Strange, you never knew

 Something had happened and it wasn't just all these people over for Thanksgiving. Actually Kat was at Grand Betty's at the moment and Nanna was here too sorting through how to best get Thanksgiving started. There was stuff for the neighbor boy to pick up. Honestly, he was the best thing to look forward to in all this mess. The cold wind was rattling the windows. Kat thought how it might be for him under these hurricane conditions even if they weree land locked.  He might as well have been in a boyband because Kat was his fangirl.

She'd fussed with Theo that she was old enough to go with them to pick up donations for the inner city that would make Thanksgiving dinner for those in need.

"Not on your life, no telling where you might end up," Grand Betty snapped when she heard those two fussing.

"Well, Theo isn't that old either, and you're letting him go?" Kat snapped back. Evidently, she and Grand were a lot of like, althought they weren't even related by blood, but she'd always known her and she'd spent a good portion of her life right in Grand's kitchen.

"Your father said it was all right," Grand's hands were on her hips, but she could use them quick if she felt like swatting Kat's behind.

Kat didn't mean to fret. It was hard being almost a middle schooler. Everybody said she had friends, but that didn't mean anyone was ever on her side. No, Theo was the closest to being her best friend, and Chloe had cousin Carrie to laugh with and sit in front of the TV to watch K-POP DEMON HUNTERS again while eating unsalted popcorn.

"Would you like to peel some onions?" Nanna was holding a raw onion. The smell made a tear emerge in Kat's sweet eyes. 

"No.." Kat looked at Grand and came back with a, "No, thank you."

But maybe she should. Maybe she needed a good cry. Was that it? Momma was hiding in her room. She hadn't came out all day. Kat knew she was upset about something.

Kat was about to show her ugly side, but somebody tapped at the front door. Everyone went quiet. It was Darry. 

Kat didn't really like boys, but in her eyes, Darry was a prince of some kind. Noble in fact. Yes, that's the kind of man she wanted. Someone who knew the right thing. Not these silly boys goofing off, farting when least expected.

It was pulsating in her thoughts who she wanted to meet. She smiled meekly. He grinned. Darn if Chloe didn't step on his work boots and had him dancing with her in the livingroom. Carrie was laughing, pulling at his leg as if she wanted to be a part of the dance, too.

Kat sighed. There went her ten minutes of nothing. Darry and Theo loaded up boxes in no time. Kat felt so sad that she didn't even get a chance to say hello. They were gone on their mission.

Kat threw herself on the couch and turned off the TV, which caused a commotion.

"What did you do that for?" Suddenly, Chloe was her typical mean self. Practicing her DEMON HUNTER prance.

"Oh, I don't know, haven't you seen that show enough?" Kat swelled a frown.

"NO!" Both little girls protested as they got on top of Kat to wrestle for the remote.

"What is wrong with you?" Chloe said once she had the remote.

"I think Mom's sick." Kat didn't know what else to say. She'd been sensing it for a while now.

"Sick?" Chloe made a face of disgust.

"Be quiet, don't say anything," Kat sat up with a frown. She hugged the couch pillow as if she needed it to hug her back.

Chloe frowned. Kat sighed and hugged her. Naturally, Carrie wanted to get in on the hug, too.