(Tommy)

I met JP at the front of the convenience store so close to Janelle's house. They had said formal wear so there I was wearing a collared blue striped shirt, tucked in and brown pants.

"Hey buddy." JP rasped and checked that his collar on his polo shirt was straight.

"Hey JP." I responded, not nearly as nervous as he was.

"You're ready right? Of course you're ready, you wouldn't be standing here if you weren't ready, I'm the one who's not ready, look at me.. Why did I come out here I don't know, but now I'm just blabbering my head off aren't I?" He said very quickly, scratching the back of his head.

"Uh…." I started. This wasn't going to go well.

"Holy cow, the dinner's gonna start in 3 minutes! We should get going, don't want to keep them waiting!" He threw me over his shoulder and despite my useless effort to get him to put me down, he ran with my over one shoulder to the address written on his palm. "Here it is buddy."

"You can put me down now JP." I said, a little annoyed.

"Oh. Almost forgot about you a second." He said and put me down. I looked at the house; it wasn't a mansion but it wasn't beat up or little either. It seemed like a partly rich family. The house was white with blue trimming and roof.

"Ah! JP and Tommy are here!" Janelle said as she opened the door, beckoning us to come in. "Hi ya'll!" She waved wildly.

JP blushed. Janelle wasn't wearing anything to blush at. Just a white tank top and long brown skirt Spanish-style.

"Why, are you the JP our little girl has been talking about?" A woman that resembled Janelle completely appeared from the kitchen with a white apron on and a blue dress underneath.

"Uh…yes ma'am."

"And who's your little friend?" Her Father appeared from the kitchen also, carrying a skillet.

"This is Tommy."

"Nice to meet you Tommy and JP." Mr. Johnson shook our hands.

"Nice to meet you too sir." We both said.

"Now, please meet the rest of the family. That's Uncle Jeran, Aunty Lius, Cousin Hannah, Cousin Joseph the IV, Cousin Harold, Aunty Moreen, Uncle Terrance, Cousin Gabriella, Grandma Catherine, Uncle Dave, Cousin Kyle, and Great Grandma Opal." They all waved and exchanged 'nice to meet you's. "And on the Japanese side of the family is Uncle Takoiya, Aunty Ino, Grandma Sadaji, Grandpa Shigure, Cousin Boushien, and little cousin Yolei."

They all once again exchanged nice to meet you's and they sat down.

"Oh, and where is that little Megumi? Megumi is from the Japanese side of the family also but she's not present right now." Then they prayed and out of nowhere came Megumi, sitting right across Janelle, who was sitting next to JP who was sitting next to me. I blushed when we caught each others eye.

"Dig right in ya'll." Mrs. Johnson announced. The feast was a mixture of American food and Japanese food. Mashed potatoes, salad, ranch dressing, saimin, miso soup, rice, steak, chicken, peas, gravy, furikake (I didn't misspell fruitcake; message to mainlanders), sushi, and grapes. And it all looked so good!

The entire table was in conversation, Aunty Moreen, Janelle's favorite aunt seemed to be protective of Janelle and asked JP all kinds of questions. "How many children are in your family…one? What a shame, I've heard the 'only child' is selfish. Anyhow, what are your goals in life…you're not sure? That's…too bad." She had on a disapproving life.

I didn't like this lady. She acted as if they were going to get married!

"Aunty Moreen! JP probably already feels out of place in our family table, you don't need to give him a million of questions!" She whispered.

JP laughed and fiddled with his fingers nervously. I ate dinner quietly, trying to ignore the fact since Megumi was here…and eating dinner…and that I was here and eating dinner it was kind of like a….

"Megumi, do you know Tommy?" Mrs. Johnson asked.

"Uh…." She murmured, I grew beet red.

"Oh…I see…." She giggled. "In a while, they're gonna be fireworks outside, let's all go and see." Mrs. Johnson announced loudly to get everyone's attention.

Everyone agreed and stood.

"Let's go to the porch." She said, pointing to a sliding door behind us, everyone crowded onto the huge porch, Megumi and I were the last to stand up so there wasn't enough room for us to get onto the porch.

"Oopsie, it looks as if this porch is too crowded…oh welll, fireworks are playing that side of the town also, so why don't ya'll go to the other porch?" Mrs. Johnson smiled. She had been planning this.

So Megumi and I were beckoned to the other porch, with closed curtains and sliding doors behind us.

PLEASE SUBMIT REVIEW; ESAELP TIMBUS WEIVER