11/24/2005, Thursday
Thanksgiving at Nia's house was controlled chaos, but it was fun. She and her parents plus little sister and brother made 5. Linda and her 2 plus me was 4 more, arriving about 10AM. Then about noon Charlie and Lenora and their brood made 6 more. So 15 people in a smallish house was a lot, but it was nice because it was family. I hadn't had
family
for so many years that it was a bit overwhelming.
"Is this stressful for you, baby?" Nia looked concerned, and little apologetic for the noise and activity.
"No, love. It's nice, actually. I'm just not used to it, that's all. But I love how you all tease and joke with each other. I guess I never knew what I missed..." And she hugged me, tight.
Erika and Nia and her little sis helped in the kitchen, while I sat in the living room with Nathan and Charlie watching a football game. I didn't know what had happened to Linda's husband, and didn't ask. All the younger kids were upstairs playing video games or something.
I didn't know much about football, but I soon figured out who they were rooting for, and when they cheered, I cheered; and when they groaned, I groaned. On the commercials Charlie asked me what I was studying, what I wanted to be, and like that, but Nathan didn't directly talk to me much.
Nia brought us snacks and beers, and hung around me a little, trying to say things to her dad about me and us, but he remained aloof. Not hostile, but not exactly inquisitive either. He did look at Nia side-eyed though when she took a big swig of my beer.
"What? I'm all grown up now, Daddy!" She said it playfully, giggling-like.
"You might be 'grown up,' but you ain't
grown
yet!" Playful too, but with an edge. "You been drinkin' over at that college?" He gave me a pointed look, which Nia caught.
"Sometimes, but just at parties. And I drank before I met Mark. In fact, he hardly drinks at all." Still standing, she looked at me and smiled. "He watches out for me."
Her dad just kind of
hmmmph
'ed, and Nia went over with a big grin and kissed him on the forehead. "I still love you, Daddy. But I'm not a little girl anymore." She turned and gave me a wink that only I could see, then went back to the kitchen.
And me? I sat there quiet as a church mouse, trying desperately not to draw attention to myself. Because what Nia had just done, though she'd been playful about it, was tell the man who'd cared for and protected her for 18 years that she was an adult now and could (and would!) make her own decisions. And I didn't need him thinking any of that was my doing.
Pretty soon the moms decided it was nice enough out that all us kids and young people should go to the park 2 blocks down. So a couple basketballs, a skateboard, and a frisbee were gathered and we moseyed down there, Erika and Nia charged with keeping an eye on the younger ones. It was sunny out, probably high 40s, no wind: a nice fall day in Michigan.
"Did you touch her?"
"What do
you
think?"
"You didn't."
"He
did
." That was Erika, smiling devilishly. We three were sitting on a bench at the side of the basketball court.
"We hugged after. Of course I was going to tell you."
"I know you would've." Nia gave me a trusting smile and a peck on the lips. "Erika told me all about it last night anyway." The girls giggled at each other.
"And here I didn't call because I didn't want to wake you."
"You're so gallant, my love! Anyway, if you're willing, we thought we might take that further tomorrow. It's Black Friday, so if the 3 of us can get away without Kayla, maybe we can do some 'shopping.'" She used the air quotes, and Erika looked at me lasciviously. "We'd take the minivan, of course, and make use of that folding-down bench seat feature..." She looked wickedly at Erika, and I felt a bit like a rabbit in a den of wolves.
She
-wolves.
"Well, it's been some time since I've 'been with you,' and your little performance on the road yesterday, plus Erika's machinations last night, have left me rather...
randy
."
"Well,
Randy
," Nia said as she pressed a breast into me, "if you play your cards right, tomorrow you'll have me
and
Erika to fulfill your erotic fantasies."
"Promise?" I said that to Erika, who leaned a boob into my other side and came just shy of kissing me.
"
Promise
," she whispered, her lids half-closed, tongue licking her lips.
Nia giggled. "C'mon, let's go play!" She tried to pull me up by my hand, but I resisted.
"You guys go, I'll join in a few minutes." The jacket I'd worn was only waist length.
The girls laughed at my predicament and trotted off to join their cousins and siblings playing basketball. Watching Erika trot from behind was a study in mass, deceleration, rebound, and resonant frequencies.
Dayam that girl had a butt!
I had a fleeting thought that I wish Trey was here to see it, so we could talk about it.
Back at the house we all gathered around the table groaning with delicious-looking food while Miss Linda said grace. It'd been a while since I'd been to church (the Boys Home took us most Sundays) and I felt a little guilty. Back at WSU I should ask Nia if she wanted to go to church together, that might be nice.
And then we all ate until we couldn't eat anymore. And then of course we ate some more. But the second round was on the fly as people watched the game or talked in the kitchen or scampered up and down the stairs for video games.
And then the desserts came out: pumpkin pie, apple pie, bread pudding, banana pudding, and something I'd never heard of, sweet potato pie. "Baby, you
have
to try my Aunt Linda's sweet potato pie! No offense, mama."
I tried it and it was good. A lot like pumpkin pie, but sweeter-like. I told Miss Linda I'd never heard of it before, but it was quite tasty. She and Miss Lydia told me it was a 'black thing,' along with the made-from-scratch macaroni and cheese we'd had.
Erika chimed in, "All those carbs and sugar is what gives black women these booties!" And she jutted that booty out at me for emphasis. Nia and the 3 moms/sisters busted out laughing.
