A Queer Thanksgiving

“Can you pass me those potatoes?” Jill frantically reached through the countless bowls and various utensils scattered along the kitchen counter.

“One sec mom. I’m not quite done with them yet.” Bowie tenderly began peeling a second potato; the second out of ten.

“Oh please Bo, you are so useless.” Carrie took the bowl from him and quickly cut the rest of them. “Here mom.” She handed the bowl to her mother, who was now shoveling cranberry sauce out of the can into a formal dish.

“Bowie doesn’t have to be good in the kitchen. He’s going to be a football player right Bo?” Grandpa Joe asked this every holiday, it was becoming a more and more ridiculous request every year. Bowie could not have been further from a football player.

“Sure pop.” Bowie muttered not meeting Jo’s eyes.

“Yeah, he’d be a great football player. With all his height and muscles.” Carrie joked sarcastically.

“Shut up!” Bowie yelled.

“Oh Yeah, well you’re the football player, make me.”

“Children. Out of the kitchen.” Jill announced.

Carrie and Bowie left loudly. They were both relieved to be free of kitchen duty, though it was still one of the better rooms to be in in the Tiller house on Thanksgiving. The living room always stank with high levels of testosterone from Ted, Carrie and Bowie’s dad, and Jim their uncle. The dining room was strictly off limits until it was time to eat. The prime spot was secluded in their room. Carrie and Bowie were twins and had been forced to share a room from a young age. Which made it near impossible to escape each other. They sulked up to their room, both trying to stay as far from the other as possible. Although that was tricky because in addition to the room they had to share a bunk bed.

“Hey Bo.” Carrie suddenly breached the silence. She stared at the ceiling above her.

“Yeah stink breath.” Said Bowie. He was grumpy she had decided to breach their unspoken agreement to play the silent game.

“I’m going to tell the whole family a huge secret before we eat.” Carrie sat up excitedly.

“Oh.” Bowie responded. He remained laying down, thoroughly uninterested in maintaining the conversation.

“Do you want to know what it is?” Carrie’s foot was going to run away from her at the rate she was tapping it.

“Not particularly.”

“Well I’m going to tell you anyway.” She fiddled with her thumbs as she worked up the courage.

“Go ahead I won't care.”

“I’m gay.” Her body tensed as she waited for a reaction.

Bowie sat up abruptly, knocking his head on the beam of the bunk above him. “Really?”

“Knew you couldn’t stay uninterested for long.” She paused. “Yeah, I’m gay.”

“Ugh.” Bowie grunted.

“What’s wrong with that?” Carrie asked, quite surprised at Bowie's reaction. She had counted on at least him being accepting.

“Oh nothing, it's just if girls know that you’re available how am I ever going to get a girlfriend.”

Carrie laughed. “Oh thank god. I thought you were actually homophobic for a second.”

“How are you gonna tell the fam? You know I’d be cool with it, but what about Grandpa Joe.”

“I don't know, I just have to do it you know… I just can’t keep it in.” Carrie was happy, her and Bowie usually didn’t get along so well. “I guess I’ll just say it.”

“Do you want to practice on me, you know what you’re going to say to them?”

“Um, yeah that’d be great.”

“Thank you so much Jill for this wonderful meal.” Grandma Linda said. “Let’s eat.” The family started to dig in.

“Wait! Aren't we supposed to say what we’re thankful for.” Bowie cut in. Uncle Jim looked like he wanted to strangle Bowie. “Carrie, you want to go first.”

Carrie shot Bowie a look. “Um sure. I’m thankful for this lovely meal. And um… mom, for being cool.” She stalled. “But um, before we start eating most of all, I uh, wanted to make a bit of an um, announcement.”

“What is it sweetie?” Jill asked, concern etched into her face.

“You’re not pregnant are you?” Ted questioned.

“No, kind of the opposite actually. I’m um, I’m gay.”

Uncle Jim spit out his premature bite of potatoes. “Really?”

“Why do people keep asking that. Yes.” Carrie sat. “Let’s eat.” She cut herself a piece of turkey and stuffed it into her mouth.

“No you’re not.”

“What?” Carrie sputtered through her mouthful.

“You heard me. You’re not gay. Your parents raised you right.” Grandpa Joe remained stoic.

“Excuse me.” Carrie swallowed her food. Her face heated up, she could feel the gentle tickle start at the bridge of her nose.

“Dude, what’s wrong with her being gay?” Bowie asked. He could see how stressed Carrie was getting.

“Listen to your grandson Joey. You’ve always been a bigot but I never thought you would stoop to the level of actively preventing your own granddaughters happiness.” Linda spoke calmly, but with a firm edge to her voice.

“Why are you sticking up for that queer.” Grandpa Joe stood.

“I’ve kissed a few girls in my day, and I completely understand Carries want to do the same. Linda took a bite of her turkey.” Linda took a bite of her turkey. “Now sit down and eat your mashed potatoes.”

Joe fumed for a second but sat down slowly, he still looked upset.

“Well that’s some new information for everyone to ponder.” Bowie broke the silence. Carrie started laughing, which caused a chain reaction. Jill broke out in giggles followed by Ted, and Jim. Soon the whole table was laughing.

Alright, that wasn’t as bad as I expected. Carrie thought. The rest of Thanksgiving passed and Carrie was very Thankful the next day when she got to say goodbye to Grandpa Joe.

“Sorry about him.” Jill said to Carrie. “You should know me and your father will always love and accept you. We only want you to be happy.”

Carrie quickly enveloped her mom in a hug. “Thanks mom.”

"We love you." Her father joined the hug.

"You guys know I can't miss out on a good old fashioned group hug." Bowie wrapped his arms around his family and breathed in their scent. 

"Can't wait for Christmas, huh."