Onwards to Part 2 of 'Arnold's Thanksgiving'! Anyway, enjoy!
We were far along on our walk as we came closer to the piers, which I didn't realize how long we were walking until we reached it. "So, you see, buddy, even though, yes, people have traditional Thanksgivings, they're not the PERFECT Thanksgivings for everyone. But that's all right, just as long as in the end, people enjoy each other's company."
"But your little report, on the Pilgrims and Indians and how they had a perfect Thanksgiving together..." Arnold started.
"Buddy, it's only a report I gave." I explained as we sat down at the pier. "Sometimes, reports, while they can contain good facts, they don't contain all the facts."
"But... just knowing how our friends are celebrating Thanksgiving with their families... and you're not even hanging out with yours... doesn't it suck you're not hanging out with your family?" Arnold asked.
"Yeah, it completely sucks I can't go to Paris with my family, but hey, they tried to include me in their plans." I explained. "They still cared about me. Doesn't entirely mean that they didn't want me to go. They did. Plans just... don't fall into place that often."
Arnold sighed as he looked over to Elk Island. "Rhonda, I still want to know about traditional Thanksgivings, just an ounce of normality for once..."
I paused as I started to think. "Hmmm... Buddy, let's go walk around some more, I have a feeling there may be people who celebrate Thanksgiving the usual way."
Arnold nodded as he and I got up and we walked off pretty quickly.
The first stop on the list I had in mind was the Pataki household as I took Arnold over to the side so I can at least glance inside. I peeked in through a window where I saw Big Bob, Miriam, Olga and Sharlene talking with each other. I wondered why Sharlene was there that day, but I shrugged it off. She is one of Olga's friends, after all.
"See this family over here?" I asked as I pointed towards the window.
"Yeah..." Arnold sighed. "They seem to be having a great Thanksgiving... seems completely normal."
"Oh sure, the normal Thanksgiving." I nodded as we started to move on. "Sure, it may seem like fun at first, and it's a very traditional one in the way that it makes sense. Yeah, it looks like a great family get-together, but do you ever wonder how the family dynamic within works?"
"Not exactly." Arnold paused.
"Well, I know the daughter of that family right there, and trust me, even though they act like a good family, they're not really as... well, close than you think." I explained. "Sure, the dad and mom may be proud of the achievements that the daughter of the family does, but according to that daughter, that's all they really aim for... well, more the father."
"But... the daughter inside seems to be okay." Arnold said.
"Sure, she looks okay... but in reality, she may be hurting inside." I explained. "Conceals her real personality within so that people won't know the pain and suffering she went through."
Arnold paused. "Wow... looking at her, you would think..."
I nodded. "I know, buddy... I know. Moving on, what family do you think has the perfect Thanksgiving so far?"
Arnold paused. "I wish I knew... Gerald?"
"Hmmm... yet another good example... let's go to his house and peek inside his window for a brief moment." I said as we started heading that way.
Over at Gerald's house, me and Arnold peeked a bit through the window to see Gerald and his family having Thanksgiving dinner.
Arnold sighed as he sat down. "Man, Gerald has all the luck in the world. Having one traditional Thanksgiving with his family."
"What you wouldn't do to be Gerald..." I laughed. "But while it does look like the perfect Thanksgiving from the cover, look into the pages. While it does promise wealth and good fortune, inside the pages you'll find things aren't as... peachy as they are. Sure, Gerald has a loving family, I can't argue with that, but you know how Gerald is. He may like his family, but there are times when..."
"He needs his own space and moments to himself, yeah, Gerald often tells me about that." Arnold said.
"Sure, they try to be the perfect family... but there are often squabbles, from what I've been told from my parents, about Thanksgivings." I said. "Thanksgivings are often stressful to have in many other families... and as I mentioned, not every family is lucky to have Thanksgiving together."
Arnold paused as we started to walk off. "So, what you're telling me is, there is no such thing as the perfect Thanksgiving."
"Not exactly." I said. "Look around in other places, there may be some people that have a joyous Thanksgiving, but there are some people that may have trouble with their own Thanksgiving... even the Pilgrims and Indians weren't perfect in the first Thanksgiving. Did you know that aside from turkey, the Pilgrims and Indians also ate goose, cranes and eagles?"
Arnold looked at me in surprise as I nodded. "Yeah. The Pilgrims ate EAGLES. America's National Bird. Sure, they're on the endangered species list NOW, but back then, eagles were okay to eat."
"Is there a point to this, Rhonda?" Arnold sighed.
"What I'm trying to say is, buddy, is that, sure, the Pilgrims and the Indians often fought over land, and they might have even fought over it with no diplomacy during the first Thanksgiving... but what mattered the most is that everybody was together... they appreciated what they had on that day... and you know what? Even if I don't have my parents with me, I'm still thankful that they are still thinking of me at heart. I'm sure they're even having a meal, right now, still thinking of me." I sighed.
"But... why are you happy if you're away from your parents?" Arnold asked. "Don't you miss them... hanging around you?"
"Sure, sure, I do miss them... but I know I'll see them again." I explained. "And even if I didn't have my family with me... I still have my friends... yes, Phoebe may be in Kentucky, Lila may be in Pleasantville, and Nadine may be in New York, but we all think of each other... we just have that big a connection, and know we all have a great Thanksgiving."
Arnold paused. "I guess... but I really would want the perfect Thanksgiving."
"Why do you still want it? Sure, it's unusual for your grandparents to have something along the lines, but..." That's the trigger word that made me realize something. Arnold's GRANDPARENTS. Not parents. GRANDPARENTS.
I started looking into Arnold's eyes, which looked a little duller. I whispered softly, "Is that it, buddy? Is that why you wanted a normal Thanksgiving? Are you... thinking about your..."
Arnold sadly nodded.
We decided to sit down near a bench as I hugged him, with him hugging me back. "It's okay, buddy... they're still out there, somewhere. They're probably thinking of you, too."
"I mean, deep down, I do like the celebrations with my grandparents. Sure, they were unusual, but that's what made it fun." Arnold explained. "But... sometimes, I just feel a little empty inside. I guess I just want to have a normal Thanksgiving, just to fill that void."
"Buddy..." I whispered. "Even if it isn't the perfect Thanksgiving, it's still a good Thanksgiving. You shouldn't be depressed over something you had no control of. I know you miss them. I know you want a chance to properly see them again. I want to meet them too, I want to tell them what a great boy you are, helping others, inspiring them to continue their dreams, and always have the motivation to never give up, even if things looked bleak."
Arnold looked over to me. "You really would say that to them?"
"Every word." I smiled.
Arnold gave me a big hug. "Thanks, Rhonda. You're the best."
I smiled. "No problem, buddy."
After a couple of minutes, Arnold gave a small smile to me as he said, "Rhonda... I think I want to go back to the house."
"You feeling better?" I asked, out of curiosity.
"A little bit." Arnold nodded. "Yeah, maybe not all Thanksgivings are perfect, but I really shouldn't worry and scurry all around, looking for the very thing that... well, I've already found."
"Oh?" I asked. "And what's that?"
"A good friend... someone who understands what I want, someone who is willing to listen to my troubles." Arnold explained. "Thanks, Rhonda."
"No problem." I smiled. "Now, let's go back. I believe there is a Fourth of Julsgiving to get to!"
Arnold smiled as we started to head off back to the boarding house.
Needless to say, it was the best Fourth of Julsgiving that I ever had. Felt like a regular Fourth of July celebration, and personally, it felt pretty cool. I had a lot of fun, having burgers and hot dogs, watching the fireworks at nighttime, and... heh, even I had a chance wear the American flag on my shirt. Felt wonderful, too. As for Arnold, he was really happy, just being at the Fourth of Julsgiving. I thought it was cute the way he dressed as Ben Franklin. Man, it was going to be a great story to tell my friends when we got back together on Tuesday.
I guess the moral to this small story is that even if the Thanksgiving somebody has is not the perfect Thanksgiving, it doesn't have to be perfect, just so long as you enjoy yourself, whether it be with your family or your friends, near and far away. After all, friends in every way, make each and every day OUR Thanksgiving Day. So, needless to say, it was pretty enjoyable.
One thing I had in my mind after the celebration was over was this.
I couldn't wait to do it again!
The next morning, I yawned as I got out of bed. Best Fourth of Julsgiving I ever had. I really hope my parents drop me off at Arnold's again next year. I really want more of that!
I smiled as I noticed Arnold was still asleep. Good, I needed a quick shower. I quickly got my change of clothes and went down to the bathrooms as I went inside. I slowly checked the drain to make sure it was clean... seemed pretty good. I hopped in and took my shower.
By the time I was done with my shower and changed clothes, as I was getting out, I started to overhear the Kokoshkas having another one of their episodes. I didn't quite catch it all, but I knew the word 'rent' and 'job' was involved somewhere. As I went inside Arnold's room, I saw Arnold was already up.
"Morning, buddy." I smiled.
"Hey, Rhonda." Arnold said as he was yawning, I got onto the couch.
"I just got done with the shower." I said. "It's all yours for the time being."
"All right." Arnold said as he went out.
"I'll be fine in here." I said as Arnold went out.
As soon as I was sure he was gone, I quickly went to his bookshelf and selected one of his James Bond books. I smiled as I opened up the book and started reading. I sighed. This was going to be a relaxing weekend...
And that is part two of episode ninety-two! How do you like it? Anyway, read, review, criticize and suggest, folks!