Thanksgiving with a Shifter

Thanksgiving is supposed to be a time to appreciate all that you have in your life, this year would be no different. Mom made me invite Claire so she wouldn't be alone, which I honestly didn't think she would say yes but she did. So here we are sitting on my porch while the temp begins to make its slow decline to a whopping 40 degrees. "So what's next on the list for training Claire."

She smiles "we can talk about that later Ben, today is a special day believe me these days don't come to often so enjoy while you can." She stands and walks down the steps. "I will be back soon."

I nod. "See you soon, have a good walk." She smiles and walks away with her head hanging low, I sigh. "This couldn't get any worse." I hear my mom shouting for me, "I'm coming." As I stand to go back in I hear the bushes shutter, I pick up a pebble and toss it at the bush. Miss Thomsons cat jumps out and sprints down the road. "Skitty what are doing out."

When I enter the house I get a feeling that I should be more worried about skitty but she has always been like that so I push my inticest aside. "What's up mom."

She smiles as sweat begins to rolls down her cheek. "Can you be a dear and check on the turkey, just let me know if the red tap has popped out."

I nod and open the oven door. "Not yet mom." Claire walks in as the oven shuts. "How was your walk."

She sits down at the table and I notice a small cut on her cheek. "It was fine a little cold but nothing I haven't been through."

I look at her curiously. "What about that cut on your cheek."

She shakes her head and touches her cheek. "I don't know, I didn't feel anything that's so weird."

I nod, "Ben can you get the camera."

I stare at her. "Mom come on can't we skip it this year."

Mom shakes her head. "No Ben this is a tradition."

I roll my eyes. "Fine whatever."

I grab the camera. "Here you go."

Mom shouts . "Time for the yearly picture James."

He hurrys into the kitchen in his nice and fancy suit. "where we taking the pic this time mom."

She smiles. "Nothing special this year, just at the table."
Me and Jimmy move to the other end of the table where Claire is sitting as mom sets up the cameras timer. "Here let me move." Clarie says.

Mom shakes her head. "No you are apart of my sons life so you will be in our picture."

Clarie smiles "ok."

The camera starts to click rapidly. She hurrys over to us. "Smile boys." We all smile and the camera flashes.

Then mom picks up the camera and checks the picture. "That's werid there was some kind of dirt or something on the lens."

I take the camera, The picture looks good but Claire's eyes seems to be lighting up like some kind of lightbulbs.