T3: Family Arrival.

November 24th, (2024)

The next day, in the kitchen, Monica and Alice were at the counter, cooking Thanksgiving dinner. Although Thanksgiving was only three days away, the family, like all other families, decided to plan ahead and cook the dinner now so that when Thanksgiving did roll around, they'd have everything ready.

"Well, it's confirmed." Said 24-year old Brooklyn Quimby, entering inside the kitchen. She had black hair that went past her shoulders and stopped at her upper-back, and her eyes were brown. "I'll be volunteering at the shelter on Thanksgiving."

"Oh, Brook. I think it's wonderful that you're helping the less fortunate on Thanksgiving." Alice said.

"I guess. Did i tell you that the Minnesota News Channel is sending a camera crew down to cover this? Heaven knows YouTube singers like me could use some publicity." Brooklyn said.

"There is no limit to your giving, is there, Brooklyn?" Alice asked.

"Thank you, cousin Alice, that's so sweet." Brooklyn said.

"You're welcome." Alice said.

"Hey, where they at?" Olivia Quimby asked as she and her husband, Ned, and their 9-year old son, Leo, Brooklyn's little brother, and their cousin, Sky Quimby, entered inside the kitchen.

Olivia had wheat brown shoulder-length hair and brown eyes.

Ned had black-gray mixed hair and brown eyes.

Leo had long black curly neck-length hair, brown eyes and pale skin.

And

Sky was middle-aged, she had brown shoulder-length hair and brown eyes.

Brooklyn, Alice, Sky, Olivia, Ned and Leo all ran up to each other and embraced with a group hug, laughing. They then ended the hug.

"Oh, my goodness. You get prettier every year, sweetie. It's like looking in a mirror." Olivia said to Brooklyn.

"Alice." Said Sky, hugging Alice, who was hugging her back. They then ended the hug.

"I'm sorry i have to go, but they're expecting me down at the shelter." Brooklyn said.

"But i thought you weren't suppose to be down there until Thanksgiving." Monica said.

"I am, but i figured i'd have some of the food delivered there before then. You know, plan ahead, like you guys." Brooklyn said.

"Okay. We'll see you later." Monica said before Brooklyn turned and exited the kitchen to leave the house.

"Alright. Bye-bye." Said Alice.

"Bye." Leo said, turning and waving with his right hand.

"Alright, alright." Monica said. "Hear that, Ned? She's off to help at the shelter. Isn't Brooklyn a saint?"

"A regular Mother Teresa. I should know. She is my daughter after all." Ned said.

"And my step-daughter." Olivia added.

"So how was the plane trip?" Alice asked.

"Oh, well, a little bumpy." Olivia answered.

"Turbulence?" Alice questioned.

"No. Nothing like that. Fox six hours straight, Sky never stopped moving." Olivia said.

"Well, that's why i have a boyfriend." Sky said.

"You know that's right." Olivia said. "Monica you look younger every time i see you."

"Oh, you're just saying that. But don't feel you need to stop." Monica said before she, Alice, Olivia, Ned, Sky and Leo laughed.

"Hi, Olivia, hi, Ned, Sky, hi, Leo." Said 77-year old Tracy Quimby, Ned's mother, as she entered into the kitchen. She had short brown hair and blue eyes.

"Hi, mother." Ned greeted.

"Hello, my son. Hello, Leo, my grandson. Hello, Olivia, my daughter in-law." Tracy said.

"Hi, Grandma." Leo said.

"Hi, Mom...in-law." Olivia added dryly.

"Oh, Tracy, sweetie-pie." Said Sky as she walked up to Tracy and hugged her.

"Hello." Tracy said, hugging Sky.

"How are you doing?" Olivia asked.

"I'm fine." Tracy answered before she and Sky ended the hug.

"So...i guess you're gonna be rolling up those sleeves and helping us in the kitchen this year? I can't wait to get elbow-deep in those turkey gizzards." Sky said.

"Honey, you need to get cable." Olivia said.

"Who needs cable when you have your own Roku device?" Sky said.

"Just because i'm a woman, i'm suppose to don an apron on the week of Thanksgiving? I don't think so." Tracy said before leaving out of the kitchen.

"Well, i guess somebody burned their training suit." Alice said.

Cameron and Bill then came into the kitchen carrying a trunk, with Mickey following them.

"Cousin Liv, you ever heard of traveling light?" Cameron asked Olivia before he and Bill sat her trunk down on the kitchen floor.

"And that's probably just her make-up." Sky said.

Bill sat on the trunk.

"Why'd you bring it in here? The guest-rooms are upstairs." Monica said.

"I know, we just brought it in here to sit down and catch our breaths." Bill said.

"Oh, sweetie, is it your back?" Alice said, walking over to Bill.

"Yeah." Bill answered.

"I told you the pressures of that camping trip you and Cameron took last summer were gonna get to you." Alice said.

"Are you okay, son?" Monica asked, concerned.

"Yeah, i'll be alright, Mom." Bill assured.

"Good. Now get that trunk out of here, we need this place to cook in." Monica said.

"I'll help you." Said Ned as he went over to where Cameron, Bill and Mickey were.

"Me too." Leo added, going over to where his father was.

"And i gotta get back to my dressing." Alice said.

"Wait, no. You made the dressing last year." Sky said as Cameron, Leo, Bill and Ned picked the trunk up and carried out of the kitchen, with Mickey following them.

"That's because you were sick. This is my natural turn." Alice said.

"Well, wait a minute, it's my turn to make it after you." Olivia said.

"Okay. Now you're guests in my house. I'll make the dressing. Besides, everybody loves it." Monica said.

"Funny, i don't remember voting." Olivia said.

"Uh, no offense, girls...but none of you can hold a candle to my dressing." Sky said.

"That's because it's so dry, it'd go up in flames." Olivia said.

"All i know is i've been making my dressing for Bill since he was a boy. And he always asks for more." Monica said.

"Well, we all know what a picky eater he is." Olivia said.

Cameron, Leo, Mickey, Bill and Ned came back inside the kitchen.

"Now, Cameron. Cameron. You grew up on my dressing." Alice said as she walked over to Cameron. "Now you tell everybody who's the best."

"Oh, well, come on, Mom-"

"Uh-uh-uh." Said Bill, cutting Cameron off. "Excuse us. Son. Son, come here." He said before huddling Cameron and himself together. "Let me give you a little piece of advice, huh? Never take side when girls are arguing. You can't win."

"(Scoffs) Dad, this is Mom. I think it's alright." Cameron before he turned to go over to Alice.

"Look at me, boy." Bill said, pulling Cameron back to him. "Lesson number 1: Whatever you say is wrong."

"We're all family here, Dad. I don't think it's quite that serious." Said Cameron before going over to Alice. "Well, Mom, i think your dressing is the best in the world."

"Yes!" Alice said.

"What?!" Monica said.

"Oh, i mean, i'm saying-" Cameron stammered. "At least that's what i thought before i tried Grandma's hurb dressing. Woo!" He said as he went over to Monica. "Hey, what is in there, the rosemary that just drives me crazy?"

"What?" Olivia said.

"Um..." Cameron began. "Well, i mean, nothing compares to cousin Olivia's mushroom and bacon dressing." He said as he walked over to Olivia. "Ain't that right, Dad?" He said, looking at Bill.

"Tsk, tsk, tsk." Bill said shaking his head.

"Cam?" Sky said.

"Well, cousin Sky," Cameron started. "i mean, when i first tried your apricot dressing, i was like WOO!" He said as he walked over to Sky. "Ain't that right, Dad?" He asked as he went over to Bill and Mickey.

Bill didn't say anything.

"Mickey?" Cameron said as he looked at Mickey for support.

Mickey remained silent too, as if to say "No way, i ain't in it, you're on your own".

"You're both gonna leave me hanging out here like this, huh?" Cameron said.

Alice, Monica, Olivia and Sky all stared ar Cameron.

Cameron turned to face the four women. "Here's a thought: How 'bout yall make 'em all?"

"That's a good idea." Alice said.

"Hey, yes." Monica added.

"Okay, i'm for that." Olivia agreed.

"I guess i'll get to cook this year.." Sky said.

Cameron turned back to Bill. "See? That wasn't so hard to resolve."

Bill pointed at the four women.

"And you can judge which is best." Olivia said to Cameron.

"Hahahahaha!" Bill, Ned and Leo laughed.

"All four of you." Alice said.

Bill, Ned and Leo stopped laughing. This was going to be one complicated Thanksgiving.

THANKSGIVING

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