Cody

Ah yes, Thanksgiving.

One of the most overlooked holidays. Yes, it's a great holiday and really is there for a reason and normally, it would be greatly remembered, especially with giving people like me the excuse to eat multitudes of food and have no one give them crap for it. Of course, it has the unfortunate luck of being in between Halloween and Christmas, some of the biggest holidays so it's completely overshadowed.

However, even with this, I still celebrate it. Like I said, it's a great holiday for eating lots of food and giving thanks for everything so that's double the good feelings all around. A lot of people forget the through this, it's also a very stressful holiday.

I forgot too until I had to host a Thanksgiving event and actually have to make all the food. Then it got complicated.

A couple days before Thanksgiving, I was talking with everyone. By everyone, I meant Professor, Tanith and both of the Sneaky Sisters. It wasn't that often that all of us came together so while I was talking, the topic of Thanksgiving came up. I was shocked by all of the responses given.

I was telling a story to all of them in the palace. The Professor was wearing is normal green shirt with a white lab coat over it, blue pants and white shoes. His glasses were firmly on his face, but I could still see that he was enjoying himself. Selena had her blonde hair twisted up and behind her back and her regular pink mermaid top on. Her tail lightly swished in the air, keeping her hovered. Sam was similar, having a green top on and her green fish tale mirrored Selena's. Her hair was brown and also behind her back. Lastly, Tanith wore her red shirt, the brownish and blondish mix of hair, wavy like normal. Her coral snake tail on her bottom half was curled up and the end flickered lightly.

"-Long story short, shaving cream is flammable and never use it to put out a fire." I finished off as everyone started to giggle. "Okay, but why would you bring shaving cream to a bonfire in the first place?" Professor got out, snickering to himself. "Hey! I panicked and brought it! Heat of the moment man!" He shook his head, then grabbed his phone, eyes widening. "Oh! It's already 7? I better go." Everyone else started to agree as I sighed. "Dang it... We should do this more often. Like maybe once a- Hey! Wait a moment... Thanksgiving is this Thursday! I know it's kinda short noticed but got any plans?" My brown eyes shot around to each of them, searching for an answer.

All of them shook their heads. I grinned wildly. "Really?" I asked. People would normally turn me down because I asked too late. Pikalus gave a halfhearted shrug. "Well, yeah. Honestly, I haven't had a proper Thanksgiving in two years because I was busy one year and just didn't the other." Haven't had a proper Thanksgiving in two years? I gaped at him, unable to process the words in my head. "So... You're telling me you missed the holiday that allows you to eat whatever you want as much as you want for one whole day? I ALWAYS celebrate it!" I exclaimed. Sneaky Sam chuckled lightly. My attention turned to her. "To be honest with you Cody, we don't really do much either." WHAT?

I opened my mouth but Selena spoke for me. "Wait, but last year we did do that prank with the Turkeys and the armory!" Simultaneously, they burst out laughing, remembering an old joke. "Battle turkeys! Oh! I almost forgot about that one! Remember the look on his face?" Selena nodded, still giggling and only stopping to breath. They took in long breath, but the smirk never left them. I still stared at them. "You still didn't quite celebrate it... Okay, okay." I rubbed my face and turned to the last person who still said nothing, only observing the other three with her blue eyes. "Tanith." She quickly turned to me. "Please tell me you did it."

"Uh..." Her gaze shifted around. My hope depleted as she spoke up again. "I have no idea what you are all talking about."

At this point, I covered my face and just let out frustrated groans. Snickers from the sisters never ceased. "Cody? You okay?" The male voice asked. I took in a deep breath and put on my most serious look, then locked eyes with each of them.

"Guys, I'm going to show you a proper Thanksgiving and make you realize how great of a holiday it is. You have no choice. I swear, if you don't come I will drag you down here myself and force some good old fashioned turkey-"

"I'm vegetarian."

"-Mashed Potatoes down your throat and make sure you don't choke as you enjoy it."

I think I scared the crap out of them, but they agreed to come anyways.

Two days later, the holiday was upon me. Though I had gathered the ingredients, the actual tough part was making it.

In the palace dining room, I started to prepare the whole meal. Turkey, the main course, was now stuffed and cooking in the oven. Mashed Potatoes was next. Taking out the vegetables, I began to skin them, then soon started the actual mashing of them. I don't know HOW people do it, but I actually had a lot trouble with it. They kept escaping my clutches and just slipped around the bowl. Then again, I think I was supposed to melt the butter... In the end, it looked okay so I moved on.

I had created some rolls and made gravy as well! The jello was... Interesting to make the least but really good once Rasmus gave me a couple of pointers. There were apples, some cheese and grapes to top it off.

I finished everything really early and had an hour to spare. The only thing left was the turkey, but that was going to be cooking for a while. Being the King, I had gotten my hands on a 21 pound turkey. At the time, it was a great idea but now I realized that with only four people and taking this long to cook it, maybe not so much.

Professor came first, soon with the other three not too far behind. I greeted them all and started to serve them what I had. At the table, Tanith and Sam sat on one side with Selena across from her sister and Professor from the hybrid. "Okay, so this is Mashed Potatoes," I handed the dish to Selena who smiled and started to scoop it on the plate. "And here's some fresh apples," Sam took this one, taking three of them. I might have said something but decided not to. I wouldn't be able to stop her anyways. "Okay then... I have jello and rolls too." Tanith and Pikalus snatched the dish, Tanith going for the jello and Pikalus the other. Though Pikalus started to dish it, the female kept the whole bowl, only staring at the strange food at first before taking a small bite. Her blue eyes lit up and immediately started to dig in. I huffed, checking the timer. The turkey still had quite a ways to go. I placed some asparagus on the burner and started to fry them.

"So how's the meal?"

Selena was staring at her plate. The mermaid had only taken maybe five or six bites. I raised my eyebrow and nodded at her. "Uh... Salami?"

Her head shot up for a moment, giving me a weird look. "What?" I asked her. Hesitation all over her face. Her mouth was open, but it took a minute before words came out. "Cody..." She stared, glancing at the potatoes again. Taking a deep breath, she allowed herself to say it. "You didn't mash them all the way..." I blinked. "Well, they're supposed to have bits in them!" Her gaze turned skeptical. "One of those bits was nearly a fourth of a potato, I don't think it's meant to have that much." I sighed, hastily making my way over there. I grabbed the bowl, checking how it was. Five seconds later, I found that she was right and began to resume the job. "Fine, fine... No bits this time." I grumbled to myself a little but for the most part, kept my mouth shut. I had to give them a good Thanksgiving. A proper one. Nothing was going to stop me.

It took two more tries, but this time I succeeded in making it. The blonde mermaid was happy with the result and moved on. I sighed, then took a seat, starting to dish some out for myself.

"So, I know this is kinda overused and none of you want to do this, but go around the table and say what you're thankful for! T... Tanith." I glanced up and my eyes stopped at the sight of the half snake. My tone turned serious at the last part. Tanith, the half snake and half human hybrid, shot her head up. While I was speaking, she was stuffing her face full of jello and only just stopped. She swallowed, clearing her throat before speaking. "W-What now?" I took in a deep breath, exhaling loudly.

"Tanith, other people get jello too you know." Her face fell. Her smile turned sheepish. "Oh... Uh, sorry. Does anyone..?" She offered the bowl out but the other three shook their heads hastily. Awkwardly, her white hands found themselves drooping and just leaving it on the table. "I'll just leave that there." I sighed, shaking my head. "Tanith, name something you're thankful for."

She blinked. "Anything?" I nodded. "Oh, uh." Her eyes darted around before just staring at the table itself. Moment passed, then she said something. "Tables?" I took in a long breath. "Out of everything, you went with tables?" She nodded hesitantly. "... Yes." As I stared her down, she threw her hands up in defense. "It was the first thing my mind processed okay? I went with it!"

"Okay, okay. Tanith, why are you thankful for tables?"

"Because... Tables can hold stuff? They are great for having dinner on and... Writing. Great for writing too."

Given that this was her first Thanksgiving, I let it go. "Fair enough. Sam!" I called to the next person in line getting her to perk up. "You're turn." She thought for a moment, then gave a wicked grin. "Food." She said simply. Sam knew that not even I could find myself asking why she was thankful for that. I huffed, a small smile escaped me. Sam was a clever one. "That's a good one. You don't have to explain that. Salami!" Selena frown at her nickname but still responded anyways. I didn't have to say anything at this point, she knew the drill. She hummed to herself. "I'm grateful for the people that don't call me Salami." She smirked. I rolled my eyes.

"What are you talking about? Salami's a great nickname! You're crazy! Professor! What about you?"

He hummed to himself. "Well you know what? I'm grateful for Cody putting this all together! Good job Cody!" I instantly started grinning wider than ever before. Sam might have been a smart one, but Professor was a flatterer. "Awww, Professor! You get a gold star for that response!" All the girls protested as he bragged. I let them talk it out, turning my attention to the turkey. The time had only seconds left so I just pulled it out. It wouldn't matter anyways.

I gazed at the brown color it was, grinning at my work. This was the first time I had ever cooked one myself.

Taking out the knife, I placed it on the table and started to dig into it. As slice after slice was cut, I had to sneak a taste in. Tugging a corner, I ripped off a piece and plopped it in my mouth. Then stopped, and slammed my head into the table, shaking it.

Everything went silent.

"Cody?"
"The turkey is undercooked..."

As the words blurted out, nobody spoke for the longest time. I let out a hefty sigh, then spoke again. "It's going to be HOURS before it's ready!" I groaned, feeling like I could cry. Unfortunately, this was the least of my worries. "Hey Cody?" Sam spoke up. "What?" Then she said something that stopped my heart.

"Weren't you still cooking asparagus? Did you take that off the stove yet?"

The four of us all sat outside of the palace as the guards put out the kitchen fire. Lucky for us, it wasn't that big but big enough to ruin the room and all the food left in it. Silence passed through the air and I finally admitted defeat. "Welp... Thanksgiving is ruined." I shook my head side to side, covering my face with my hands. "Really? I had fun!" I perked up and stared at the hybrid talking.

I gave Tanith a weird look. "Really?" Her blue eyes sparked. Hope started to return. "Well yeah! All of the holidays I've been in are so calm and solemn all the time and barely anything exciting happens. The only special days I have that might be exciting is my Hatching Day or maybe New Beginnings, but this was really awesome! I got to eat jello, talked with friends, you set the room on fire! I mean, for pete's sake, YOU SET EVERYTHING ON FIRE! HOW COOL WAS THAT!"

I blinked in confusion. Soon, the rest all spoke up. "I thought it went great." Sam grinned, snickering to herself. "Well, the mashed potatoes were actually really good once you corrected them." Professor agreed with her. "Best I've had in awhile." As they all talked, a smile formed on my face. I laughed finally making everyone else do the same. "Wait so I didn't ruin Thanksgiving for everyone?" They all shook their heads, still smiling. "Wait, are you telling me that normally they go differently?" Tanith's confusion only made me laugh harder.

"No, no. Thanksgiving is always a little crazy. Glad you guys liked it! You know what? I'm never said what I'm thankful for. I'm thankful for Thanksgiving, for being the best underrated holiday out there!" Everyone grinned at my comment.

"So, does this mean you're hosting it again next year?"

"Please no."

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Ta Da! Happy Thanksgiving! If you don't celebrate it, I hope you found yourself enjoying this anyways! For some reason, Cody seemed like the guy who would really enjoy Thanksgiving so I did this. I kinda liked how this turned out!

This is the first chapter of this series, where basically the same people from Sea Serpent have little short stories that don't go with the main story. I really wanted to do a little holiday special and since it didn't really go with the story, I made this! This will update pretty randomly so it's not going to be as consistent as my other ones.

Anyways, I hope you liked this chapter! Whether your holidays go this wrong or perfectly, I hope you have a fantastic day! Be sure to comment and I will see you all later! Bye!

--JustAnAtlantisWriter