TERRA EMPIRE: ON THE EVE OF WORLD WAR

EPISODE 62: THANKSGIVING AT McQUEEN’S MANSION

Jordan Cross was standing nervously at the door that displayed the McQueen family symbol. He had no new clothes but at least these were the best clothes he had. This outfit was found in a crate left under the mattress in his room and likely belonged to the previous occupants of the apartment.

Jordan deliberately left the crate lying where he found it so that if the actual owner of the crate returned to the apartment to retrieve it, it could be returned immediately. But to this day there has been no sign of anyone contacting and asking for the chest until the boy was desperate to wear one of the clothes stored there to meet today's invitation with a display decent one.

She made the flower in her hand nervously. It's outrageous to get Lana to get the thing that I care about, even though Jordan has deliberately taken a few dollars from his savings in order to buy this flower at Rita’s Florist before leaving for McQueen’s Mansion.

The door opened and a middle-aged fat lady in servant clothes appeared. He looked at Jordan a moment before his smile expanded, “Ah, you look different, Jordan. I didn't recognize you.”

“Yes, Nana!” sahut Jordan with a blush. “Lana and Professor McQueen are there?”

"Come in!” sahut the maid. “They told you to go straight to the dining room.”

“Alright..” Jordan nodded then handed over the flower.

The woman was more astonished, “For me?”

“Not!” Jordan hurriedly pulled back his bouquet of flowers realizing the misunderstanding. “This is for Lana.”

“Then you should give it directly to him.” the woman smiles.

“Oh, pardon... I think I should hand it over for drafting or something like that.” again Jordan blushed in embarrassment. His face is getting red.

Nana smiled amusedly, “You can hand me a jacket or coat before entering. But flowers for lovers, you should hand them yourself.”

“Love? Lana mean? Oh, no..he's just..”

“Friends! Yes, you said it over and over again when you came here,” Nana nodded her head while winking. “But you can't lie to this old eye.”

“But we.. aah, yes come..” Jordan chuckles at Nana's teasing expression. “Take me to the dining room then.”

It turned out that Lana was already in the living room, the girl looked beautiful with her makeup and dress. The sweeping makeup behind her glasses made Lana's face glow even more. The girl did something with the hair because it was different from what Jordan saw everyday.

Because Lana is already there, Nana also asked for permission, “It seems you are in safe hands because Miss Lana is here. Then I'll go to the kitchen first to secure the turkey.”

“Hai Lana..” Reprimand Jordan.

“Halo Jordan, you look...cool..” Lana noticed her friend.

“You too..” Jordan responded. “You...beautiful..”.

“Thanks! Whose flower is it for?” Lana asked as soon as she realized what Jordan was holding.

“I wanted to give it to Nana. But because he refused, so I just give it to you,” replied the original Jordan while thrusting the bouquet of flowers to Lana.

The girl chuckled, ”Damn it! Why am I second choice after Nana?” although she said in an annoyed tone, Lana also received the flowers that Jordan gave.

“Because tonight Nana was the star.. before the turkey appeared, I guess..”.

Lana laughs again, “I'm sure you'll see the turkey later.”

“Is it as big as Nana said?”

“You should see it for yourself. I hope you really empty your stomach all day so you can spend it all.”

“Do not worry. I didn't eat from noon, so I was hungry. I think I can devour a camel,” commented Jordan.

“As expected, she went to dinner with Pierre.”

“Pierre?”

“I don't know his full name. The man he knew five months ago.”

“I thought Sally was dating Will Garcia,” Lana frowned.

“Will Garcia..oh, the guy who picked me up from school on my first day working at The Vinyl?”

“Ya... the big-nosed and pretentious-looking one,” said Lana.

Jordan laughs, “They're still going. It's just that Sally does have a lot of male friends. I don't know which one is his real girlfriend. I thought Pierre was also just an acquaintance he met at Casino Royal because the man had only stayed at the apartment.”

Lana was astonished, “Then, how many times has the man she considered her boyfriend ever stayed at your apartment?”

Mouth Jordan Manyun, “I was lazy to answer that. Oh, yes.Sally send greetings to you.”

“Send my regards to her too, and all of you tell her that Lana wants to learn from her about romance.”

“What does that mean?” Jordan looked at the confusion.

“Your brother seems to be very easy to get a guy, while I'm boro-boro..”.

“Your greeting I'm telling you. But about learning romance, tell him yourself.”

Lana chuckles, “It's a shame she can't come. Though daddy wants to chat with him about work.”

“What work?”

“Daddy says Duncan Tramp is looking for a new secretary. Maybe Sally is interested?”

Jordan nodded excitedly, “Really? I'll let him know later.”

“Come, I think daddy has been waiting for us in the dining room..” Lana took Jordan and said softly. “....thank you the flowers.”

At the dinner table, the two teenagers were greeted by Professor McQueen, who had apparently just stepped down from his room on the second floor. The man salutes Jordan, “Halo, Jordan! Pleased to see you. You healthy?”

“As you can see, Professor,” Jordan replied with a big smile as he replied to Lana's father's greeting.

“Let's just start while waiting for the turkey to mature. We can start with the appetizer first,” said Lana clumsily as the middle-aged man looked at Jordan's bouquet of flowers. The girl didn't want her father to ask or suspect anything.

Jordan sits at a table facing Lana, while Professor McQuenn is on the side of the head. At the table in front of him was a large bowl of vegetable salad with mayonnaise and a sprinkling of grated cheese, while next to it is a pair of vegetable salads in the form of thinly sliced toasted onion bread that seems to have just finished cooking in the oven. The appetizing appetizer and Jordan can't wait to taste after Professor McQueen takes the salad and eats it.

The salad is delicious, the fresh vegetables are processed in a way that gives rise to a natural sweetness, very suitable combined with a slightly foreign cheese grater and mayonnaise that reduces the dry texture of onion bread. This was Jordan's first thanksgiving, and he had never celebrated thanksgiving before because Sally did not care about it, while she also did not know exactly what to do with the celebration.

Therefore, Jordan is grateful Lana would invite him to McQueen’s Mansion to celebrate together. The first Thanksgiving, with appetizers as delicious as this, and the turkey that was about to appear, was also a warm togetherness with. Jordan looked at Lana and Professor McQueen as the word family flashed through his mind… he never felt anything like this. This was something he had long missed. A place called the family where he could gather spent time chatting, relaxing, and enjoying a delicious dinner like this. It was not surprising that he could experience this as well in the end…

Jordan's gaze could not be separated from Lana who was playing salad on her plate with a fork, while her mouth was busy chewing. The girl noticed Jordan's gaze and looked up, which made Jordan hurriedly turn her gaze to the vegetable bowl to take the next portion. Lana immediately teased him, “Sabar, Jordan! There's still turkey, for the second round.”

That said Professor McQueen, “Let it go, Lana! Daddy also wants to add, kok.”

***