Thanksgiving blues

 

"But Ma!" Junie called from her room. She was in no hurry to meet her mom halfway in the livingroom. After all, her mom was getting the laundry out of the dryer in the basement.

Of course, no answer. Junie was certain her mom couldn't hear. 

"MA!" She kept calling until she thought it might be tragic. What if she went down to the basement and found her mom on the floor. After all, she was a nurse that worked most nights.

"What is it?" Her mother finally shouted back and Junie was slightly relieved that it was nothing serious, but still, she wanted to have more conversations with her mom, but it just didn't seem to happen these days.

They met in the kitchen.

"I want a nice Thanksgiving," she said. "A real Thanksgiving."

"Oh really?" Her mom gave her a serious look as she had the basket of laundry at her side. "You know I have to work and your dad, doesn't like turkey."

"For starters, he's not even my real dad," Junie hugged herself.

"What brought that on? You've known him all your life," Her mother May rolled her eyes at Junie's revelation.

Junie was in a huff. "I have a boyfriend, and I want to dress up." Junie was sad about it. She felt neglected. Even if she didn't really want anything, but a family dinner.

"Well, maybe you can go to his house," she said.

"Ma!" Junie scowled.

"Fine, you and Darry make dinner here, then."

Her mother was so tiny she could even wear Junie's clothes. She wished they could just find time to be a family. She'd been in daycare until she was old enough to be on her own. She made her breakfast anyway, but she'd never made a turkey before.

She pressed her lips tight. She hoped things were better at Darry's than here.