Disclaimer: I own nothing. Not Newsies, not LOVE. NOTHING!
Title: Violence Recovery
Author: Buttons14
Genre: Drama
Rating: R (subject to change)
There can be hope only for a society which acts as one big family, not as many separate ones.—Anwar el Sadat
Chapter 10—Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving morning seems to sneak in. One minute I am lying in bed, staring at the dark ceiling, the next there is sunlight rippling in the windows and I am sprawled about on the bed. Boots' steady snores are coming in from the next room. Racetrack is sitting out in the main room, smoking a cigar and blowing the smoke out the window.
"Morning," I mutter, pulling a glass from the cupboard and pouring myself a cup of orange juice.
Racetrack mumbles a response and stares out the window. He takes another drag on his cigar and exhales bluish-gray smoke.
Boots' snores fill in the void.
I walk back to our room and change. I put on a green army-print t-shirt and an old pair of ripped jeans, with holes in the knees and worn spots on the pockets. I pull on a gray sweater and tame my dreadlocks into a ponytail. I pull on a hat that I find on the floor in the corner of the room and open the door.
"I'm going for a walk," I say, but Racetrack is gone.
0o0o0o0o0
Dinner smells are wafting all over the property. Today is dessert day, Lyra told us at breakfast.
"You're all welcome to pitch in," she shot me a glance.
My stomach is full of pancakes and blueberry syrup. I trudge through the forest, over fallen trees and sodden leaves. The air is cold and I am very surprised that it hasn't snowed, being late November and all. My camera swings around my neck, the navy blue cord swaying with the comfortable weight of it.
I work my way far into the trees. Past the maple, willow and birch trees and into the pine trees. I am surrounded by green and a clean, crisp smell.
I snap a picture.
There is no one on the lake.
I snap a picture.
There are animals scurrying around. A twig snaps beneath my feet. Everything around me is one giant forest-y cliché.
I snap a picture.
I climb up a tree and sit in the crook of its arm. It is surprisingly comfortable. I relax and lie into it. Soon I am asleep.
0o0o0o0o0
When I wake up the sun is sinking and the temperature is low. The forest is dark. I cautiously climb down from my perch, careful not to break my camera. I take a picture of the tree and it's cradle-like arms.
Sanctuary.
I find my way back to the lodge. I can see the lights shining through the large windows. I never noticed before, but the main windows cast a reflection over the water below. I admire the scene for a minute before snapping a picture of just the reflection.
I pull the door open and step inside. It is warm and Lyra is bustling about. She hands people dishes to put on the table or a pack of matches to light the candles.
After a minute of chaos she rings the dinner bell and we all gather around the table.
"Please everyone," she says, "sit and eat. Happy Thanksgiving."
The Thanksgiving dinner is huge. The table is weighed down with platters of turkey and bowls of stuffing, potatoes and carrots.
My stomach expands hungrily as I breathe in. We pass around the dishes, piling our plates high with food. I pour gravy on my potatoes and smother my turkey in cranberry sauce.
Denton raises his glass. After a pause and a glance around the table he speaks. "Dig in everyone!"
Our faces are shining happily. We talk loudly across the table, passing around drink and food. There is laughter and plenty of grinning
Denton and Medda look proud.
Lyra beams at everyone enjoying her food. "Let's go around, what is everyone happy for?"
We groan at the sheer childishness of it, but we go ahead anyways. It feels good to do something embarrassing and stupid for once. It helps us forget about everything else. Lyra is very smart.
Crutchy: "I am thankful for food!"
Everyone laughs and nods in agreement.
Jack: "I am thankful for this weekend and Sunshine Falls!"
There is ridiculous and over-the-top cheering.
Sapphy: "I am thankful that we have each other."
I look at Racetrack, who is blushing.
Aurora: "I am thankful for Jules, who never really left me!"
We cheer for that too, even though we have never really met Jules.
Blink: "I am thankful for being able to see!"
He grins and we find it acceptable to laugh.
Charley: "I am thankful for Denton and Medda."
They smile at each other.
Coin: "I am thankful for polka dots and Indiana Jones."
I don't look up, but I can feel her looking at me.
David: "I am thankful for the rope bridge, which has been an adventure."
It swings steadily outside.
Ethan: "I am thankful for company."
We all nod and Racetrack gives a hearty 'here, here!'
Ele: "I am thankful for music and thought."
Very deep, but we cheer and grin anyways. Ele doesn't seem to mind.
Skittery: "I am thankful for healing."
Boots: "I am thankful for the Salvation Army!"
Andra: "I am thankful for space and time."
Lyra: "I am thankful for you all, since you make Thanksgiving so much better."
Me: "I am thankful for—" family "—friends."
Autumn: "I am thankful for a place to sleep at night."
Medda raises her glass. "Now that is what I call a toast."
End Chapter
((Hmm….so…what are you thankful for?))
Shoutouts:
Erin Go Bragh—wow, you are a picky eater, aren't you? And out band does have a guitar too (and jazz band), but I'm just not good enough to pull it off. I'm know everyone thinks 'oh, she's just saying that', but it's true. I think I frustrate my teacher.
C.M. Higgins—Don't worry, I won't tell anyone that you were on when you shouldn't have been.
Nakaia Aidan-Sun—I don't mind that you weren't here, as long as you come back.
Dreamer110—I know what the homework thing is like. Pfft! So much! And does anyone even like yams? Really. Ew.
Coin—Relationships are really interesting. I'm still not cool. And even my un-cool friends have begun to hate me. I think this is because I'm really moody.
Charlie!Muse: You think? They told you!
Buttons: Don't make me hit you.
Utopia Today—I love you because you used to word 'stupendous'!
Margie Driscoll—OK, you might have figured it out in the century-and-a-half that it has taken me to update, but a Mary-Sue is a freakishly perfect character. One that everyone loves or, if they don't love her, it's because she's better than them. For more information check out my website (in my bio). Also, did you know that you're older than me? Wow! Awesome. Damn it, I'm so young. Oh, and sorry about not reading your fic, I have been strapped for time! I will try to get to it, I promise.