Two days before Thanksgiving...

[amityville_sweetheart]

Ah, Florida. Warm weather all year long, even in late November. Home of beautiful palm trees, the Mouse, warm, sandy beaches... and bugs big enough to count as the state bird. Ew.

Glancing at the clock, Corrine makes a left at the last light before her sister's house. She'd turned off the heat to the rental car hours ago, and only an hour after that the windows had gone down. It was nice to feel the cool breeze through her hair and not be shivering, but the farther and farther they drove into the warmth of Florida, the more anxious she got. This would be her family's first time meeting Caleb, and his first time meeting them.

If at all possible, she wanted to avoid screaming matches or fist fights, but she had a feeling by the end of the day it'd be inevitable. Just for safety's sake, Corrine had insisted that they stay at the hotel only 20 minutes away. Angela's house was more than big enough to accomodate her and Caleb, but she had a feeling her older sister would probably try and offer them seperate rooms. Not to mention it gave them a place to escape if the family got too unbearable.

Corrine waits patiently at a stop sign before turning into a residential neighborhood. The yards are spacious, every house has two car garages, and there are children playing football in a yard. The driveways are either packed with cars or completely empty, and with a nervous sigh, Corrine pulls the car into the third house on the right.

Turning off the car, she turns to Caleb. "Well, we're here." A nervous smile. "Ready?"

Comments

[caleb-z.livejournal.com]

A warm smile accompanies his response. “I am.” He grabs her hand and makes eye contact. “And you needn’t worry, dear.”

The neighborhood reminds Caleb of the community his family lived in during the summer when he was a youth. So many individuals who so eager to disconnect themselves from the world around them, and substitute it with their numerous, yet meaningless, reminders of their own wealth and influence. Such temporal power…

In roman times, victorious Generals returning from their conquests were given a parade in Rome, where a slave would be constantly following his master repeating reminders that he was still just a mortal man, and that all glory was fleeting.

It’s truly a shame that some traditions have faded with time.

[outcast-xtras.livejournal.com]

"Speaking of Kenton, I've got something for you, Resie. Caleb'll probably like it, too. Consider it an early Christmas." Louis leans over the side of the couch, pulling out a large cherrywood picture frame. Several photos are in the frame, all of immediate family.

"Jack helped me put them together. I made one for you, Angela and sent one off to Patrice. They're all a little different for each of us, but yours have the pictures from..." He looks hesitant for a moment, and sad. "From the last day. See, there's your graduation pictures, from kindergarten, high school, and college. Jack suggested we include Casey, too, so I put in the one mama got done for Nan the Christmas before. Then there's you and papa from the restaurant that day, and you and Genie at his confirmation."

[outcast-xtras.livejournal.com]

From the kitchen, a triumphant cackling can be heard. Then, Angela's voice echoes through the house. "Ready and waiting, y'freeloaders!"

[damage-girl.livejournal.com]

"Jack-jack!" Corrine comes back in with the girls, sitting down next to Jack and giving him a hug. "Too much wine again?" she asks, eyeing Tonya as she sits down in the chair closest to Caleb. Great. Her niece is giving her boyfriend googly-eyes.