fury.
"'Where were you, when they built the ladder to heaven?' Man! You should've seen Mom's face! She was so confused!" She doubled over in laughter.
"How's dinner going?" Alden asked as he smacked the 'three' ball into a corner pocket.
"Awful. I'm being inquizitized left and right!" she moaned in horror. "Listen. I gotta go. I told Mom and them all that I needed to check up on you." She headed for the stairs. "Have fun."
"Will do," Austin assured her, not looking up.
*~*~*~*
"So. How were they doing?" Grandma asked. Mary pasted on a smile.
"Just fiiiiine," she said.
*~*~*
"Who wants to play football?" Dad announced in a crooning tone, walking slowly down the stairs. The TV was switched off. The six teens were sitting on the floor, engaged in a peaceful game of Monopoly. Austin, Alden and Trevor yelled that they would.
"How about you, Fred-and-George?" Trev asked. "Ya up for it?"
"Are we ever," George said. Which obviously meant yes. Ginny shook her head and walked upstairs. Dad and the kids followed her.
"What about you, Oliver?" Fred asked.
"Do you want to play football?" George asked. Oliver shrugged.
"I suppose so."
"What about you, Monkeyshines?" Dad questioned to Mary.
"Daddy!" she said with a laugh. She thought for a moment. "Sure," she accepted. Soon, Remus, Sirius, Harry and Ron had also accepted the offer, along with Uncle Tommy. Percy and Neville were reluctantly forced into playing along. Finally, to round things out, PawPaw finished doing the dishes, and so he to joined in.
The teams were split up as soon as the large group reached the cul-de-sac. The 'Silver' team (as christened by Austin) contained Trevor, Alden, Austin, Neville, Dad, Ron, Sirius and George. The 'Evil Gecko' team (as christened by Mary) contained Uncle Tommy, Percy, PawPaw, Oliver, Mary, Fred, Remus and Harry.
Austin produced a nickel from his pocket and handed it to Dad. He flipped it as Oliver and Trev faced off.
"Heads!" Trevor yelled at the top of his lungs as Oliver stood on it confusion. Dad sighed and picked up the small silver coin.
"It is heads," he informed the small crowd in a dramatic tone. The Silver team cheered. The Evil Gecko team cringed.
Soon the ball was thrown. Trevor caught it and faked a pass to George, who laughed. Trev hurled it to Neville. He tried to catch it, but was knocked roughly to the concrete, resulting in a large scrape down his elbow. His face contorted in pain.
"Trevor!" Mary scolded. "Look what your idiotic fake pass did!" She knelt next to the boy lying on the ground. Neville was whimpering, and Austin, Alden and Trev fought viciously to not laugh.
"Come on, Mary. Why don't you take this dollar and buy a sense of humor?" Austin asked seriously. Alden and Trevor doubled over in laughter.
"Shut up!" Mary snapped. "Come on, Neville," she sighed. "We'll get ya fixed up."
"Are you coming back?" Dad yelled after her.
"Yes," she shouted back, not turning around and keeping a firm grip on Neville's arm. "You'll have to excuse my brother and cousins. And the rest of my family, as a matter of fact. They all seem to be insane," she muttered.
"Ah, it's ok. Not the first time I've been laughed at," Neville said with a sigh. "Or the first time I've fallen down."
"Ohh. I'm sorry," she consoled. "Maybe we should start a club." Mary giggled.
"Yeah," Neville agreed with a smile. She led him through the garage, and not letting go of his elbow (the non-hurt one), walked up three stairs, opened the door, walked through the laundry room, down a small hall and finally into the living room.
"Grandma? Do you still have BandAids?" Mary asked Grandma, who was sitting on the sofa with Marleena, Mallory and Mom were watching a movie, along with Draco, Hermione and Ginny.
"Holy crap!" Mom said loudly. She coughed. "I mean, hmm, what happened?"
"Trev faked a pass to George and threw it to poor Neville here, who fell down and scraped his arm," Mary informed her.
"They're under the sink in the bathroom," Grandma said.
"Thanks." And so Mary and Neville walked to the bathroom, where she instructed the boy to sit on the sink. She retrieved a little blue semi- transparent box and opened it up.
"Here, hon, lemme see your arm," she muttered. Mary pulled a little glass bottle and a cotton ball out of the box.
"Um, what's that?" Neville asked. Mary gave an embarrassed smile.
"I don't exactly know, to be honest, but Grandma always used to use it on my many cuts and scrapes and the like when I was little," she recalled, spilling a little onto the little cotton piece and dabbed it onto the wound on his arm.
It felt like fire on his skin. His eyes grew as wide as dinner plates. Mary closed her eyes in shame.
"Oh lord. I'm so sorry!" she exclaimed. "I forgot, I forgot, I forgot! That's the crap that I would cry when they used!"
Neville gritted his teeth and turned his eyes to the floor.
"You know, Neville," Mary said. "You can yell if you want or whatever. They're all watching 'Bye Bye Birdie.' You can't distract them from that movie if you were to drive a train through the kitchen."
Neville whimpered. "Gosh that hurts," he forced out between gritted teeth. Mary ruffled his hair.
"It's okay. I am here for you," Mary comforted solemnly. He smiled at her. "OK. That's done." She wiped away some of the blood with a Kleenex and put a large patchy-like bandage on his elbow. "There ya go, chief. Now, let's go whoop Trevor's sorry behind." Neville laughed.
"Sounds good to me," he agreed.
And so they made their way back to the game, where the Silver team was absolutely maiming the Evil Gecko team.
"Hey," Oliver greeted.
"Hey dude," Mary replied. "How come we're losing?"
"Because your brother and cousins are pretty good," he explained regrettably.
"They aren't that good," Mary said with a sigh.
"Catch!" Uncle Tommy yelled to Mary, hurling the ball to his niece. Mary squealed and caught the ball, running as fast as possible towards the designated spot where she would score, screaming 'You'll never take me alive!' and holding onto the pigskin with a kung-fu grip. She reached the line and gave the whole group (of all guys) a very satisfied smirk.
"Hmm, how did that happen?" she said innocently. Trevor grumbled and folded his arms while muttering a few well chosen swears.
~*~*~
The second part of Thanksgiving will be posted.as soon as we get it done.
Seeya Later, Alligator,
Toad and Skye Rocket