It wasn’t until the third wave of yawns had spread through the house that Thanksgiving dinner with Simon’s family truly ended. After a few bottles of wine, a pumpkin pie, and a plate of chocolate chip cookies were joyfully consumed by everyone, talks of finding a place to sleep were all anyone could focus on.
Some who lived close by and hadn’t drank much gathered their families and soon the house was much emptier than before. As far as Dani could count it was her, Simon, Phoebe, Daria, one of their uncles, his wife, their two teenage kids – one of them being the boy who wanted to sneak some wine – and their grandmother.
Dani was standing in the book nook, lost in thought trying to remember everyone’s names when Simon handed her a set of lavender bed sheets.
“Here, you can use these.”
“Oh, thanks.” Dani took the bundle under her arm. She was the first one to switch into her pajamas, which were a baggy gray sweatshirt and some joggers. “Where are you sleeping? With your cousins?”
Most of the sleeping arrangements had been settled. Their grandma would obviously sleep in her own bedroom, Daria took the small spare room on the main floor, their cousins would sleep on blow-up mattresses in the basement’s main room, and their aunt and uncle would sleep in the basement’s guest room to keep an eye on them with regards to the bar.
Phoebe told her they were going to share the upstairs guest room before she wandered off to brush her teeth. It wasn’t a big deal at all, or at least it shouldn’t have been. Growing up, the idea of Dani sharing a room with a girl around her age, even if they were a relative or a friend, was made out to be an impossibility from any adult in charge of the situation. Her mother would force her to sleep out in the cold living room just to make sure the mythical mixed-gender bedroom rule never got broken.
Looking back, she found it all silly. Some old tradition that hadn’t aged well. And now that she was seen as a woman, at least by the others in the house, it made even less sense. Nobody blinked an eye when Phoebe said she and Dani were going to be in the second guest room.
Simon exhaled, letting his lips gently flap against each other. Either showing off his exhaustion or a carryover from the buzz of the wine. “I was just gonna take the couch. No more beds or air mattresses left, and it’s honestly pretty comfy.”
“Is it really?” Dani asked. “Is it long enough to even hold you?”
“I’ll be fine, I’ll lay a sheet down and if I need more leg room I can move a chair over to the edge.” Simon paused and looked like he wanted to say more before walking to the stairs. “It’s late and we have to drive home tomorrow. Night!”
Dani waved to him with her free hand. “Goodnight,” she whispered.
She spotted Phoebe leaving the bathroom and waving her toward the door of the guest room they would be staying in. During the short walk to meet up with her, the entire day hit her at once, like a bucket of fatigue was poured over her. The long car ride, preparing dinner, having to be social for an entire day. It was the most cooking she had done in months, and definitely the most talking.
“You look dead,” Phoebe said, closing the door to their room once Dani was inside.
Dani tossed the sheets onto the bare guest bed and yawned for the fifth time since dinner. “Yeah I think I’m about to pass out.”
She started to fit the sheets to the bed when she noticed Phoebe rolling out an air mattress on the floor.
I feel bad that I’m the only young person who got a real bed.
“Hey, if you want the bed then–”
“Don’t bother,” Phoebe said. She turned on the air pump and let the bed start to inflate. She continued to talk, yelling over the painful whirring sound of the pump. “If my grandma, or worse if Simon, finds out I took the bed while a guest slept on the floor, I’ll never hear the end of it.”
“Ah, okay, sorry.”
Dani finished covering the bed and immediately fell asleep, before the air pump was even shut off.
***
Simon stared up at the dark, vaulted ceiling. He tried to rein in his thoughts and only think about drifting off to sleep, though he was granted no such relief.
Dani is happy, that’s what matters. Yes. I invited her here so she wouldn’t have to be alone for the holiday, and it went great! She had a nice time…
He turned on his side and stared at the coffee table instead.
Is it because of Ryan? I mean, I’ve known her forever and now as soon as they start going on dates she’s this new, happy person? But she didn’t even seem that happy a few weeks ago. Is she putting on an act? Or is there something else I’m missing?
The sound of the furnace shut off, a once steady hum that had blended into the background vanishing, leaving Simon even more restless.
Whatever it was, it wasn’t me. I’m not the one that made her happy.
***
A bug hovered in the air. It brushed against Simon’s forehead, eliciting a half-awake swat. No luck. The insect fluttered away and landed on the top of his head. It felt heavier than before. He gave one more attempt to push it off of him. Instead of leaving, it hopped over his hand, and tugged at his hair.
He jolted awake.
“Ow!” Simon sat up on the couch, looking around and ready to squash whatever bug was pestering him.
Instead, he saw his wonderful sister Phoebe standing over him. She gave his skull another poke.
“Mom wants you to help her make breakfast for everyone.” Her morning voice was even more monotone and joyless than usual.
Finally waking up all the way and coming to the realization that there was never any bug, he groaned and fell back down onto the couch.
“Alright, I’ll be up in a minute.”
He rubbed his eyes with the bases of his palms, hoping he didn’t remember what he was thinking about when he fell asleep. The sour mood he was in already told him it would make his annoying morning even worse.
In the kitchen, his mother was standing next to a pile of ingredients, in the middle of tying her hair back into a ponytail.
“Good morning,” Simon said with the single drop of enthusiasm he had in him.
The sun was less than halfway over the horizon, filling the house with a gentle pink hue.
“Morning! How was the couch?” She gave her son a quick smile and went back to sorting through herbs and cheeses.
“It was good, yeah.” He reached into a cabinet for a frying pan, already familiar with the kitchen again after cooking yesterday. “Is anyone else up?”
The bug returned and poked him in the back. “Nope,” Phoebe said. “Just us. I got up to use the bathroom and mom coaxed me into helping cook.”
“Right, so why not add me to the mix as well.” Simon wanted to be annoyed with his sister but was happy to be with his family all in one place again.
He dragged his feet to the stove and set down the pan. Before he could turn the burner on, his mother touched his shoulder.
“Actually,” she said, “leave this to me. You two can relax a little more.” She kissed Simon on the cheek before pushing him away from the oven.
“What? No, come on mom, let us help.” He noticed Phoebe already slipping out of the kitchen.
“Fine, if you want to help then get some bread in the toaster and the coffee pot going. But I’ll handle the rest.” She looked determined. “The both of you should spend some quality time together, you’re siblings.”
Phoebe had all but escaped when she stopped. She poked her head back in mid-yawn. “I’ll do the toast.”
Simon wanted to tell his mother that she should just let him help, and that he hadn’t had a real conversation with his sister in years. Instead, he spared her that knowledge and relented.
“Alright, I’ll get coffee ready.”
As he poured water into the back of the coffee maker and readied the grounds in their filter, he couldn’t help but think about Dani.
I bet she’ll hate this pre-ground, generic stuff. She makes coffee a million times better than this at work all the time. Maybe I should ask her if–
He forced himself to stop thinking.
Why does my mind always wander to her? How do I stop being such a creep? She said she doesn’t like me, so why hasn’t that stopped me?
With the coffee machine going, he walked to the dining room where Phoebe was sitting with her head on the table. For all Simon knew, she was asleep. He sat down across from her and did his best to not think about Dani.
I have a new activity to prepare for the holidays. I should start planning that. A snow theme, or maybe ice? Some type of indoor skating? Need to avoid appealing to any specific religion, but I wonder if that includes Santa? God, I have to get Christmas gifts soon, I wonder what mom wants. Oh and Dani’s birthday is coming up so–
He groaned and laid his head on the table, matching his sister.
“You good?” She asked without lifting her head.
“Yeah, I just… I don’t know, maybe not.”
Simon continued to press his forehead into the soft tablecloth until he heard something. A soft, non-judgemental sigh from his sister. When he looked up, he saw her looking at him with neutrality, a sight he wasn’t sure was possible.
“If you want to talk about it, then I guess just do it.” She stretched her arms up behind her head and looked away.
Woah, is she serious?
“Uh, well.” Simon wasn’t sure how open he should be with her. Part of him was convinced she was setting him up for some trick, but he tried to be optimistic. “I’m completely lost as to what I want.”
“What, like for your job?”
“That too, actually.” He chuckled to himself at how little control he felt over his life. “And things with Dani have been…weird? Not that I’m unsupportive of her being trans, it’s just been a lot to adapt to.”
Phoebe nodded. “Well I think that’s fair, I mean you’ve known each other a long time. You’re practically siblings. I can’t say I would immediately get used to having my brother become my sister.” She let the last sentence hang for a bit and smirked.
“Don’t hold your breath,” Simon said.
Siblings… Is that what’s happening? Do I see her as my sister? If that was the case, why did I confess my feelings?
“If it’s bothering you that much, take a step back. Focus on yourself or your job or whatever, I don’t know.” Phoebe’s voice shifted back to her usual negative tone.
Looks like she’s sick of caring about me already.
“Yeah, I think that’s a good idea.”
The toaster popped, and the smell of coffee was beginning to permeate the dining room. Their short moment of sibling connection was over.
“Thanks,” Simon said in complete earnest.
Phoebe stood up and turned away, but Simon knew he saw a smile she was fighting to hide. “Whatever.”
Announcement As always, read four chapters ahead over on my Patreon! Along with two exclusive bonus chapters~
It wasn’t until the third wave of yawns had spread through the house that Thanksgiving dinner with Simon’s family truly ended. After a few bottles of wine, a pumpkin pie, and a plate of chocolate chip cookies were joyfully consumed by everyone, talks of finding a place to sleep were all anyone could focus on.
Some who lived close by and hadn’t drank much gathered their families and soon the house was much emptier than before. As far as Dani could count it was her, Simon, Phoebe, Daria, one of their uncles, his wife, their two teenage kids – one of them being the boy who wanted to sneak some wine – and their grandmother.
Dani was standing in the book nook, lost in thought trying to remember everyone’s names when Simon handed her a set of lavender bed sheets.
“Here, you can use these.”
“Oh, thanks.” Dani took the bundle under her arm. She was the first one to switch into her pajamas, which were a baggy gray sweatshirt and some joggers. “Where are you sleeping? With your cousins?”
Most of the sleeping arrangements had been settled. Their grandma would obviously sleep in her own bedroom, Daria took the small spare room on the main floor, their cousins would sleep on blow-up mattresses in the basement’s main room, and their aunt and uncle would sleep in the basement’s guest room to keep an eye on them with regards to the bar.
Phoebe told her they were going to share the upstairs guest room before she wandered off to brush her teeth. It wasn’t a big deal at all, or at least it shouldn’t have been. Growing up, the idea of Dani sharing a room with a girl around her age, even if they were a relative or a friend, was made out to be an impossibility from any adult in charge of the situation. Her mother would force her to sleep out in the cold living room just to make sure the mythical mixed-gender bedroom rule never got broken.
Looking back, she found it all silly. Some old tradition that hadn’t aged well. And now that she was seen as a woman, at least by the others in the house, it made even less sense. Nobody blinked an eye when Phoebe said she and Dani were going to be in the second guest room.
Simon exhaled, letting his lips gently flap against each other. Either showing off his exhaustion or a carryover from the buzz of the wine. “I was just gonna take the couch. No more beds or air mattresses left, and it’s honestly pretty comfy.”
“Is it really?” Dani asked. “Is it long enough to even hold you?”
“I’ll be fine, I’ll lay a sheet down and if I need more leg room I can move a chair over to the edge.” Simon paused and looked like he wanted to say more before walking to the stairs. “It’s late and we have to drive home tomorrow. Night!”
Dani waved to him with her free hand. “Goodnight,” she whispered.
She spotted Phoebe leaving the bathroom and waving her toward the door of the guest room they would be staying in. During the short walk to meet up with her, the entire day hit her at once, like a bucket of fatigue was poured over her. The long car ride, preparing dinner, having to be social for an entire day. It was the most cooking she had done in months, and definitely the most talking.
“You look dead,” Phoebe said, closing the door to their room once Dani was inside.
Dani tossed the sheets onto the bare guest bed and yawned for the fifth time since dinner. “Yeah I think I’m about to pass out.”
She started to fit the sheets to the bed when she noticed Phoebe rolling out an air mattress on the floor.
I feel bad that I’m the only young person who got a real bed.
“Hey, if you want the bed then–”
“Don’t bother,” Phoebe said. She turned on the air pump and let the bed start to inflate. She continued to talk, yelling over the painful whirring sound of the pump. “If my grandma, or worse if Simon, finds out I took the bed while a guest slept on the floor, I’ll never hear the end of it.”
“Ah, okay, sorry.”
Dani finished covering the bed and immediately fell asleep, before the air pump was even shut off.
***
Simon stared up at the dark, vaulted ceiling. He tried to rein in his thoughts and only think about drifting off to sleep, though he was granted no such relief.
Dani is happy, that’s what matters. Yes. I invited her here so she wouldn’t have to be alone for the holiday, and it went great! She had a nice time…
He turned on his side and stared at the coffee table instead.
Is it because of Ryan? I mean, I’ve known her forever and now as soon as they start going on dates she’s this new, happy person? But she didn’t even seem that happy a few weeks ago. Is she putting on an act? Or is there something else I’m missing?
The sound of the furnace shut off, a once steady hum that had blended into the background vanishing, leaving Simon even more restless.
Whatever it was, it wasn’t me. I’m not the one that made her happy.
***
A bug hovered in the air. It brushed against Simon’s forehead, eliciting a half-awake swat. No luck. The insect fluttered away and landed on the top of his head. It felt heavier than before. He gave one more attempt to push it off of him. Instead of leaving, it hopped over his hand, and tugged at his hair.
He jolted awake.
“Ow!” Simon sat up on the couch, looking around and ready to squash whatever bug was pestering him.
Instead, he saw his wonderful sister Phoebe standing over him. She gave his skull another poke.
“Mom wants you to help her make breakfast for everyone.” Her morning voice was even more monotone and joyless than usual.
Finally waking up all the way and coming to the realization that there was never any bug, he groaned and fell back down onto the couch.
“Alright, I’ll be up in a minute.”
He rubbed his eyes with the bases of his palms, hoping he didn’t remember what he was thinking about when he fell asleep. The sour mood he was in already told him it would make his annoying morning even worse.
In the kitchen, his mother was standing next to a pile of ingredients, in the middle of tying her hair back into a ponytail.
“Good morning,” Simon said with the single drop of enthusiasm he had in him.
The sun was less than halfway over the horizon, filling the house with a gentle pink hue.
“Morning! How was the couch?” She gave her son a quick smile and went back to sorting through herbs and cheeses.
“It was good, yeah.” He reached into a cabinet for a frying pan, already familiar with the kitchen again after cooking yesterday. “Is anyone else up?”
The bug returned and poked him in the back. “Nope,” Phoebe said. “Just us. I got up to use the bathroom and mom coaxed me into helping cook.”
“Right, so why not add me to the mix as well.” Simon wanted to be annoyed with his sister but was happy to be with his family all in one place again.
He dragged his feet to the stove and set down the pan. Before he could turn the burner on, his mother touched his shoulder.
“Actually,” she said, “leave this to me. You two can relax a little more.” She kissed Simon on the cheek before pushing him away from the oven.
“What? No, come on mom, let us help.” He noticed Phoebe already slipping out of the kitchen.
“Fine, if you want to help then get some bread in the toaster and the coffee pot going. But I’ll handle the rest.” She looked determined. “The both of you should spend some quality time together, you’re siblings.”
Phoebe had all but escaped when she stopped. She poked her head back in mid-yawn. “I’ll do the toast.”
Simon wanted to tell his mother that she should just let him help, and that he hadn’t had a real conversation with his sister in years. Instead, he spared her that knowledge and relented.
“Alright, I’ll get coffee ready.”
As he poured water into the back of the coffee maker and readied the grounds in their filter, he couldn’t help but think about Dani.
I bet she’ll hate this pre-ground, generic stuff. She makes coffee a million times better than this at work all the time. Maybe I should ask her if–
He forced himself to stop thinking.
Why does my mind always wander to her? How do I stop being such a creep? She said she doesn’t like me, so why hasn’t that stopped me?
With the coffee machine going, he walked to the dining room where Phoebe was sitting with her head on the table. For all Simon knew, she was asleep. He sat down across from her and did his best to not think about Dani.
I have a new activity to prepare for the holidays. I should start planning that. A snow theme, or maybe ice? Some type of indoor skating? Need to avoid appealing to any specific religion, but I wonder if that includes Santa? God, I have to get Christmas gifts soon, I wonder what mom wants. Oh and Dani’s birthday is coming up so–
He groaned and laid his head on the table, matching his sister.
“You good?” She asked without lifting her head.
“Yeah, I just… I don’t know, maybe not.”
Simon continued to press his forehead into the soft tablecloth until he heard something. A soft, non-judgemental sigh from his sister. When he looked up, he saw her looking at him with neutrality, a sight he wasn’t sure was possible.
“If you want to talk about it, then I guess just do it.” She stretched her arms up behind her head and looked away.
Woah, is she serious?
“Uh, well.” Simon wasn’t sure how open he should be with her. Part of him was convinced she was setting him up for some trick, but he tried to be optimistic. “I’m completely lost as to what I want.”
“What, like for your job?”
“That too, actually.” He chuckled to himself at how little control he felt over his life. “And things with Dani have been…weird? Not that I’m unsupportive of her being trans, it’s just been a lot to adapt to.”
Phoebe nodded. “Well I think that’s fair, I mean you’ve known each other a long time. You’re practically siblings. I can’t say I would immediately get used to having my brother become my sister.” She let the last sentence hang for a bit and smirked.
“Don’t hold your breath,” Simon said.
Siblings… Is that what’s happening? Do I see her as my sister? If that was the case, why did I confess my feelings?
“If it’s bothering you that much, take a step back. Focus on yourself or your job or whatever, I don’t know.” Phoebe’s voice shifted back to her usual negative tone.
Looks like she’s sick of caring about me already.
“Yeah, I think that’s a good idea.”
The toaster popped, and the smell of coffee was beginning to permeate the dining room. Their short moment of sibling connection was over.
“Thanks,” Simon said in complete earnest.
Phoebe stood up and turned away, but Simon knew he saw a smile she was fighting to hide. “Whatever.”
Announcement As always, read four chapters ahead over on my Patreon! Along with two exclusive bonus chapters~