I'm so excited that I'm opening the Linkey List two days early!! Yay! Thanksgiving is all about family and food. And what is the best thing about family?
Family Secrets.
What is the best thing about food?
Duh, eating!
So this is a two part Blogfeast! First, "bring" a tasty Thanksgiving dish (meet new bloggers). Second, write about the Holiday prompt (to win the contest!). You can do one or both parts, whatever you like.
Part 1: Food for Followers!
Here's how it works:
* be a Follower here
* Tell us what food you'll bring in your comment, link your blog, and tell us in one sentence what you blog about. On your blog, if you like, you can post a recipe of your dish.
* Visit 3 new blogs and say hello with a comment. Follow if you like it.
** Please go up to the top of this post and click Facebook or Twitter to spread the word! Or better yet, blog about it or add the badge to your sidebar! The more we have, the more new followers everyone will get!
Part 2: Family Secret Writing Contest! (PRIZES!)
Here's how you enter:
1. Sign up on the Linky List
2. Write your entry and post it on your blog
3. Post your story by 9:00pm US Eastern Time on the 7th of December
Entry Guidelines:
- Write a work of fiction involving a family secret and Thanksgiving
- 1,500 words max.
- Any genre, any age group.
-Blog, tweet, facebook, and/or badge the contest and include the link in your comment so it can be verified.
The Top 5 will be selected and the readers will vote for their favorites, the top 3 will win prizes (Ooooh, Ahhhh)
Prizes??
Top Prize is Top Secret! Buuut, the second two are:
2nd A full Chapter Critique
3rd The very first "Character Interview" from Hypothetically Speaking!
This is where I "interview" your MC about your MS, critique your first page, and post it on HS for commenter's to give feed back!
Here's mine! Of course, it isn't up for the prize : ) It's the most recent section from my MS Rebel in Remission.
Thanksgiving was the only time our house ever smelled like American food.
“What? My family can't cook, and I'm not going to pretend they can.”
Behind the food was a line of the best selection of imported spirits and beers in the city. Manned by the worlds best team of bar tenders, my grandmothers. Russia and Ireland may not be known for their food, but I was born and bred to drink.
“Oh Gabby, don't be such a wuss. Take the damn shot and make her happy.”
“Nick, take this.”
She handed the glass to her boyfriend and marched to her seat in the middle of the table. After drinking Gabby's shot, Nick was doubled over catching his breath, so I took the opportunity to dump my shot into his glass and patted him on the back.
We bowed our heads, and I mumbled along with prays in both Russian and English before picking through my dinner. Thank God for store bought deserts.
My Parents sat next to each other across from Alex and I down at the end of the table, my Dad across from me. They were holding hands and whispering to each other, off in their own little world.
Next to Alex, Babushka rambled on and on in Russian. Down at the end Grandma McAllister, Aunt Shannon and Uncle Danny were howling so loud that my parents eventually joined in.
And as usual, I watched. Gabby and Nick were normally the center of it all, playing the happy hosts, like a younger version of my parents. But tonight, even in the middle of the table, they could have been invisible. Except to me.
Gabby just stared up at Nick, but not like a puppy, she was scared. Nick was a statue. He stared towards her, but not at her.
How was no one else seeing this?
“Who wants desert?!” My mother yelled, holding her wine glass in the air. Everyone cheered and laughed.
She came back holding a pecan pie in one hand, a chocolate cake in the other, and a tower of desert plates balanced on her forearm. The stem of her wine glass between her fingers. When the cake hit the table, Nick and Gabby came to life and started cracking jokes with my Uncle Danny.
I loaded up on cake only to realize that my mother forgot the milk. So I ran to the kitchen. When I opened the refrigerator, I heard my mother shushing people. Another toast?
I wandered back into the dining room, but instead of my mother, Nick was standing. My sister's hand squeezing his. I stayed in the doorway and waited for his toast.
“Well, Happy Thanksgiving!” He said, clearing his throat, “I wanted to thank you for inviting me to spend the holiday with your family.” He paused again, loosening his tie with his other hand.
“Um, I wanted to make this special,” He turned, and pulled my sister to her feet, “Gabrielle McAllister, I love you. I want to start a family with you, will you marry me?”
No way.
He pulled a boulder sized diamond from his shirt pocket and slid it onto Gabby's finger before she even opened her mouth.
Alex looked at me, his eyes wide. He was cringing, waiting for my reaction.
Gabby pulled herself together and said, “We're pregnant!”
The women in my family raced around the table and started fighting for the first hug.
Finally, I looked at my father. He was leaning back in his chair, his arms crossed over his chest. Staring ahead. His jaw was clenched so tightly that I could see the joints move as his teeth ground back and forth.
Interesting.
Everyone migrated into the kitchen with their deserts, surrounding either Nick by the island or Gabby at the table. Alex and my dad choose Nick, though neither one of them said a word to him. My uncle was teasing him enough for both of them anyways.
I sat at the end of the kitchen table eating my cake and minding my own business.
“You're just glowing sweetie! God, I should've known!” Aunt Shannon gushed. She never had kids, so she didn't give a damn that Gabby was barely legal or an unwed catholic.
Shannon turned towards me, “And what about you, Little Miss Rebel? Are you going to give me nieces and nephews? Sure you're young now but before you know it, it'll be too late!”
I chocked on my cake, spewing brown crumbs all over my plate. Late? I laughed once and excused myself.
I ran up the stairs, almost taking myself out on the banister.
Right in front of my mothers medicine cabinet was a pink box of pregnancy tests.
I was supposed to wait three minutes. But looking at the stupid thing was making me sick, so I wrapped it in toilet paper and brought it back to my room. I set the test on my dresser and turned to the side. My stomach was flat as a board. Of course not, I wouldn't be showing yet anyways. Were my boobs bigger? Shit, they were bigger. Maybe half a cup size.
I couldn't be in there. As I headed back to the kitchen, Gabby was coming up the stairs.
“You okay? You spit cake everywhere.”
“Yeah, what are you doing up here?”
“Uncle Danny used the down stairs bathroom,” she cringed, “And I have to pee.” She patted her belly.
When I walked back into the dining room, my mother and Aunt Shannon waved me over.
My mothers mascara was running down her cheeks faster than she could wipe it away. “Isn't this wonderful? She's due in May!”
“Yeah, fantastic.”
I picked up an empty shot glass and ran my fingers around the rim. I wished that I'd taken my shot when I had the chance.
“She's going to look so adorable in her wedding dress!”
“Adorable? When are they getting married?”
“Gabby wants a Valentines Day wedding.” Shannon said.
“Of course she does.” I rolled my eyes.
“It will be such fun looking for places with you and your sister! We will start in a week or two, so clear your weekends!” My mother raised her glass for another toast. I was going to vomit.
“I have to piss.”
My head felt like a balloon floating above my body on a long string and I dragged my stomach behind me. I closed my door behind me and stared at the wad of toilet paper on my dresser. This couldn't be happening to me. It was stupid, I was just a few days late. No big deal.
I took a breath and unwrapped the test. But I set it face down on the dresser first. To breathe a few more times. Okay.
I flipped the test over and saw two bright pink lines.
Oh God.
Could I still take that Plan B pill? No, no that was for before this part. Damn it! What the hell was I supposed to do now? I saw myself six months pregnant, then giving birth, and sitting with Lilly at the playground wearing clothes from the Dollar Tree. Then I saw myself wearing a wedding dress. I almost threw up again.
Would I be able live with myself if I got an abortion?
I put my head between my knees and started to hyperventilate when my closet door flew open.
“Ha! You're such a freaking spaz!” Gabby squealed.
“What the hell are you doing in here?” I gasped.
“Gotcha!” She said, tossing something across the room at me.
A pregnancy test skidded across the floor and stopped at my feet. One line. Negative.
“What did you do?” I hissed.
“I'll take that thank you.” She snatched the positive pregnancy test out of my hand and stuck her tongue out.
“Jesus, Gabby if you weren't knocked up, I would kill you!”
Gabby backed up, glaring at me. “Learn to take a freaking joke!”
“I'm going to sleep. Get out.”
“Whatever.”
She slammed the door behind her. I collapsed on my old bed and started to cry. My relationship with Alex was a mistake. A very selfish mistake.
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