The One With the Thanksgivings We Loved
These characters are the property of Bright Kauffman and Crane Productions. Alex is the creation of Bright San Productions...
Thanksgiving was always a special time in Monica's life. That's why it nearly destroyed her when a reckless driver rear ended her car on her way to the city. The doctor had told her she had to stay off her broken leg for at least six weeks. Between her two teenaged children and her husband, they had been taking care of things. Erica would help with the cooking and Jack with the cleaning. The twins were now thirteen years old.
"Dad I can take care of Thanksgiving this year." Erica said as she tossed her blonde hair around. "I've watched Mom."
"It is out of the question, sweetie, you are way too young for that much responsibility." said Chandler. "This house is going to be filled with people."
"Daddy's right. I didn't cook dinner until I was on my own." agreed Monica." "I guess I am going to have to get up sooner than I thought." she said as she got up from the chair. Chandler pushed her back into it. "Not so fast Speedy Gonzales, that doctor told you to stay put for a reason."
"Thanksgiving can't happen without me. I will never hear the end of it from my mother. I get married, become a mother, have a career, and nothing is good enough for that woman. The only way to ever please her is to be the perfect child, and I am not him." yelled Monica.
"Hey everybody." said Ross as him and Rachel came through the kitchen door. Emma came running in as well.
"Speaking of the bad seed." said Chandler.
"Erica, guess who wants to take me to the Christmas dance?" squealed Emma. She was a thin, tall girl who had brownish blonde hair and puppy dog eyes. Even though she was very studious, she was a gorgeous teenager. Emma Geller was the best traits of both her parents, a brain with a body that wouldn't quit. The body part was the part that worried her father the most.
"So Mon, how's the leg." asked Ross.
"It is driving me crazy." she said as she gritted her teeth. "Now I have a Thanksgiving dinner to worry about."
"I've been thinking about that Monica and this year, you can relax, I'll cook it. I watched you make dinner all these years and I think I can do it." Rachel said confidently. At the same time Chandler looked over at Ross with a scared look in his eye.
"Honey, uhm I think that might be something that would be a little bit out of your league." Ross said unsurely.
It's a turkey, potatoes, yams, cranberries, and pumpkin pie. How hard could that be?" Rachel asked.
"Darling I love you, but you can't cook." Ross said as he waited for the explosion.
"Yes I can." she replied.
"Rach, no you can't. There's a reason we always end up with take out." Ross said.
"Dad's right Mom, for my cheerleader bake sale, I always have to buy cookies and take them to school after I throw out yours." answered Emma.
"And after all, Rachel, we all remember what happened the last time you tried to cook for Thanksgiving." added Monica.
"Mom cooked?" said a startled Emma. "Did anyone eat it?"
"Yeah Uncle Joey." added Chandler. "But he'll eat anything."
"What did you make Mom?" asked Emma.
"It was not that bad." screamed Rachel. "Grandma and Grandpa ate it."
"No Mom and Dad hid it in Monica's room." added Ross.
"Dad what was it?"
"It was an English trifle." said Rachel defensively.
"With peas and beef." laughed Ross.
"Why didn't you tell me it was awful?" yelled Rachel.
"Because I wanted to spend Thanksgiving with hot naked girls." yelled Ross. Joey and I were invited by Janine to spend Thanksgiving with her dancer friends who didn't cook and were planning on getting drunk."
"I thought you were trying to save my feelings, and all you and Joey wanted to do was drink with dancer girls." scorned Rachel.
"Yeah you should be ashamed of yourself Daddy." laughed Chandler.
"You were just jealous because you couldn't go." jeered Ross.
"I had my hot woman." smiled Chandler as he put his arm around Monica. Quickly he turned to Jack and said quietly. "But I wanted to."
"That was the first Thanksgiving that your father and I were together. He had moved in right after we got back from Vegas. Aunt Rachel had moved in with Aunt Phoebe, after her divorce that is. giggled Monica.
"Divorce?" asked Erica.
"Yeah Dad and Mom were divorced after they went to Vegas." answered Emma.
"And they got married again?"
"Please that's another story." interrupted Ross.
"Then they got married for a second time?" asked Jack.
"It is after all your Uncle Ross." laughed Chandler.
"Anyway Aunt Monica was cooking dinner. Grandma and Grandpa were coming over and they hadn't told them that they were living together. So we were all told not to tell them because for some odd reason they didn't like Uncle Chandler very well. "explained Ross.
"Tell them why." Chandler demanded.
"Because… I …" Ross stuttered. "I did something that I am not proud of and highly suggest you kids never do. I tried marijuana and blamed it on Uncle Chandler."
"And that was only because your father was too chicken to tell them it was his idea."
"But I did and then that day Aunt Monica and I started yelling things that we didn't want our parents to find out." Ross said as he put his arm around his sister. "Everything turned out and Grandma said she was so glad that Chandler was with Monica."
"But I don't get It." said Erica. "Why didn't anyone tell Aunt Rachel that she made a mistake?"
"Because she tried." Smiled Monica. "And that was the important thing."
"Okay this sounds too much like an after school special, so what do we do about dinner?" Chandler asked.
"Hey everyone, "a voice yelled from the hallway. Phoebe came in the door.
Hope everyone is enjoying my little Thanksgiving story….. More memories are coming as Phoebe decides to help …