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When we walked toward the tables, I realized then that there was a lot of work to do. Clearing the tables probably should have been done before the game.
However, it seemed North and Silas really had thought ahead. Victor, Luke and I collected pumpkins, placing one on the doorstep of every home along the street.
Silas wheeled in a big trash can already lined with a bag. North and Silas, with Kota assisting, gathered up the tablecloth around the mess, picked it up and neatly dumped it in the trash can.
That was clever. I was grateful North had thought ahead of time.
The leftovers on the buffet table were collected by Dr. Green and Mr. Blackbourne. Mackenzie and the Native man came by, directing where the leftovers should go. Each box was given to a specific house. “People with the most kids should get the leftovers,” Mac said.
By the time Victor, Luke and I returned from delivering pumpkins, all that was left was to fold tables and chairs. Everyone folded their own chair and they were stacked with the tables back onto the trolley. One of the men rolled it away to someone’s shed where they were stored.
The kids were busy playing. The teenagers had disappeared to watch television in one of the homes. The grownups sat on porches, watching the kids play and talking about the game.
“Great Thanksgiving this year,” Mac said. She reached out with an open palm toward Mr. Blackbourne.
Mr. Blackbourne shook it. “Fantastic, as always,” he said. “Thanks for providing the venue.”
“Thanks for providing the food,” she said. “We still have enough leftovers for the weekend. Maybe. Some of these men have bigger appetites.”
“Some of the kids have bigger ones,” the Native man said.
By the time I was escorted to a car at the end, I didn’t even focus as to which car I had joined. I simply knew we were heading off, and that I was completely exhausted.
My eyes closed.
FAMILY
I didn’t wake up until we were pulling into Sunnyvale Court. I was in the back seat of Kota’s car, with Nathan in the front passenger seat.
I sat up a bit, having slumped against the door, and yawned.
Nathan turned toward me. His hair was a reddish mess on the top of his head. His eyes had tired shadows under them. “The turkey get to you?”
“I think the kids got to her,” Kota said. He yawned, and stretched his back. “I think they got to me, too.”
I twisted my neck to get out a kink, looking at the dark and empty diner as we passed. There was a sign near the door, big enough to be seen from the main road, announcing that they would be open in the morning, wishing everyone a happy Thanksgiving.
The rest of the street was quiet. The sun was kissing the tree line, ready to sink down below the horizon, and driveways were either crammed with cars or completely empty.
After such a long day, being on this familiar road was welcome. I’d enjoyed Thanksgiving but I wanted to quietly enjoy the rest of the day in peace, curled up in Nathan’s bed.
Now that it was over, and I remembered all that had happened, I could see doing it again next year. I would prepare better and know what to expect.
The car was quiet as Kota pulled into his own family’s driveway. He parked the car in the far corner and then turned off the engine. He took out the keys, and kept them in his hand as he turned, looking back at me.
I rubbed at my eyes and sighed. I’d thought I would merely be enjoying a good Thanksgiving dinner with Kota and his family, and possibly with Nathan and a few of the other boys. Instead, it had been busy and chaotic. My face felt windblown and I imagined my hair was a mess.
“I’m a bit gross,” I said.
“We can wash up before dinner,” Kota said.
I looked at Kota’s house. Lights were on inside. “Is this Thanksgiving part two? Or three?”
“Yup,” Nathan said. “Time to eat whatever Erica made. She knows we go do charity work most of the day.”
“Is she expecting me?”
“Of course,” Kota said.
I tried to comb my hair back, wondering if she’d see me coming in the door before I had a chance to clean up. Then I realized Mr. Blackbourne’s jacket was still around my waist. “Ugh,” I said, tugging at the sleeve. “I stole his jacket.”
“He’s got more,” Nathan said. He had gotten out but then paused, leaning in. He looked at me, still sitting in the car. “I’m hungry again, but I don’t want to overdo it.” He looked at Kota. “Stop me if I reach for more potatoes? Or a roll? I shouldn’t have any rolls.”
“I think you did enough of a work out at the game to warrant a second roll.” Kota said with a chuckle. “Are we ready for this?”
I shook my head, although to be honest, I was hungry. I was tired, too. I fought with myself over whether to go to sleep or be polite and eat first.
“Yeah,” Kota said with a chuckle. “I’m not sure I’m ready for this, either.” He got out of the car and then moved over to open my door. He looked in on me.
I had no energy to even reach out for him. My muscles wanted me to relax in the back seat and go back to sleep.
He reached in for me and then held on to my arm. “Come on, sweetie,” he said. “Just a little further.”
I found some energy and let him support me as I got out. I leaned on him as we walked toward his house.
Nathan followed quietly behind us. “Sang,” he said. “You okay?”
“Yeah,” I said. “Just so tired. I shouldn’t be. I didn’t play in the game that much.”
“You’re very much an introvert,” Kota said. “Too many new people probably zapped your energy.” He patted me on the shoulder. “It’s okay. Victor gets the same way. That’s why he didn’t really play in the game. Loud team sports really aren’t his thing.”
I really did feel zapped. Once we were at the door, Kota turned the knob and opened it, letting me walk in first.
The smell of turkey hit me on a waft of warm air. It was a delicious mixture of other foods as well, and it startled my stomach into waking up.
“Kota?” called Erica from the kitchen. “Is that you?”
“We’re here,” Kota said, walking ahead of me. I lingered behind, looking at Nathan. I was nervous even though I shouldn’t be. Erica was nice, but this was a family occasion, and I was just the girl up the road. Wouldn’t she ask about my family?
I thought about my sister and how she was alone today. Shame filled my heart then. I’d spent so much time with the boys, that I’d forgotten about her, and that she was probably by herself on a day for families.
Kota moved to the threshold between the hallway and the dining room. He paused there, blocking my view. “Mom,” he said. “We’re kind of dirty from a football game. Is it okay if Sang goes upstairs to shower and change? Nathan and I can take turns in the downstairs bathroom.”
“Sure,” she said. “You all hurry, though. Dinner’s ready. We were just waiting on you.”
“Let me just go show her where everything is,” he said.
It was amusing to me the way he said it, like I was so rarely in his bedroom, and had no idea where things were. Maybe it was still better his mother believed that. As much as Erica trusted Kota, it probably was still too much to ask every time I spent the night.
The boys and I clamored on up to Kota’s room. It was odd to be given permission to enter a boy’s room by a parent. My stepmother used to have a fit if I even spoke to a boy. The stark contrast between her and Erica still had me in such awe about her. I liked her a lot.
Upstairs, Nathan collapsed onto Kota’s bed in a heap. “I am so tired,” he said. “The kids were more interested in playing airplane landing on top of Silas than the game. My arms are like noodles.”
“And you were worried about gaining weight? I’ll be surprised if you’re not under by the end of the weekend.” Kota rolled out his computer chair and sat heavily into it. He leaned back, stretched and then proceeded to take off his shoes. “You should grab some clothes and
go shower. I’ll come downstairs in a minute.”
Nathan got up quickly. “Okay. I’m going to pass out early tonight. I hope we don’t have to have that meeting tomorrow. I might jog.” At the door of the closet, he slowed, looking at me, and then at Kota.
