“Last chance. We can still order pizza and spend Thanksgiving alone.”
For what seemed like the millionth time, my husband Theodore was trying to chase me out of going to his family’s house for dinner.
“Common, Theo. You can’t avoid your family forever. You grew up with them, and you know all their powers!”
“Doesn’t matter! I’m still convinced Lura has no idea what she’s doing, and Jeremiah is an absolute dirtbag. I’m just hoping he doesn’t turn out anything like them.” Theodore patted my baby bump as he walked by.
I, on the other hand, hoped our baby would turn out everything like Theodore’s family. I loved Theodore’s older siblings, and the few times I got to meet them, I always wanted to see what they would do with the magical powers. Theodore’s mother was a fairy and his father was a time traveler from a magical Medieval kingdom that existed hundreds of years ago. His Dad, using his time traveling powers, had chosen to live somewhere in the future with his Mom, and together they had given birth to Jeremiah, Lura, and Theodore, in that order. Jeremiah and Theodore were wizards, and Lura was a fairy. I had known Lura to be kind and whimsical, and Jeremiah to be doughty with a sense of humor. Theodore couldn’t stand his siblings though, and he never wanted anything to do with his ‘abnormal’ family.
“Myrtle! Theodore! I’m so glad you could make it! Come in!” Lura yelled once we got to the door.
Theodore took a huff as we walked in his sister's home.
I could hear her dog barking from outside, and the whine of a baby upstairs.
“Sorry, that’s Pear. I put her down for a nap a half hour earlier, but she seems to have woken up early.” And with that, Lura flew upstairs, puffing fairy dust in Theodore’s face.
Theodore went into a coughing fit, only to be caught in a headlock by one thick arm.
“Hey! Let go of me Jeremiah!” he said.
“Oh come on, Theo. I haven’t seen you in a while.”
“Jeremiah!” I yelled and gave him and his wife a hug, while his two sons ran around the house.
Soon we were all seated at the table, plates of yummy looking and fantastical food set before us.
I looked into the kitchen. “Uh, is the oven supposed to be glowing red like that?”
“Oh, yes, yes, that means the turkey is almost done,” Lura told me.
“Uh, guys, help!” I heard Jeremiah’s voice. We all looked around, but didn’t see him. Lura slid his chair out to see one lone biscuit in his place.
“I’ve been turned into a biscuit by my eldest son! Somebody turn me back!” He yelled.
“On it!” Lura yelled, pulling out a spellbook. Then she turned to her younger brother. “Theo! You can’t just eat without everybody ready! Mom and Dad haven’t even got here”
Mom and Dad shouldn’t be taking so long, and Jeremiah shouldn’t have let himself get turned into a biscuit. Now where’s the turkey!?”
Theodore looked towards the smoking stove which was vibrating like it could explode at any second. “You idiots! You’re letting it burn!” Theordore quickly got up and ran to the stove.
“Wait! Dude! That’s a Pheonix Turkey! That means they burn and rise from the ashes finely cooked! Don’t open the stove or else-!”
But Theodore had already opened the stove.
A huge wave a black smoke shot at him. He yelled, while a roasted Phoenix Turkey came out of the stove standing on its two drumsticks.
We all sat quiet for a moment.
Then, holding my belly, I slowly got up, and bent down to grab it. The Phoenix Turkey hopped over my arms and ran out of the kitchen.
“Get it!” Yelled Lura.
“I can’t. I’ve been biscuit-ed…” Jeremiah said tiredly.
I pointed to my nephews. “You two, turn your father back to normal. Theodore, you go pick up your parents from their house. We’ll get the turkey.” I looked at Lura and Jeremiah’s wife, who nodded at me.
We caught the Phoenix Turkey trying to climb up the stairs with its tiny bent wings hooking onto one of the stairs. It turned, saw us and started to climb faster while we barreled after it.
We looked through most of the rooms, unable to find it. I didn’t know turkeys could be so quiet. A squeal came from Pear’s room. We looked down the hall to see her crib had steam rising from it.
“That sneaky Phoenix climbed into her crib!” Lura yelled and we ran into Pear’s room.
Inside Pear’s crib was nothing but seasoning and the smiling baby herself.
That’s when that sly Phoenix Turkeycrawled from under her crib and jumped out the window, shattering a jagged whole in the window.
We heard a huge BOOM from downstairs.
“Uh, guys, the oven blew up!” yelled Jeremiah. “Nobody turned it off.”
Why didn’t you!?” Lura yelled angrily.
“BECAUSE I AM A FREAKING BISCUIT!” was the response she got back.
That’s when I heard a car pull up from outside. I looked out the window to see Theodore and his parents coming out of the car. He wasn’t going to like this. We all went downstairs and out the door to meet them outside, one of Jeremiah’s sons holding Jeremiah in the palm of their hand.
Theodore's parents looked horrified. Half the house was on fire, and the Pheonix Turkey ran past us, it’s bent wings in the air, yelling “FOR FREEEEEEDOOOOOM!”
An unnatural silence fell over the family. I could tell that Theodore wouldn't be visiting his family for a long time.
“I’m sorry we ruined thanksgiving, brother. I know you don’t come to see us often because we screw things up,” Lura looked down sadly.
But Theodore only laughed. So loud and so hard he clutched his belly. “I actually missed you all and the trouble you caused. I’m glad my son will have such an interesting family.”
I smiled and squeezed Theodore’s shoulder.
And with that we all began to laugh.
“That's all really nice, but who’s going to un-biscuit me!?” Jeremiah yelled.
“I will,” laughed Theodore. “I will.”
Hey there! I’m Shila Williams, a 16 year-old author. I’ve loved books since I could read, and decided I would write books I wanted to see written for others! Check my children’s book Imagination on Amazon! Imagination by Shila Williams
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Meet the girls of Algo Green! Love for the planet and all its inhabitants, big or small. There will only be 50 green girls: https://t.co/yrwWL9ZJZI
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