A/N: Hiyo! So this is the glorious chapter in which you all shall meet everyone! Yes, friends, everyone.
Also, there's a poll on my profile so go vote for your favorite little person! The kid with the most votes gets a surprise from moi. Remember, 'The Holiday Season', next chapter will be Part 2!
Chapter Six
A Taste of Family:
Thnxgvn
After the catastrophe that was Halloween nobody in their group was allowed outside of their homes. Consty ended up being the worst for the wear. During the lunch period that following Monday, when asked about what had happened with her after being very quiet during their lamentable discussions she infamously murmured agitatedly, "What do you think? I got a whuppin."
But sad Halloween stories aside, it was November and the harvest was upon them. Laurel could barely contain her excitement. Mommy was flying in for Thanksgiving and this time she was staying the whole month for sure!
Mommy always levelled with Laurel about how long she was going to be able to stay, so she knew that, this time, her Mommy was going to be back for real.
Laurel could remember when Mommy first began leaving. It only started a little over a year ago, and she used to sob all night. It was after the first extended leave that Mommy took her to Build-A-Bear -all the while grumbling silliness about stark naked thirty dollar stuffed animals- and she hadn't gone a night without Pinky since.
These thoughts stewed in her mind as she strode towards her infamous table. She wondered bitterly, not for the first time, why she was always the last person to sit down when their classes didn't even have a lunch line order.
"Laurel, Diesel's moving back to Georgia!" Xavier yelled excitedly. Laurel frowned as she tried to sift through her mind and realized that not only did she not know what that word "moving" meant but she didn't know where a Georgia was either.
"No I ain't! I mean, am not," Diesel frowned.
His Momma was forever telling him, "Diesel, ain't the south no more, you gotta watch your grammar." He didn't know what grammar was but she always sent him a withering look when he used 'country contractions'.
Plus, he was sick of being made fun of. The guys behind him repeating everything he said got old unbelievably quick.
"What's moving? Where's Georgia?" Laurel asked. Consty stepped in.
"Moving is when you leave forever." Consty assisted.
Laurel gasped in horror as that statement made everything else irrelevant, "Diesel is leaving forever?!"
"Uh, huh," answered Xavier, nodding his head emphatically then lowering it in sorrow.
"But that-that's not good!" Laurel said, on the verge of tears.
Diesel's eyes widened. They made it sound like he was about to die or something. He waved his arms, his voice raising.
"I'm not gonna die!" He cried vehemently. Laurel's eyes widened.
"But you're leaving forever! You can't die, too!" Laurel began to full out bawl then, drawing the attention of nearby cafeteria monitors.
"Laurel, don't cry!" Diesel moved his hands over her face in an attempt to somehow make her eyes stop leaking.
"B-but you're going to-to-to DIEEE!" She wailed, burrowing her face in her hands. Xavier's face was solemn in mourning and Consty sniffled quietly, shaking her head.
"Ughh! I ain't gonna die and I ain't gonna leave forever! All o' y'all need to be quiet 'cause ain't nu'n is fix'n t'a happen to me!" Diesel rampaged.
His words hung in the air like a fog.
Jaws dropped. Diesel turned a shade of vermillion so deep he was even darker than his already rust red hair. They'd never heard him speak in his native dialect before that exact moment.
"Wha-wha..." Laurel gaped. Xavier's eyes almost bugged out of his head, but what Consty said next really left everyone at a loss for words.
"What's wrong with your face?" the brunette queried, eyebrows furrowed as though she could find the answer written on his forehead.
Everybody looked at each other in befuddlement.
"Doesn't your face turn red sometimes?" Diesel asked. Consty shook her head.
"That's weird." Xavier said bluntly.
"You're weird." Consty snapped back and, with that, a full fledged verbal fight broke out.
Diesel took that opportunity to explain to Laurel that he and his family were visiting his "grandpaps" in Augusta, Georgia for Thanksgiving.
To which Laurel responded, "Aww, ok! Do you like peanut butter?"
Daddy had had a very long day.
Class had been restless as the energy of the room fluctuated in a very strange way the more they neared Thanksgiving. A holiday that he cared very little for.
It seemed to be his relative's excuse to barge in on his home and completely upset the balance of his life. Few of their guests brought food with them (which, according to Mrs. Adria, is common courtesy) and instead caused nothing but problems for everyone else.
The only upside was Mommy's extended stay. Just her name alone had the ability to bring something like a smile to his face. Even though the years had turned him into a, quote-unquote, "big ol' softy" -courtesy of Uncle Simmy- that was still a feat very few could accomplish so effortlessly.
And by "very few" we mean Mommy and Laurel.
But, all else aside, he was on his way to pick up the aforementioned little girl. As he climbed into his favorite car, the BMW, his phone rang.
He honestly wasn't into technology so he left that sort of thing to Mommy. She bought him his smartphone, since he didn't care and she didn't want to be one of those tacky iPhone couples. Whatever the hell that is.
He took one look at the caller ID and rolled his eyes. His thumb hit accept and he slapped the blinking screen to his ear.
"What?" He grumbled into the receiver.
"Hi, Daddy!" an exuberant voice responded.
"Simon, what are you calling me for?" Daddy asked, already bored with his brother.
"I just called to say I'm picking up Laurel and Constance today!"
Daddy's jaw slammed into the dashboard. "How?"
"Chloe gave me directions! Edie's here! Say hi, Edie!" The high energy man exclaimed. There were slapping noises as a feminine voice exclaimed a soft "No!" in the background. Daddy pinched the bridge of his nose.
"Simon, I can pick up my own-"
"Sorry, too late. I'm already there! Chill, big man, I've got it!"
And with that the line went dead and Daddy's heart flatlined.
It was pick up time and the car riders were all in the cafeteria waiting for their respective rides. Usually Laurel and Consty would play with leggos on the floor with the other kids and wait for either of their parents to come for them. Today was Consty's turn to stay at Laurel's house so whoever was picking up Laurel was picking her up too.
Laurel had been waiting for the familiar sound of Daddy's keys clanging together melodiously when a voice pulled her turned head towards the door.
"Woah, where's the Laurel-Monster?" A confused voice belted out over the sea of small, squirming bodies. Her black hair, which was pulled back from her face with a cupcake headband, was comically ostentatious as her head snapped up. She got up, turning on her heels and running as fast her hot pink converses would take her.
"UNCLE SIMMY!" She exclaimed as she bolted across the floor and up into his arms.
"LAUREL-MONSTER!" He exclaimed right back, knocking a knuckle against her forehead.
"Oww, Uncle Simmy! That hurt!" She pouted, put out, as she rubbed the spot.
"No it didn't!" He replied with a grin. Laurel would beg to differ.
"Yeah, it did!" She frowned, crossing her arms and leaning over his bicep. Uncle Simmy laughed.
"Hi, Mr. Simmy!" Consty said happily, both her and Laurel's backpacks slung over her small shoulders. Uncle Simmy shook his head and collected the highly decorated bags. Consty liked Laurel's uncle, he was extremely funny and always brought her and Laurel candy or some other tooth-rotting substance.
"'Sup, Constance." He asked, holding up his fist to knuckle touch with her. Consty managed to bump to her entire fist to two of his fingers.
Uncle Simmy turned around and winked at the lunch ladies manning the roster. They all smiled back shyly, conveniently forgetting that they hadn't confirmed him as an actually approved contact for both of the children. He signed out the two girls and they set off on their way, Laurel still stubbornly slung over one of his arms.
"Laurel, get down!" He said laughingly, shaking her off his torso. With both of his arms free, Uncle Simmy picked both of the girls' car seats, Laurel's purple and green and Consty's pink and black. They kept all of the car seats for the younger children in one area and it certainly wasn't uncommon to approach the strange field and find yours nowhere to be found.
They walked across the green and yellow checkered lobby, past the sandalwood front desk and Choice Academy insignia on the white marble flooring, and through the glass double doors. All of them traded stories and laughs all the way to the car, Uncle Simmy's baby Benz. The solid black car had light beige leather interior and it took a moment to strap everyone's car seats in.
As Uncle Simmy put the final touches on the buckle on Consty's car seat a green-eyed, curly brown haired lady stepped into the view from between Laurel's thick beanie and scarf. She excitedly hugged the lady, who bent down to greet her.
"Hi, Aunty!" She said happily, not having seen the lady in quite a while. A thick french accent punctuated her response.
"Hello, mon cherie." She said, a sly smile gracing her face. Laurel giggled.
"Aunty, you talk really funny," Aunty just laughed and then turned to face the little girl just behind her.
"And who is this?"
"Aunty, this is my bestest friend ever, Consty!" Laurel grinned. Consty rolled her eyes.
"Hi, my name isn't Consty its Constance." Consty stepped forward, holding her hand out for Aunty to shake.
"Well, hello Constance. My name isn't Aunty, its Etoile, but you can call me Ms. Edie," She finished with a bright smile. Consty beamed back winningly.
PINKYPIEPINKYPIEPINKYPIEPINK YPIEPINKYPIEPINKYPIEPINKYPIE PINKYPIE
"RAWR!" Laurel shouted excitedly.
It was the Saturday before Thanksgiving -which was that Thursday- and they were off to LAX to pick up Mommy. As a rule, Consty always showed up to pick up Mommy with Daddy.
After escaping Daddy's watch for the trillionth time, Consty decided to surprise the heck out of Mommy. Hiding behind a grey chair in the terminal waiting area, she lied low as she waited for first-class to exit.
Entering the waiting area, Daddy immediately caught sight of the small girl crouched down behind a padded chair receiving looks from everyone in the immediate vicinity. Daddy raised an eyebrow at her and she -loudly- shushed him with her finger against her mouth.
People from Mommy's flight flooded into the large, crowded area and Mommy showed up with her large mural suitcase. Mommy looked confused for a moment, as she usually never made it thirty seconds out of the terminal before being viciously attacked by a person no taller than a potted plant.
She saw Daddy, which caused her to sigh heavily and a relieved smile to slug its way onto her face. Mommy took a few steps, the inevitable inquiry on her tongue concerning Laurel still fresh as she imagined all sorts of terrible things that her husband would probably have notified her of if they had actually occurred.
A pink bubble jumped out in front of her and emitted a muffled, "Rawr!" in a very boogeyman like style. Mommy stopped in her tracks and blinked at the small person for a moment before alarmingly collapsing into a fit of laughter.
Mommy had been so uptight lately with consulting studios, reviewing film submissions (she was on the Cannes board), and never ending meetings that she had briefly been shocked into a state of petrification at the childish spontaneity of her daughter.
Laurel, whose small hands were still formed into little claws, was frowning while in her crouching stance as she watched Mommy clutch manically at her stomach. This was so not the reaction Laurel had anticipated.
Meanwhile, Daddy was standing back, his shoulders shaking with muted laughter at the ridiculousness of the situation. And the people all around were either chuckling or besides themselves cooing at how adorable she was.
After the last few tremors died away and she whipped the remaining tears from her eyes Mommy stooped to pick up a now pouting Laurel. Mommy, who was a very small person, had some difficulty wrapping her arms around the equally small child. She was insulated (because that was what it was at that point) with coats, scarves, gloves, and hats thrown haphazardly all over her body.
The severe coverings were sort of unnecessary as it never got that cold in this part of California but Daddy wasn't the type to take chances after being raised in Jersey, where snow storms could come along at any given moment.
Laurel instinctively threw her arms around Mommy's neck but not before pinching the lady's cheeks, already flushed from her laughing fit. Speaking of flushed cheeks...
"Mommy?" Laurel asked.
"Hmm?" Mommy raised an eyebrow. Her luggage was being escorted out by the ever dutiful husband.
"What is it called when faces turn red?" Laurel asked, her head tilting to the side. Mommy frowned.
"Hmm..." Mommy sat back on her heels, "blushing, I guess," Mommy shrugged.
"Consty said she doesn't do that. Why doesn't Consty do that?" Laurel proposed suspiciously. Mommy's eyes widened considerably and Daddy, who was walking ahead of them, seemed to find a hiccup in his own step.
Mommy had no idea how to explain that to Laurel. Daddy just sighed. He knew something like that would come up eventually.
"Laurel, you realize that you and Consty look different from each other, right?" Well, of course they looked different. They weren't sisters or anything.
Laurel looked at her dully, "Yes."
"So, since Consty has darker skin than you and me her blush doesn't show all that easy. Like, she blushes but you can't see it that well. You got me?"
Laurel thought about it. She always found asking Mommy for an explanation easier as she didn't use words that Laurel clearly would not know. She got that Consty was a different color than her and Xavier and Diesel. Actually, her Mommy and Daddy and Eleanor were all that way. She thought about Beyonce. They actually had around the same skin color.
This was all too confusing, she didn't want to think about it right then but she'd ask Consty about it later. Consty would know.
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It was Thanksgiving morning and Laurel was enjoying her school-less week. She was sitting in front of the television with a ridiculously large cup of hot chocolate and a small plate of pound cake made by Ms. Adria's mom, Ms. Margaret. She was rocking some fleece penguin pajamas and watching the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, as she did every year.
Dad was sitting next to her, numbly watching the parade and doing everything within his power to keep the color from draining from his face at the thought of the awful turn this day could take if people decided they wanted to force themselves upon his too-nice wife+child combo.
Already having been ambushed earlier on by the combined hosting styles of Mrs. Adria and Ms. Etoile who kind-heartedly agreed to assist with her thanksgiving meal planning. Etoile was buzzing around with decorations and the list, Adria was deeply focused on the cooking and heating of food prepared the previous night.
Consty was coming around later, something that deeply hurt Laurel. However, Laurel managed to scrounge up just enough emotion to exclaim brightly at every new float and sing along loudly with the Sesame Street crew.
Daddy was totally spaced out and Mommy could be on any location on planet Earth so nobody had told her to bathe yet and it was almost noon. She got up to go get some milk when she bumped into Etoile.
"Sorry!" She mumbled as she crossed over to the plastic section of the cupboard in the kitchen. Etoile was going to keep moving until she realized that she couldn't remember if she had stumbled across a person or a penguin.
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It was finally evening time and the full guest list was finalized. The menu was strictly southern, with turkey, macaroni and cheese, stuffing, collards, cranberry sauce, green beans, squash, yams, potato salad, broccoli salad, roasted chicken, dinner rolls, cornbread and assorted sparkling beverages. This, of course, was all made possible by Mrs. Adria and Mrs. Margaret (who could not resist sending loads of food up to california) and about three straight days of bedroom, bathroom, kitchen, different kitchen, bathroom, original kitchen, more kitchen and bedroom.
Edie flew nimbly through the house as people from the guest list arrived and a constant stream of food was delivered from the kitchen. Aunty Tori arrived, dressed in a conservative scoop-neck red sweater and black straight leg jeans. Mr. Gerrit, Consty's Daddy, arrived with her and Eleanour.
Everyone was dressed nicely, Mr. Gerrit wearing a smooth black button up and Daddy similarly wearing a black checkered crew neck sweater. Laurel was wearing a hot pink long-sleeve turtleneck and a black sequined jean skirt while Consty chose a ruffled-and-layered red dress and orange stockings.
Eleanour, however, insisted upon red dress with a large skirt. She liked to spin in it until she got very dizzy.
Daddy stood silently, looking on as they all filled in. He, however acutely noticed a certain person's failure to show up on time for anything important. While being around people in large groups still made him slightly nervous this was turning out to not be so bad. But that was before the doorbell rang and all the forces of absolute hell were unleashed upon the dinner party in the form of two individuals.
"RING...RING...RING." That's how the doorbell sounded in Daddy's head. He didn't know why he let Mommy talk him into getting that one, it sounded disturbingly final to just be a doorbell. And yet, when the oak door gave away he started to empathize with the small piece of hardware.
"Daddy, what's up?" Uncle Simmy affectionately queried, meanwhile Daddy began to feel his eyebrows twitch involuntarily.
"Who is this?" Daddy said bluntly.
Laurel was beside herself with enjoyment, the atmosphere was positively festive as both her and Laurel danced dizzy circles around the cozy-smelling halls. So when everybody was finally called up for eating time she was totally ready to eat. Between the two of them, Consty and Laurel had a heated race to the designated eating area.
They were stopped, however, by Aunt Edie before they reached the long glass table. A black fold up table had been taken out and was the designated kids' table, still being put up by Mr. Garrett and Uncle Simmy, who had just gotten there. Daddy was mysteriously missing.
They were the last few seated at the table when they finally sat down. Also at the table were Eleanor in a dark green high chair -who was seriously digging the cranberry sauce- , Daddy -having been politely asked to take one for the team-, and somebody Laurel had never seen in her life.
He was pale with weird squinty eyes like Kengkue but he was older. He seemed nice but Daddy kept looking at him funny. Quickly, Uncle Simmy floated over to the table and introduced him as Luke, Uncle Simmy's friend's sister's missionary charge.
Laurel watched him in mute fascination until Consty pointed out that is was rude to stare, so she began to eat, too.
Eleanor was uncomfortable with the silence of the table and so took it upon herself to break the ice. She looked down at Luke, who was wearing a casual button-up salmon-colored shirt and black pants. His hair was slicked back, dark eyes searching the room restlessly. The pink under his eyes showed his fatigue from whatever situation he was coming from.
Eleanor cleared her throat and began to ask him where he was fun.
"Falursh misk pashh dall?" She curiously asked, emphasizing her statement with her hands.
Luke frowned at the girl, he had never heard English sound quite like that before.
"Silly baby!" Consty said, getting up on her knees on her chair to swipe cranberry sauce off of Eleanor's cheek. The baby turned her face away, insulted. She was not being silly, she was asking a gosh darn question, she hated when people did that.
Laurel took that opportunity to break from her squirming in the black fold up chair and show Luke where she signed her name in chalk under the table on the sly at a 4th of July barbecue. Luke looked at it and his eyebrows rose. He had never seen English look quite like that either.
Daddy dragged a hand down his face and sighed, he couldn't believe that this was really happening right now. This could never, ever happen again.
A/N: For all of y'all hanging tough with me, thank you so much. I love you tremendously, you really don't even know how much. The struggle has been pretty real lately for me so thanks a lot, and not in a sarcastic way at all.
xoxo,
ATH