Thanksgiving

I remember one particular Thanksgiving, shortly after my parents divorced. Switching back and forth every other weekend and every other holiday was still something was seemingly new to my twin sister and I. Although we lived with our mother, we still we're extremely close with our father and enjoyed going over there. Especially for holidays. That was, until, we arrived at his doorstep Thanksgiving morning in 2004. My mother had driven us the fifteen mile distance between our parents houses since it was my fathers year to have "us girls" for thanksgiving. As normal, my mother said her goodbyes, waited until we got to the door, and drove off. What had all of us confused though was the shiny red car in the drive way. Had daddy gotten a new car? I hadnt recalled that. My sister and I both walked slowly to the front door, pondering who's car that was! I went to turn the doorknob and the door was locked. We rang the doorbell and shortly after, a middle-aged blonde lady answered the door.

"Who are you?" My sister asked, immediately.

"I am Shelby. Your fathers...friend" The blonde lady replied. She had glanced around furtively for a moment while she tried to pick out the right word to describe their "friendship".

My sister and I said no more. The blonde lady, my sister and I all turned around and walked inside. My sister called for my dad. A few seconds later he came around the corner. He must have been able to tell we were confused, and frustrated that another lady was there. When my father has a women around, he tends to not pay as much attention to us girls. My sister and I ditched the awkwardness and went in the backyard to jump on the trampoline. We spent two hours outside, gossiping about Shelby. It was like an episode out of the parent trap while the twins are spent bashing 'Meredith' their dads evil new girlfriend. When the food was finally ready, our father called us inside to have us wash up.

We all assumed our positions at the dining room table. As our dad made all of our plates, we decided we should go around the table and say what we were thankful for. Shelby went first.

"I am thankful for the oppurtunity to meet you girls, and spend Thanksgiving with your dad and you girls." She said with a fake grin on her face.

My sister went next. "I am thankful that my sister and I are the only two girls in my dads life that will never go any where."

As my sister said this, Shelbys face dropped, along with my fathers fork. Apparently this was an inappropriate statement, but I think Shelby got the hint. We never had Shelby as a dinner guest again.