It was Thanksgiving at the Hansen house. It was 7 a.m. and Theresa had a lot to do.
"Thanksgiving isn't a holiday for women," she said to herself thinking about all the work and cooking to be done.
Theresa's kids were grown and she and her husband lived alone but today her youngest son Derek would be there and several in-laws, nephews and nieces, and cousins totaling about 15 people. Now the day after Thanksgiving was what she was looking forward to. Get away from all the men and family and do a little shopping. Theresa sat on the edge of her bed in a silky cream gown and pinned her brown locks up over her head. She picked up a towel off her dresser, flung it over her shoulder, and slipped out into the hall and into the bathroom before anyone could see her. There were already family out in the living room laughing and the aroma of fresh ground coffee filled her senses. Theresa shut the bathroom door and let her gown fall to the floor while reaching one arm into the shower to turn the water on. She held her arms up to her breasts and shivered while she stood there with bare feet on the cold gray tile floor waiting for the water to warm. When steam started to roll out she stepped in and closed the curtain. The warm water felt good running down her neck and milky chest. She reached for the soap bar and began rubbing her body down.
Her trance was interrupted by a noise that sounded like the toilet lid. She peeked out of the curtain and sure enough there was her son standing at the toilet with his back to her relieving himself.
"Derek, what are you doing?" Theresa whined in a high voice.
"Oh, sorry mom I really had to go," Derek glance over his shoulder at her.
"You are twenty-two and I still can't get any privacy," she grumbled rolling her eyes.
Derek zipped up and turned around to look at his mom, reaching blindly to flush the toilet. He ran his fingers over his permanent bed-head hairstyle as if the motion straightened it to perfection.
"Nice toes, mom." Derek smirked and looked at his mother's dark purple painted nails on her feet visible under the shower curtain.
"Derek!" His mom glared him down while holding the shower curtain with her left hand to cover her vital areas.
"Kidding with you ma," Derek grinned and lunged forward with fingers out as if to tickle her.
"Derek!" Theresa screamed. "Get out!" She let out a giggle.
Derek reached for the door instead of his mother and slipped out, shutting it behind him.
Theresa rinsed herself and then after toweling dry she wrapped it around her body and peeked out the bathroom door to be sure the coast was clear before dashing to her bedroom.
*****
Well, the turkey cooked to perfection, all the food was spectacular, and the Hansens couldn't have asked for a better meal. Dinner was almost finished; then, the unthinkable happened. Uncle Ralph clutched his chest and fell to the floor.
Aunt Pattie screamed, "Ralphy, Ralphy!" She threw herself on her husband and he was gasping for air, his eyes seemed to roll up into his head. His bald head turned purple and Aunt Pattie shook him...
Long story short -- Uncle Ralph passed away on Thanksgiving Day. There isn't a better way to ruin the mood of a holiday than that. Arrangements had to be made to fly his body back home to the East Coast. The family celebration turned into funeral plans and arrangements. Theresa's husband had to take care of business so he couldn't fly back for the funeral but Derek agreed to make the trip with his mother.
Money was short these days and Theresa and Derek couldn't afford the luxury of a hotel. They had to stay in Aunt Pattie's house even though it was cramped and smelled a bit like a nursing home. Uncle Ralph was Theresa's - mom's - brother and had been 76 years old.
Theresa would get the guest bed with a dusty flowered quilt and painted white metal frame. The springs squeaked and groaned when she set her suitcase on it. It complained even louder when she sat down on its edge. Derek would sleep with some blankets and a pad on the floor.
The funeral was yet that day and Theresa and Derek had to dress quickly. Theresa wore knee high black boots and a short black skirt over her wide hips. Her bloused hugged her figure and accentuated her modest round bust.
"Does this look ok?" Theresa asked her son while turning sideways to appraise her reflection in the mirror over the dresser.
"You look nice mom," Derek assured.
"Not too sexy for a fifty-year old woman?" She quizzed.
Derek laughed.
"Not too sexy for a funeral?" She added.
"You look great mom."
The funeral was good as far as funerals go. Derek and Theresa got back to the house just after dark and other family were going to bring aunt Pattie home a little later. The house was quiet and Theresa sat on the bed and Derek lay on the floor. Derek flipped the tv on with the old remote. He was surprised this tv even had a remote, it was so old. The news was on and Derek yawned.
"You want to sit up here where you can see better, Derek?" Theresa asked her son.
"Oh, sure I guess." Derek slowly lifted himself up then plopped down on the bed beside his mother, the bed springs groaned as if in great pain.
"I need to take my boots off, I'm exhausted." Theresa looked down at her knee high footwear. She sighed, "Can you pull my boots off for me honey?" She looked at Derek with puppy dog eyes.
"Heeeh?" Derek lifted his eyebrows mischievously. "Take your own dang boots off." He looked back at the tv.
"Dereeek?" Don't talk to your mother like that.
"Aw, ok. Man" Derek jumped off the bed.
Theresa lifted her right leg up to him with a pouty expression on her lips. Derek grabbed her foot and jerked it, almost pulling her off the bed.
"Aaack, no!" Theresa reacted.