Thanksgivukkah (Sean and Tomer)

[Joshua Bernstein]

(back dated to Thanksgivukkah, clearly)

This year was an odd year for holidays. Thanksgiving and Hanukkah rarely coincided, and so the fact that they did this year meant a variety of festive options had blossomed in the Jewish community to celebrate the combined holidays.

Because Tomer was at Hammel this year, Josh had wanted to celebrate with his family. Because Sean held a Thanksgiving dinner every year for those without local family, the Bernville family Thanksgivukkah had to be held over the weekend.

They had first gone to pick up Josh's parents, but Bobby had slipped and fallen in the shower, which they didn't hear about until they got there. Charlie had wanted to stay with her husband, though she made her son promise to bring her some leftovers, and sent a batch of her famous Rugalech with them. Then they had fought holiday traffic to get back to Pilot Ridge to pick Tomer up from Hammel.

"Sean's prepared a veritable feast," Josh informed Tomer as they pulled up to the driveway. "I hope you've not eaten anything yet."

[Dr. Sean Neville]

Before leaving Josh’s parents’ apartment, Sean had made Charlie promise to call him if Bobby had any further injuries. While generally sympathetic to the plights of others, Bobby’s condition was particularly troublesome in how close to home it cut, and he wanted to be available to the elder Bernsteins should anything further gone awry. He had, of course, promised to send them leftovers, and there would certainly be plenty; he had cooked for six.

As always, Sean had been tasked with driving, and he had also signed Tomer out. It was easier that way, since he didn’t require a visitor’s pass in order to do so. Afterward, he had remained largely quiet to let Josh bond with his nephew, and to allow him the ability to concentrate on road conditions. Snow always started early in Vermont.

“It’s hardly a feast,” the telepath replied, once his partner had begun boasting on his behalf. He had, however, spent a lot of time cooking over the past few days. “I did borrow a few of your grandmother’s recipes for this.”

Long ago, Charlie Bernstein had written down several of her recipes for Sean, since he cooked, and he had enjoyed her cooking. He incorporated that into his repertoire, and given the nature of the holidays to be celebrated, it was only fitting.

Once they reached the garage, Sean pulled the sedan into its proper place. “And here we are.”

[Tomer Berelowitz]

For Tomer, Thanksgiving and Hanukkah coinciding had been wonderful. That was, until he manifested. He'd been hoping that the double holiday would mean that his mom would be too busy with preparations and festivities to do anything for his birthday, but now that he was in Pilot Ridge his absence magnified things. Seriously, he had the worst luck. There had been calls all day yesterday, which wasn't too bad, but his Mom could talk forever. It had been embarrassing. The presents, those had been nice, especially the thing he'd asked for specifically, good shoes that didn't have any laces. But apparently shoes without laces wasn't a 'fun' enough present. Books weren't a 'fun' present. Clover had not been a 'fun' present.

Tomer had no idea what he was going to do with a five pound bag of Skittles.

Only agreeing to spend Thanksgivukkah with Sean and Josh once he knew there would only be a small gathering, his concern for Grandpa Bernstein had overridden the small, tremendously guilty relief that they would not be there. Grandma B... was loud. And as much as he loved her, it was uncomfortable. Uncle Josh filled him in on Grandpa as they drove. Tomer thought he'd call Grandma after he got back.

"...I ate breakfast," he said, and smiled. "But I saved a lot of room. I brought Mopsy some dried blueberries. I was going to bring her craisins, but blueberries are more... Hanukkah-y."

When they arrived, Tomer carefully levered himself out of the car and helpfully held open the door for whoever carried in the rugelech. Inside, the place smelled wonderful.

"Can I do anything to help?" he asked.

[Joshua Bernstein]

"Maybe you can go find Bailey and ask if she wants to help you set the table," Josh suggested, one hand reaching out to catch the door. Although it was kind of Tomer to hold it for them, he didn't want his nephew to wear himself out (even if he only had to hold the door for two middle aged men).

"Or you can go find Mopsy and give her those blueberries. I'm sure she'd appreciate being remembered." He added with a smile. He was proud of Tomer for showing such consideration, especially given how young he was. Not everyone was so thoughtful. "How is Clover doing? It's a pity the two bunnies couldn't spend the holiday with their own kind."

[Dr. Sean Neville]

Sean was sure that Tomer would find the appetite to eat some of what the telepath had cooked for this celebration. As it was, he already knew that there would be leftovers, since he had cooked for six (with the expectation of some leftovers), and now they only had four (plus to-go platters that he would make later), two of whom were young teenagers. Yes, teenagers had more of an appetite than adults in some ways, but Tomer and Bailey weren’t exactly there yet.

Shutting off the engine, the telepath pocketed the keys and then opened the driver’s side door. He climbed out and stretched, and then went to the door that led from the garage into the house. “Tomer, if you do choose to set the table, please make sure that everyone has a wine glass and a tumbler.”

They had grape juice for Bailey, and for Tomer if he didn’t want to have wine. The telepath and Josh would have wine with their meal, which was their right as adults, and in the spirit of the holiday.

Projecting to his partner, he added, I have “Hannah and Her Sisters” for later if you feel up to watching a movie. That’s your choice.

[Tomer Berelowitz]

To the suggestion of setting the table, Tomer nodded. "Okay." And then to Sean, "I will."

Entering the house, since Uncle Josh had taken the door, he smiled a little. "If Bailey's upstairs I'll give Mopsy the blueberries then. If she's not I'll wait till after dinner."

To keep stair climbing to a minimum. "Clover's good! He likes being on my bed and going under the covers."

The little bunny was very affectionate and he and his owner were quite close. Sebastian sometimes came over to visit too, and Clover seemed to like him. Thus far both he and the rabbit had managed to avoid Erik and Dead John, but Tomer knew it was a matter of time.

Inside, Tomer made a round of the downstairs and found Bailey in the family room. She readily agreed to helping set the table, and Tomer asked her to do the plates and glasses, making sure to relay Sean's request for wine glasses and regular glasses. He'd released all his stored energy before he'd left Hammel, but even with only one crutch it would take him forever to bring the bigger things to the table one at a time.

Going from kitchen to table, it seemed like every trip brought a wonderful new smell. Tomer's appetite was still fairly modest, more in line with a kid than an adult, but his stomach still growled every time he got a whiff of turkey.

Finished, he thanked Bailey for her help and went back to find his uncle. "What else can I do?"

[Joshua Bernstein]

While Tomer found Bailey and helped her to set the table, Josh helped Sean finalize dinner. There wasn't too much left to do, but some items needed to be warmed up again, and he had to check to be sure the wine had chilled properly.

The two younger members of the party were finished with their assigned duties and returned for more orders just as Josh was carefully reading the temperature on the wine cooler. "It's done," He announced, then shook his head in Tomer's direction. "There's nothing left to do except enjoy our meal."

[Dr. Sean Neville]

Fortunately, most of the meal preparation had been completed before Sean and Josh had left to pick up the other members of Josh’s family. Instead, they only had to put the finishing touches on the dishes. The finishing touches on the latkes, the finishing touches on the brisket, the finishing touches on the potato kugel and on the noodle kugel. Finishing touches on the doughnuts...Reheating what needed to be served warm, and then putting the last of the salad together.

Finally, everything was finished, and the telepath moved the dishes onto the dining room table.

The telepath hadn’t articulated this sentiment aloud, but he was done with cooking for the next few days. They had too many leftovers to eat, and he had spent more time in the kitchen over the past few days than he typically did for meal preparation in two weeks.

Now, they could savor.

“Your Uncle Josh is right,” he added, before he ushered Bailey into the dining room as well.

“Give us your drink orders, if you want something aside from water and grape juice.” He didn’t keep soda, but he was otherwise accommodating when it came to beverages, even when keeping in mind culturally significant events like today.

“Then, make yourself comfortable; we’ll get started in a minute.”

[Tomer Berelowitz]

"Okay." Tomer smiled. Sean was a very good cook, and as he brought out the various dishes of their meal, his mouth watered. He bet his family wasn't having this good a Thanksgiving dinner - they certainly didn't have Grandma's kugel. Going to his place at the table, Tomer did not sit down till all the food was brought in and everyone was present.

"Oh my gosh," he murmured. It all looked and smelled amazing.

Tomer's own family often said a blessing before a meal, but he knew while Josh was still Jewish, Sean was an atheist. And though atheists did finally have a hymn, Tomer didn't know if they did anything pre-eating. So he sat, waiting. He'd go with it. Idly, he wondered if the scent of food downstairs made Mopsy hungry, or if she didn't know what she was smelling was food. She'd never (presumably, anyway, one never knew with Uncle Josh) had kugel or brisket.

"Water and grape juice is fine, thank you." Tomer didn't much like wine, but he was okay drinking the tiny amounts necessary for various religious things. The few varieties he'd had were bitter and sour and left an odd taste in his mouth. He didn't know what the big deal was, really.

[Joshua Bernstein]

Dinner was, as expected, a success. There was far more food than the four of them could eat, which was fine; that meant leftovers he could take to his parents later in the week. Josh was disappointed they couldn't make it, and concerned for his father, but he tried not to let that spoil the holiday. After all, here he was, surrounded by loved ones: his partner, and then several of the younger generation of his family.

And despite some of the examples of young people he'd been privy to, between the stories Sean brought home and his own experiences in the legal system, these two were Good People. They were going to be exemplary adults one day, he was sure of it.

Even his concern for his father's health couldn't keep the smile off his face as he raised a glass of wine to the other three people. "To family, and many more holidays together."

((wrapped))