The Dysfunctional Family
Story #3
Of Steelers and Packers (Super Bowl 2011)
Summary: It's time again, football fans; the Super Bowl is here! And the States are getting ready for it.
Disclaimer: it's funny that I'm writing a story about the Superbowl when I don't actually like the Super Bowl.
"It's time for football."
Arizona blinked and looked at his older brother. "So, by football, you mean football, not soccer?"
"Yes, I mean football," Texas replied, setting a bowl of pork rinds on the table. "Ready for the Super Bowl?
"Yep." Arizona said. "I wonder who's going to win this year…"
New York dug through the fridge, intent on finding something cold and preferably alcoholic to drink. He had come day yesterday to help Pennsylvania get ready for the big game and for a brief break from the lights of his beloved New York city. In the back of the refrigerator had found what he was looking for: a case of beer.
"Ooh, it's from Wisconsin." Anthony said as he pulled it out. Pennsylvania came walking by a moment later, and paused when he saw what New York was doing. "Hey, put that back. It's for the game tomorrow."
New York contemplated it for a moment, then gave up and put the case back into the fridge. "Why'd Wisconsin give you the beer? I thought you two had teams going against each other this year."
"His note said it was a goodwill gesture." Will said, setting down the folding chair he was holding. "Anyway, we'll have something to drink tomorrow." He picked the chair back up and took it out of the kitchen doorway, down the hall. New York pulled a can of Mountain Dew out of the fridge and followed him.
Pennsylvania set the other chair down in the living room near the TV. Over the past several days he, with Delaware's help, but begun moving all the extras chairs into the living room.
New York took a seat in one of the chairs and looked around. He looked like he wanted to say something, but before he could New Jersey walked into the room. "Hey Penn, do you have anything I drink? Like, something alcoholic?" He asked, then he noticed New York. "Well, if it isn't the ole high an' mighty trial lawyer."
"Well, if it isn't the general menace to society." New York retorted. "Pennsylvania, what is New Jersey doing here?"
"He's here, first of all, because the heat in his apartment broke, again." Will said dryly, his tone indicated that he wasn't exactly buying that excuse.
"But you forgot the most important question." New Jersey said, then pointed at New York. "Why is he here?"
"I have to make the buffalo wings." Anthony replied.
"Seriously?"
"Yes, seriously." Pennsylvania cut in. "The Super Bowl is two days from now. Most of New England is going to descend on my house this Sunday. Besides them, West Virginia, Ohio, and Maryland might come. Even Maine promised to come if he didn't get snowed in."
"It's gonna be a big party."
"Yes." Will said, brushing something off his shirt. He had dressed down today, wearing jeans and a Penn State t-shirt. He pulled a chocolate kiss out of his pocket, unwrapped it, and popped it into his mouth. "Come on," He said, pulling out another kiss. "Since you two are here early, you can help finish gathering chairs. And New York, if you get into a fight with Massachusetts when she shows up, I'm going to throw you both out."
Wisconsin pulled the wire mesh basket out of the deep fryer and dumped the piping hit cheese curds onto some paper towels so they could drain. "Perfect." He said, turning the deep-fryer off.
"Hey, Wisconsin! Where's the broom?" Minnesota called.
"Umm, I think I left it near the front door." He replied.
Minnesota headed over to the front door and found the broom. "I'll just sweep the hallway here real quick, and then all the cleaning should be done." She said.
"Thanks Minnie." Wisconsin said. "I think most of the food is done now. All we'll have to do is reheat it when everyone else shows up on Sunday to watch the Super Bowl here."
"So who all is supposed to be coming?" Minerva asked.
"I'm expecting Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, and then maybe Nebraska, the two Dakotas, and I don't know if Missouri will come up here or if he'll go down to Texas' place to watch the game." Wisconsin told her.
"Any word on Michigan?"
"Umm, nope. I don't know if he'll come or not. He might. I promised if he came I wouldn't give him too hard a time about having to root for the Packers."
Minnesota giggled. "Twenty bucks says he doesn't come."
"You're on."
The doorbell rang, and the duo went to answer it. It was Iowa. "Hi! I hope you don't mind that I came a little early. I brought corn tortilla chips for tomorrow."
"Of course." Wisconsin said. Iowa loved her corn.
"And look! New Mexico sent of a jar of spicy salsa the other day." Iowa said, pulling it out of her bag. "It'll go great with the chips."
"It sure will. Come on in." Wisconsin told her.
He picked up Iowa's bag for her and brought it in, and Minnesota took the food and put it in the kitchen.
"Is Missouri coming over?" Iowa asked as she looked around the house, which was already decorated for the Super Bowl.
"Dunno." Wisconsin said. "When I talked to him, he mentioned he might go down to Texas' place and watch the game there with the other southwest states."
"That's cool. So, what else has to be done?"
"Umm… well, we'll need more chairs." Wisconsin volunteered after a moment of thought.
"Then let's go find some!" Minnesota said, the trio headed off to hunt down some more chairs.
Because nothing made for a good excuse to get together and have a party like the Super Bowl.
T.A.R.N.S.: Meh. I don't know if I like my ending, but at least I go the fic done.
As a general rule, I don't actually care about the Super Bowl, and I won't bother to care until the Colts go back (and only because I live in Indiana and the rest of the state will care), but I did realize that hey, this is a good opportunity for a story. Texas and Arizona got to cameo at the beginnig because I know that people from all over the world are on FFN, and when I say football I mean American Football, not your football, which we call soccer. Not sure how well that cleared anything up. This a conglomerate story, so no profiles this time, but I will give you the states' human names, for those that don't have profiles yet.
MINNESOTA - Minerva (Minnie) Jones
NEW JERSEY - Enrico Jones
IOWA - Iola Jones
WISCONSIN -
Texas, Arizona, and New York already have profiles on my other blog http : / / newrevolution (-) cynicalbook( .) blogspot (.) com (/) I have not updated in eons, but you'll find the profiles in the sidebar under 'sticky notes' and labelled 'state notes.'
And I need to make one correction to my previous story. A reviewer, The Babel Fish, pointed out to me that that Missouri's favorite food that he references last story are called Toasted ravioli, and I dont think I called them that anywhere in the chapter. I know I used the abbreviation T-ravs, but for the record, in the previous story, when you see that Missouri is frying up ravioli, it's called toasted ravioli. Just FYI.
And I think I've exhausted all of my notes for now. So, was it good? Bad? Indifferent? Please review and tell me what you thought. Thanks to everyone who has reviewed so far!