Holidays
Chapter 11: Thanksgiving: Joel
It was Thanksgiving again and Joel’s family was hosting again. He decided to invite his boyfriend, Arya. Joel’s wanted Arya to meet his family for a few months and now was the perfect time. They have been dating for almost a year.
All of his family arrived and he took their coats as they walked through the door. Once all the guests had arrived, they all settled down in the living room.
“Is he coming?” Will whispered to Joel.
“Yes, but don’t tell anyone,” Joel whispered back.
Then Joel’s mother looked out the window and saw a red Prius park on the street in front of their house. “Joel, did you invite anyone else? I told you no friends, except your cousin, Will.”
“I did and he’s not my friend, he’s my boyfriend.”
A few of his family members were a little shocked, while the others already knew.
“Joel, you’re gay?” his grandfather asked.
“Yeah.”
“No grandson of mine is gonna be gay.”
“It’s not a choice, grandad.”
His grandmother calmed him down. “Sorry, he gets a little cranky before dinner. Carry on, honey. Have your moment.”
“Thanks, grandma.”
Joel looked out the window and his heart started racing. What if they don’t like him? What if they hate him?
Then Arya opened the screen door and walked in.
“Everyone meet my boyfriend, Arya.”
“I’m so excited to meet all of you.”
The awkwardness in the room could be cut with a knife.
“Come in, take off your jacket. Mi casa es su casa,” Joel’s dad said.
Joel took his jacket and hung it on the coat rack.
“Yeah, you can watch the game or fill up on snacks before dinner,” Joel joked.
“Sorry, I don’t follow sports,” Arya replied.
“That’s okay, I can teach you.”
“What if I don’t want to learn?” Arya joked back.
“Are you serious?”
“No.”
Joel nervously laughed.
Joel and Arya sat on the couch and he taught his boyfriend the football terms, lingo, and abbreviations.
“You see the quarterback or the QB is the — ”
“You boys and your sports. Dinner’s ready everyone,” Joel’s mom said as she stood in the doorway between the living room and kitchen.
Everyone got up and gathered in the dining room. Arya sat to the left of Joel and Will to the right.
Joel’s other grandmother said, “Are you two really dating or is this all a joke? He’s your friend, right?”
“No, grandma, this is my boyfriend.”
“Mom leave Joel alone and eat,” Joel’s mother said to her own mother.
“No, don’t tell me what to do.”
“Have you two kissed?” one family member asked.
“Yes, we’ve been together for almost a year.”
A few family members gasped.
“What? We have.”
“I believe you, Joel,” his mother said.
“Well, I don’t. Kiss and show us.”
“Alright,” Joel went in for a kiss with Arya.
“Wait, are you sure you want to do this in front of your entire family?” Arya whispered to Joel.
“It’s the only way to show them we’re a couple.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yeah, we’ve kissed before.”
“Not in front of a crowd.”
“Just imagine we’re alone.”
“No.” Arya rushed to the bathroom upstairs and locked the door.
“I’ll go talk to him. He is my boyfriend.”
Joel walked upstairs and knocked on the bathroom door. “Arya, I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have tried to force you to kiss me.”
“You’re not sorry. You just invited me to show me off, like a trophy.”
“But I am sorry, I just wanted my family to meet you so bad. Maybe it was too soon.”
“Ya think.”
“I’m sorry, how many times do I have to say it?”
Arya unlocked the bathroom door and opened it. Arya kissed his boyfriend on the cheek. “A million times.”
Joel turned away and blushed. “Okay, do you want to come back downstairs?”
“Do I have to?”
“If you’re still hungry,” Joel smiled. He held out his hand.
Arya grasped his right hand with Joel’s left and they walked downstairs. His family retired in the living room.
“So, this isn’t all a joke. You two boys are a couple?” Joel’s grandma asked.
“Yes, a couple of nerds,” Joel joked.
“I’m so confused.”
“Hush up, mom,” Joel’s mom said to her mom.
They all laughed.
“Arya, I wrapped up your food. It’s in the fridge if you want to reheat it,” Joel’s mom said.
“Thanks, but I think I’m gonna get going.”
“So soon?”
“Yeah, why so soon?” Joel asked in dismay.
“I’m emotionally and physically exhausted. Plus, I gotta work tomorrow.”
“On Black Friday?” Joel’s mother asked.
“Yeah, I gotta get up at five to beat the crowd. We’re opening at six instead of at eight.”
“Well, take the plate to go and eat it tomorrow.”
“I will.”
Arya went into the kitchen, grabbed his meal from the fridge, and left.
Joel walked Arya out. “I’ll see you at school next week.”
“Yeah.”
“Before you go.”
Arya turned his head and Joel returned the kiss onto Arya’s cheek. He drove off.
Joel walked back inside to rejoin the festivities.
