7 P.M.
“Here you go.” Peter says, pulling out my chair.
“Thank you.” I say as I sit in the chair.
“No problem.” He says as he sits down next to me.
“Last but not least, the warm bread.” My mom says as she brings out several pieces of warm buttery bread.
“Bread!” Flash yells out.
“Honey, your tie is crooked.” My mom tells my dad.
“Well, you did tie it after our-”
“Don’t ruin our appetites!” I yell out as my mom is blushing.
Peter chuckles.
I look across the table and spot Flash fidgeting a bit.
He looks up and I give him a small smile.
My mom sits at the end of the table.
We all raise our glasses.
“To family, to love, health and strength.” My mom says.
“To faith, new beginnings, staying warm and hoping that everyone stays warm and have a little something to eat.” My dad says.
“Cheers.” Everyone says clinking our glasses.
We start to dig in our meal.
“Excuse me.” Flash starts raising his glass again. “I have something to say.”
I smirk bit.
“Actually, I’d like something I want to say first.” Gwen says.
My mom looks at her.
“I dropped out of school.” Gwen says.
What?!
I’m in shock.
I thought that I was the only one with secrets around here.
“Really?” My dad asks. “That’s….something.”
“What are you doing now?” My mom asks.
“Well the last money I got for tuition, I ended up using it for a down payment for a Pilates studio in North Hollywood.” Gwen stats proudly.
“Pilates?” Delores asks after she takes a large sip of wine from her glass.
“It’s great, Delores! It’s a type of exercise where you mix yoga and ballet that helps the muscles.”
“That’s amazing!” My mom says.
“Can we take a class?” My daddy asks.
“Anytime.” Gwen says. “I’ll send you everything that is necessary when I get back to California.”
“That is very creative!” Delores says.
“And there are a few men that saw your picture, D. You might be lucky to find a suitor that can equal you.”
“Sign me up!” Delores says.
“Kudos, Gwen.” My mom says clinking their glasses together.
Everyone drinks to that.
I look at Flash.
“Um….Everyone, I uh- I wanna say something too.” Flash says. “I’m gay.”
Delores spits out her wine as my parents start laughing.
Flash is confused.
“We know, kiddo!” My dad says after his laughing fit. “We know!”
Everyone drinks to that too.
As we finally start to eat, the police burst into the house, guns pointed.
“Everybody freeze!” They yell out startling everyone.
“Don’t move!” One of them yells as a couple of us stand up from our seats.
“Hold on,” My mom says. “What’s going on?”
“We have a reason to believe that your son is guilty of kidnapping.” The chief of police tells her.
Well, I’ve officially come to the end of the road.
“That can’t be.” My mom says. “That’s absurd.”
“Kidnapping?” Flash asks.
“Who?” Gwen asks.
“Peter Parker.” The chief says.
“Who’s Peter Parker?” My mom asks the police.
The chief points at Peter.
“No.” My mom says. “That’s my son’s boyfriend, Max.”
“No, he isn’t.” My dad says. “That’s Peter Parker. He works for Dr. Connors at Columbia.”
“Daddy’s right. This isn’t Max.” I end up confessing to her.
“Wha-”
“I’m not his boyfriend.” Peter says.
Everyone is shocked.
Brown Eyes sounds sad, but what can I do?
My hands are completely tied and I am going to jail.
“This is getting crazy!” Flash exclaims.
Suddenly, a gun clocking is heard.
“I don’t know who brought home the bacon, but I am gonna fry it up.” Delores says aiming the gun at the police.
“Mom, no!” My mommy exclaims.
“Someone has got to protect this family from these howler monkeys, and it’s gonna be me!” Delores says before sipping her eggnog.
“Mam, put the gun down.” One of the policemen warns her.
“Is she having a Civil War flashback or something?” Another police officer asks my mom.
“No, she’s just had way too much to drink today.” My mom tells them.
Peter stands up from his seat and moves towards Delores.
“She’s an actress and the gun is a prop.” My mom finishes.
It's the gun that I took from daddy's office and used against Peter when I kidnapped him.
“You take the big baciagaloop.” Delores tells Peter as he stands next to her.
“Delores.” He says, sticking his hand out so that she can give him the gun.
She turns and looks at him.
His hand is out.
She gives him a sad expression before looking at the policemen and the gun.
“Come on, Hot Stuff.” He tells her.
She sighs and hands over the gun.
The police lower their weapons.
“I was once on Broadway once.” Delores tells them as she looks at the police.
The police look at each other, confused as Peter rubs her shoulder.
“I know.” Peter says as she moves in and hugs him.
He looks at me with a sad expression.
“Merry Christmas.” My mom says, utterly confused, mad and just defeated.
I fucked up.
Big time.