The Thanksgiving Disaster

Eloise slammed a fistful of potatoes across Julian's face.

"There, NOW they're mashed! Happy?!" She jerked away from the table and stormed to the sink.

Everyone gasped. Julian ran two fingers through his newly-decorated face as the twins murmured to each other. He shot them the look- though it had little effect with his cheek covered in goop.

"El, seriously?" He staggered to his feet in a daze. "I only meant that they aren't soft enough to be pureed."

"It doesn't matter. You always have to be right, don't you, Julian?"

Her hands trembled in the running water. "Kids, shut up!" She demanded. The murmuring boys silenced, sitting bolt-upright.

"Sorry!" They said in unison.

"You know, we were those kids once." Julian wiped the mess from his face as he spoke. "Regardless of your potatoes, you're still my sister."

"Oh, 'regardless'? So they're not even good?" She leaned on the edge of the kitchen counter, looking down.

Julian paced toward her. Their Uncle Ned glanced between them, and shoveled another wave of mash-pureed potatoes into his mouth.

"Taters are taters." He said.

"Look, it's not about that." Eloise poised herself and corrected her hair as she replied. She strained to control the look of contempt as she faced her oppressor. "I spent six hours preparing this meal every year. I spent my money. I cleaned my dishes. And I do it to provide a beautiful experience for this family, especially now that Mom's gone."

"Okay," Julian discarded his paper towel, "I didn't think it'd be such a big deal."

"I do the work, I name the food!" She insisted.

"But they're mashed potatoes..." Julian trailed under his breath, grabbing a bit of turkey before vacating the dining room.

Ned paused, glancing at the empty seat at the head of the table. It adorned the same setup as the rest of the table- an honorary place for their deceased Mother.

"Ya know, Eloise, you can go easy on your brother. He's dealin' with this too." His focus remained unmoved from the empty plate. "We all are."

She stalked back to her place at the table and plopped into her chair. She examined the potatoes she'd strewn across the way, the unattended, half-eaten dinner across from her, and glanced at her uncle, eyes stinging of tears.

The hard wrinkles across his brow softened as he pulled her in. "It's okay, girlie." He gave her opposite shoulder a light squeeze as she sobbed into his gray polo. He nodded to the twin boys- the proper look- and they left the room to play. She caught a whiff of his familiar Adidas over the dinner, and sighed.

"It's just- it's the holidays- and She passed just a few months ago. I've never-*sniff*- done this without her. Hers were perfect. Julian never said hers were mashed. I wanted to do right by her." She sat up, wiping the stain of eyeliner from her face.

"Hey, now. I'm sure she's proud of ya." His gruff voice took a somber tone. "Ya don't need Julian's approval for that."

Eloise sniffled. As her eyes danced around the feast, she tried to piece together her jumbled thoughts about her desire for Julian's approval. All she could manage was a "But-"

"No 'but's." He grabbed her shoulders and locked eyes with her. "This meal is delicious. Julian loves this holiday. He misses Kate. You know the potatoes are his favorite part."

"That's why I wanted his approval so badly..." She bit her bottom lip to stifle another sob.

"Sis..."

During Ned and Eloise's conversation, Julian made his way back into the dining room. The faint sound of video games and laughter from Roy and Mick came from behind him.

"What?" Eloise's tone broke, a tear escaping as she searched his expression.

"I-I overheard a little bit." His eyes swelled. "I am so, so sorry El,"

He let out a faint cry, "for everything. Not just criticizing your food, but for not recognizing that we're in this together."

"No-don't cry..." She started, waterworks resuming. "I'm sorry too!" She stood up, her gestures animated in her sadness. "I had my heart set so much on the food being just right, the perfect memorial for Mom, everyone being happy... so when you complained, I... I broke! You deserved to have perfect potatoes..." She bowed her head in her quaking hands, heaving heavily.

Julian ran a hand over her back while she cried. "I know, sis. It's okay." He placed his hands firmly on her shoulders and beckoned her to look at him. "Honestly, El, they're amazing. They're just as good as Mom's, maybe even better."

She looked up from her hands. "W-what?"

He lowered his voice. "I griped because, well... I didn't want anything to be better than when Mom was here. I hate that she's gone. Every day this week, I remembered the last five years- how she taught you everything. How you would sweep through the kitchen together like masters."

"Oh, Julian... I had no idea. I just thought- well- you've always been the smart one. I thought you were just... being the smart one again." She took his hands in hers. "You really like them?"

"I absolutely love your pureed potatoes." He said with a grin.

Her hug might have tackled him to the ground if it weren't for the wall. "I'm sorry, so sorry..." She repeated.

After a brief hug, Ned cut in.

"Well, now. That's what I'm talkin' about." He gave one more glance to the empty plate beside him before returning to his dinner.

"Wait- did you plan this?" Eloise glanced over her shoulder.

"Well, ya weren't gonna tell him unless the beans had already started spilling." He smirked to himself. "When have you been known to talk things out with anyone but me?"

"I talk things out...with other people...!" She argued, recounting in her head. "...I think."

"No you don't."

"I- okay." She looked at her brother, who shook his head. "I really don't?"

"Nope. If it weren't for that annoying video game, I wouldn't have even come back in here and we'd still be fighting."

"You're welcome." Ned raised a finger.

Eloise snickered. "Well, Julian, guess we know where you get the brains!"

"Me, as smart as Uncle Ned? Doubtful." He replied.

The three of them sat and finished their meals, then cleaned the table together- even cleaning the unused dishes from Kate's place at the table.

"WHO WANTS PIE?!" Eloise called throughout the home.

In a flash, the video game silenced and the spirited patter of feet thumped from the other room.