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“You’re such a jerk!” She shouted, still laughing.
“Aww, I’m sorry love.”
I grabbed her little frame and squished her body with mine. She grabbed the blanket and wrapped the both of us with it and we stared at the stars again.
“You know something?” She asked.
“What?”
“Thanksgiving is coming up and as you know my family is going to my aunt’s house in Mauch Chunk.”
“I know. It sucks.”
“What if it didn’t have to suck?” She asked, her right eyebrow raised.
“That’s a sneaky look if I do say so myself.”
“Seriously. Maybe you could convince your parents it would be a good idea, with my parents and our whole extended family crammed into the house they’d have to know we’d respect the proper boundaries. What do you think?”
“I think it would be awesome, but I very seriously doubt my mom would say yes,” I said with certainty, “and I am pretty secure in the knowledge that your parents would also object. So, two major hurdles are a little out of our league.”
“Shows how much you know. I already cleared it with the parentals. You’re good to go baby. It never hurts to ask Elliott. The worst they could say is no.”
She was right. I was a pretty well behaved kid and although I had very serious doubts I decided it wouldn't hurt.
“I’m kind of getting my hopes up now,” I said.
I kissed Jules goodbye at her door and ran back to my truck. I decided I’d ask my mom that night if it’d be okay so I could surprise Jules with the good news, hopefully, the next morning.
When I strolled into our living room both my mom and dad were sitting on the couch together, wrapped in each other’s arms, watching television. Told you they were in love. Maddy sprawled on the floor doing homework.
“Elliott,” Maddy said, “will you help me with this math problem?”
“Sure.”
I plopped myself on the plaid chair next to her and grabbed her book.
“Which one is it?”
“Number thirty-four.”
“Okay.”
I figured it out quickly, she is almost seven years younger than I am. When I was done re-teaching her the lesson her teacher should have taught her in the first place, she discovered she had done almost every problem incorrectly and I could tell she had wished she had never asked me for my help. She threw herself in a huff back onto the floor and vigorously erased her entire worksheet. It got really quiet and I decided Thanksgiving with Jules was the perfect topic to break the silence.
“Mom? Dad?” I reluctantly said.
“Yeah son?” My dad said.
“Jules’ family is going to her aunt’s house in Mauch Chunk for Thanksgiving and they’ve invited me along. What do y’all think? Can I go?”
I made eye contact with my mom so she knew I wasn’t planning anything devious.
“I don’t think so Elliott,” my mom said.
“Well, if you say so,” I said, disappointed, “but if it makes you feel any better, her entire family will be there, including her extended family. We’d be chaperoned well and her parents are comfortable with it.” Please say yes.
“Oh let him go Shelby,” my dad said hoping we’d shut up so he could catch the end of his program.
