Knock Me Down - [COMPLETE]

29 - Christmas Dinner

Will update again early and make some edits. Happy New Year lads.
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During winter break, in preparation for the Christmas dinner, I get a hair cut. My curly hair was getting too long and I didn't have the texture or the shrinkage my brother did to ignore it any longer. It was also nice not to have something in the way of my eyes when I did anything.

I got dressed, with my mom insisting I wear the shirt, pants, shoes and matching belt my grandma gifted me post junior year of high school I never wore. My grandma, while old and exhausted now, was a seamstress for men's clothing. She still has her shop but my uncle runs it now.

I like the shoes, they're a nice shape. Cognac, cap toe derby shoes. It was awkward being in them with the new look and all. The button up was slightly tight on the arms.The pants are too around the ass and I'm not really a big fan of formal pants that stop above the ankle but they make the shoes look better. I bear with it knowing I should've gone shopping.

I unbutton most of the top bottoms down so the gold chain with a cross my mom gave me was visible. It wasn't a religious statement or for fashion, but because it's from my mom and it reflects a part of me.

I finish pushing the sleeves up my arm, tucking my shirt in, buckling the belt and head downstairs. My brother and I had helped my mom earlier make the banana leaf tamales. Mixing the massive pot of masa took way too much arm muscle to mix and cook. The cilantro rice, crema, salsa, and cornbread were out. My mom also had her homemade alfajores on the counter and flan in the fridge.

I thought about texting Jasper, but I chose against it trying to not reach out so much. I was getting greedy.

I came down the stairs to see the table set with our nice plates and my mom arranging the winter themed centerpiece, lighting its candles. Benicio followed behind and my mom looked at both of us gushing coming over to kiss our cheeks, "Ayy, que guapos, mis hijos preciosos"

My brother rolls his eyes unhappy about the formal wear. He was all athletic clothing all the time. He was dressed cozier than I was, with a button up, tie and sweater over it. He had on white sneakers paired with dark grey chinos.

The last time he voluntarily dressed like this was his high school graduation.

At the sound of a knock at the door, I rush to get it before my mom makes us take pictures already.

Cullen walks in with his girlfriend and son, holding rosé wine and hugs my mother. They kiss each other's cheeks in a greeting. His old bruise is faded, but he has a new one on the other side of his face. He hugs my brother and I, "I love this time of year. You boys look handsome. Benicio, Mateo, this is my girlfriend Manette"

I shake her hand and kiss her cheek as she returns the gesture, "Nice to meet you"

She smiles politely. She looks nervous. They chatter with my mom after she gets done gushing all over again about Jasper and leave the three of us to talk.

"Hey man, you look good" They dap and give each other a brief hug. Jasper did. He was almost entirely in black. Black knit turtleneck sweater, black ripped jeans, black boots, but a deep caramel, wool long coat.

He nods in a silent thanks and then looks over at me, eyeing my outfit and stopping at the necklace, "You both do too" He messes with my brothers tie that's poking out of his sweater, "Once a year you look a little less like shit"

Benicio grins, "Ooh, be careful, dude. I'll spit in your tamales"

My grandma gets here with my dad just after. She's a short thin, lively woman in a feeble sick body but she refuses any help from anyone to have a seat down at the table.