3 – Thanksgiving
Holidays were always the best of times on Tracy Island. Everyone was cheerful and relieved to have some festive time to themselves.
Thunderbird Three had just landed, bringing the last member of International Rescue home for the holiday.
"It's good to be home," John said as he settled onto the couch in the lounge, a newly opened beer in his hand. Just as he took his first glorious sip of the drink he'd missed so much while up on Five, Scott came into the room with Ned.
"Hey, John!" Scott said. "You have to meet my new boyfriend, Ned."
"HEY," Ned said and John squinted involuntarily at the man's grating voice.
"Um, Scott, did you clear this with Dad?" John tipped his beer in Ned's direction to indicate his meaning.
"Of course," Scott said, crossing his arms to show his offense.
"Which means you didn't," John said. He took a swig of his drink, gearing up for the impending fight when Jeff found out that Ned was on the Island for Thanksgiving.
"But aren't you excited for me?" Scott asked. Gordon walked into the lounge as Scott continued, "Ned is my boyfriend. And he's the most famous and most amazing reporter in the whole world!"
"Oh, yes!" Gordon said sarcastically and Scott shot him a look, only then noticing his entrance. Gordon ignored Scott's look, turning to his other brother instead and saying, "John, you should have seen Scott when he first rescued Ned. It went a little like this…"
"Not this again!" Scott interjected. But Gordon continued anyway, putting a hand on his chest and saying in a dreamy voice,
"I just rescued the most beautiful and successful man alive. I'm beside myself!" Then Gordon fell onto the couch dramatically and John burst out into uncontrollable laughter, nearly spilling his beer in the process.
"I did not do that!" Scott insisted.
"I can totally picture that!" John said between bouts of laughter. Gordon stood from the couch and continued his story:
"And then I said, 'Scott, get a grip. Of all the gorgeous men who you've rescued and who have openly flirted with you, you have to choose THE MOST ANNOYING ONE POSSIBLE. Why.'"
"Yeah, seriously Scott," John put in.
"I'M NOT ANNOYING," Ned said.
"Yeah, you're just being mean," Scott said, putting an arm around Ned's shoulders.
"If by 'being mean,' you mean 'telling the truth,' then yes," Gordon answered.
"I give up!" Scott said, throwing up his hands. "Come on, Ned. Let's go take a swim while my brothers learn how to GROW UP."
"OK," Ned said and they left the lounge, Scott in a huff and Ned looking a bit lost. Jeff passed them on their way out and turned to his other sons, asking,
"Was that Ned?"
Gordon and John just nodded.
"Oh, and hello, John," Jeff continued. "Feels like I haven't seen you in ages."
"It's because he's been hiding in his Introvert Cave in the Sky," Gordon commented.
"Wasn't my choice to strand myself in space," John replied, "but I really don't mind escaping the chaos of the Island."
"Nerd," Gordon said and stole John's beer.
"Hey, don't even think about it," John said, reaching across the couch to reclaim his drink from his brother.
"Boys, it's Thanksgiving," Jeff said. "This is no time for fighting."
"I thought that Christmas was 'no time for fighting'?" Gordon said. In his distraction, John took the opportunity to take his drink back.
"No, you're thinking of Flag Day," John joked. Gordon hit John on the back of the head and then changed the subject.
"Hey, Dad," he began, "since I don't want to get grounded for the umpteenth time, I think I should tell you that Penny is back on the Island."
"Finally you boys are getting the idea!" Jeff said in triumph. "Thank you, Gordon. Now I don't have to run into Penny in my own house and look like an idiot. I swear, Tin-Tin is almost as sneaky as Penny."
The boys looked at him in shock, unable to process the words "sneaky" and "Tin-Tin" in the same sentence. But Jeff was oblivious to their looks. He said,
"Anyway, we should all get ready for dinner. I'm sure Kyrano and Grandma have outdone themselves once again."
"Ok, you do that Dad," Gordon said, looking to get rid of him.
Jeff looked proudly at his two sons and then left the room. Gordon and John looked at each other and said simultaneously,
"Beer?"
"We're gonna need it," Gordon commented.
They sprinted to the kitchen to grab their drinks before they were inevitably called to the table.
The dinner table was nearly overloaded with food when the members of International Rescue sat down. But before they ate, Jeff fulfilled his Thanksgiving tradition and named all the things he was thankful for.
"And I'm thankful for my five boys who—"
Scott interrupted his father, chiming in,
"And Ned! Don't forget about Ned!"
Gordon turned to his brother and retorted,
"How can we possibly forget about him when you won't stop talking about him?"
"And not to mention," John piped in, "that he's sitting right here at the table for goodness sake."
"Speaking of being at the table with us," Alan started, "has anyone seen Tin-Tin? Shouldn't we wait for her?"
"Now that you mention it," Virgil put in, "Penelope isn't here either."
"Mystery solved!" Gordon shouted and Jeff shot him a disapproving look for yelling at the table. Alan sulked as John said,
"Well, Dad, you might as well get on with your speech. There's no use waiting for those two."
"Alright," Jeff conceded. "Well, again, I'm thankful for my five boys…"
Scott cleared his throat.
"And Ned," Jeff added reluctantly. "And the girls, wherever they may be."
"Here here!" Gordon said, raising his glass. "And may I go on more missions this year!"
"And may there be less drama!" John added, lifting his glass to clink with his brother.
"This is Thanksgiving," Scott said petulantly, rolling his eyes, "not your Christmas list."
"Well, in that case," Gordon replied, "I'd like to add a few things to my list. One, that Penny and Tin-Tin stay together forever and two, that Ned would get on the next—"
"That's quite enough, Gordon," Jeff interjected. "Thanksgiving is no time for fighting."
"Fine," Gordon conceded. "Then, less talking and more eating."
"Here here!" John agreed.
"But what about Penelope and Tin-Tin?" Virgil asked as everyone began filling up their plates.
"Did someone call me?" Tin-Tin asked, appearing at the door. Jeff shook his head, wondering if everyone had a secret way to call Tin-Tin that he didn't know about. He decided that he'd have to investigate this phenomenon.
"Oh, you've started," Penny said, stepping into the room after Tin-Tin. "I apologize for our tardiness. Tin-Tin just couldn't decide between 'Rosy Afternoon' and 'Spring Rose' for her fingernails."
"They may look identical to the untrained eye," Tin-Tin defended herself, "but they are completely different."
"No harm done," Jeff assured them, smiling at Penny and gesturing for her to sit. "Now, the gang's all here and it's a real Thanksgiving." There was the barest glimmer of a tear in Jeff's left eye.
"GOD BLESS US, EVERY ONE," Ned said.
"Shut up, Ned," John and Gordon said simultaneously.
"Wrong holiday," Jeff muttered under his breath. Aloud, he said, "But Thanksgiving is no time for fighting. I'll let that one pass, Ned, which is something that you should be thankful for."
"THANKS, DAD," Ned replied.
"It's Mr. Tracy to you, Ned," Jeff said, obviously fighting hard to keep his voice even.
"OK, DAD."
"Scott," Jeff said seriously, turning to his oldest son. "Take control of your boyfriend or you're grounded."
"Yes, Dad," Scott answered.
"SORRY, DAD," Ned added. At once, all the boys replied,
"Shut up, Ned!"