Page 38 of Brick Wall

Sebastian

“ I don’t think I’ve ever seen it,” I admit to Annie.

“I don’t think I’ve ever seen it on Thanksgiving before,” she admits back.

We are walking down the aptly named Water Street in Plymouth on the sidewalk that separates the street from the ocean.

It’s a gorgeous fall night with a cool breeze coming off the Atlantic Ocean. It’s a little chilly, mid-thirties perhaps, but I’ve worn shorts on colder days than this.

It’s after six on Thanksgiving evening. Annie grew up a few blocks away from downtown Plymouth and the Atlantic Ocean in a historic colonial house.

We decided to take the mile or so stroll downtown after a delicious dinner hosted by her family. I think Annie needed a break from her brothers. Okay, I did too.

They were very excited that I was there for dinner, especially Ryan. Apparently, Annie did not mention to any of her brothers or extended family members that I was attending, nor did she mention we are officially together.

I’m trying not to overthink that one. I hope she’s been enjoying our time together and being in our own bubble—I know I have.

Her parents and some of her friends, like Goldie, know we’re together, but I thought it was suspicious that she hadn’t told her brothers yet. However, maybe the reaction we received was why she waited to tell them.

Needless to say, we both needed a break from the noise for a minute.

“It’s kind of disappointing, huh?” I say, staring at this little rock down a pit hole.

“Yeah.”

“It’s smaller than I thought,” I go on.

She bites back her lips, but then laughs.

“Okay, I’m sorry, but I have to say ‘that’s what she said.’ You can’t set up a gal two times in a row like that,” she says, while laughing.

“My bad.” I laugh with her.

I thought Plymouth Rock would be bigger, though. It’s…just a rock. The rock is in a very nice display case but yeah—a regular rock.

Wordlessly, we turn around and start to head back. There’s no need to look any longer. No offense, rock.

“My grandfather would sit on that bench,” Annie says, while pointing to a wooden bench to the left of the Plymouth Rock monument, “and would yell ‘IT’S A FAKE!’ to all the tourists that would pass by to visit the rock.”

We both chuckle at the memory.

“Did he pass? ”

“Yes, almost ten years now, but I always smile when I come down here. I miss him extra when I’m here.”

I take her hand and give it a squeeze for support, but I don’t let go; instead, my hands remain interlocked with hers.

“I can totally see one of your brothers doing that when he’s an old man.”

“Definitely,” she says with a quick laugh. “I’m glad someone will keep the family tradition alive.”

When we return to the house a while later, we’re greeted with dessert. We are then quickly recruited for a round of family games.

“Are you sure this is a good idea?” Annie asks her mom as we all head into the living room.

“We aren’t playing spoons,” Finn, her brother I know the least, quickly retorts.

“Last year a table was broken in a riveting game of spoons,” Annie explains to me as we sit next to each other on a white fluffy couch.

“What game are we playing?” Sebastian asks.

“It’s a family tradition that the newest person around the Thanksgiving table this year gets to pick the first game,” Ryan explains.

“That’s not a tradition,” Annie clarifies.

“It’s a tradition we just started this year,” Finn says in support of his brother.

Annie rolls her eyes at both of them.

“You can’t pick spoons,” Annie’s mother, Laurie, whispers to me.

“Got it,” I say with a single nod to her. “What are my options?”

“Oh! Do you want to see the game closet?” Ryan eagerly asks.

“Sure,” I politely agree, even though I don’t really want to.

I also have to remember I’m not safe around Ryan and closets. Although, I don’t really mind getting trapped in a closet now with Annie. I could think of a few things we could do to pass the time.

Ryan opens the said game closet, and wow, that’s a lot of board games.

It’s a large closet sky-high with games for every occasion. It looks like every game they’ve ever bought because there are some old-school board games in here, I’m guessing, from their childhood: Candy Land, Battleship, multiple Monopoly games, Operation, and much more.

There’s also an extensive selection of modern party games to choose from. I choose a few different games and then head back.

I immediately regret all board game decisions with the Moore family, but luckily, I am saved by a phone call. I was losing anyway, so I forfeit the game and step outside.

“Happy Thanksgiving!” I greet my mom when I accept the phone call.

“You too, honey! How’s your Thanksgiving going?” she asks.

My mom and two sisters are celebrating Thanksgiving together in Michigan.

Olivia, my younger sister, is in a master’s program out there and both my mom and Scarlett flew out to visit her since it’s the halfway point, sort of.

My mom lives in California, still in the house I grew up in, and Scarlett is obviously in Boston with me.

I couldn’t travel and they know I have a place to celebrate.

Scarlett likes to avoid California, so they usually fly to Michigan or Boston to make plans, which benefits me greatly when they choose Boston. They typically fly somewhere fun during the season to one of my away games, usually Miami or another warm destination.

“It’s great,” I admit to my mom. “How’s Michigan with your girls?”

“Girl,” she confirms. “Scarlett got sick and canceled at the last minute. I’m having fun with Olivia, though.”

We chat some more but then hang up a few minutes later. I head back to the crazy living room for some more fun and games, but really, I just want to go home and have some fun and games with Annie instead.