Together is a crazy place to be 

A Short Story 

A family gathering is always hectic in this household.

"Brandy? Whiskey?" No, we'll stick to the usual Scotch.

"Could you turn down the music?" mom asks. "It's making grandma's hearing aids screech."

Dogs are locked in my room upstairs so they don't get fur on my aunt- she's allergic but still wants to pet them.

"E-V-E. Merry Christmas EVE, Grandma." She can't hear me.

Forget it, I'll write it down for her.

"Glori, thank you so much for hosting again this year," everyone coos at my mother.

Helping my parents clean our entire house today took all the lint rollers we could find.. Yet somehow there is still dog fur on everything.

I run to the store last minute to pick up another 20 pound bag of ice.

"Just grab the piano bench from the living room. I think we can fit two people on it at the end of the table," my mom yells to me from the kitchen.

Keep checking the clock to make sure we don't miss midnight mass. I make a mental note.

"Look in the cooler outside, there should be some sparkling water!"

Moving the cars to the street is always my job before everyone arrives, because we don't have a ton of space in the driveway.

No one shows up on time.

Oh, just kidding. Grandma and grandpa rang the doorbell at exactly 4:30, but we didn't hear it over the dogs barking.

"Put the dogs back in your room, they're getting more fur on things!"

Quick, grab the lasagna from the oven before it burns!

"Ready for dessert?"

Shoving my face with cheesecake while trying to answer everyone's questions.

Tell us how school is going, Sydni. How are your classes? Do you have a boyfriend? What year in school are you again?

Up in flames. The candle on the table burned too low, hitting the fake berries decorating the table, and started a small fire.

Very close call, the berries didn't make it out of the flames alive but the tablecloth survived!

"We have plenty of leftovers, please take some home!" My mom begs every family member on their way out the door.

"X?" "Yes grandma, N-E-X-T, we will see you NEXT week for New Years!" She still can't hear me.

"You forgot your coat! Sorry there's some dog fur on it now, but it still functions the same!" My mom jokes with my uncle out the door.

Zzzz- dad is already snoring on the recliner while my mom and I slip out the door for church.