The Blackpool Holidays
December 2015
The salty-tang of the Irish sea gently wafted along the wintery winds across Blackpool’s coast, the gentle warmth of the bright lights of Blackpool’s illuminations, it was at that time of year once more – Christmas decorations adorned residential and commercial buildings, Christmas-centric shoppers crowded small and large shops, the sounds of shouting and typical Christmas banter permeated the air, the iconic tower stood as a bright beacon during the evening..
Towards Bispham at one residential neighbourhood – it was the same spirit at the Wrigth Household, Jenna, the doting mother of three moved through her kitchen with her typical efficient movements, long dark hair pinned up into a rather messy bunny that was beginning to fall loose, her silvery-grey eyes drifting back and forth over the different counters, moving plates and darting herself before something could burn.
Even at 43, the spirit of the season had not died for her; it was this time of year she enjoyed most – she found herself humming away a Christmas tune she often had heard her own mother sing; her face wearing a wide smile as she focused on each task.
It was going to be a rather warm and loving holiday this year – with the usual absentee husband; Philip away, she didn’t need to worry about any issues this year; no hostility at the table, no sly comments regarding their daughter’s relationship, it was ironically going to be a truly family-orientated Christmas with Philip’s absence.
Upstairs, the scent of the meal her mother was cooking wafted up – Raven, the middle-child of the Wright family, rolled over and away from her books glanced towards the doorway – her raven-dark hair spilling over her shoulder in the typical side-ponytail she usually wore it, her silvery-grey eyes warm as they flicked to the door “She sounds like she’s really enjoying herself down there” a rough, yet unmistakable feminine voice commented, with the typical northern lilt, drawing Raven’s gaze back
“Mmm” Raven murmured softly – it was far softer than it had ever been, usually, she spoke almost like whispering, a remnant of her tough year and efforts to make herself invisible since what happened in May and the following months since “Because my dad isn’t here this year” she commented quietly, her eyes distant, a tone of relief present; Yasmin – Yasmin was a year older than Raven, and unlike Raven whose softer, more timid nature painted a picture of youthful innocence, albeit-now stolen, Yasmin was her polar-opposite, often the protective (now even more so) and boisterous presence even since their childhood days, her hair, dark and reaching just below her shoulders, much shorter than Raven’s in comparison was tied back that evening into a ponytail rather than loose, her eyes a deep blue, warm and inviting
“No hostility eh?” Yasmin grinned, that cocky, yet goofy grin that Raven loved
“Nope; no hostility” Raven said softly; her attention drifting down as she gently moved her legs as she repositioned lying on her stomach, raising them to bend at the knee’s and drift them back and forth with subtle movements, feet gently knocking together as she lay prone her slender fingers around the pencil as she marked some errors in her book “I hope next year is better…, and that I get into the course I want too” she said with determination “I know I made mistakes this year, but I refuse to let that dictate my future”
“You didn’t make mistakes Raven” Yasmin said, her voice dropping to a softer speech as she gently shifted, purposely moving closer and letting her hand drift to Raven’s cheek, stroking her hand against her face “And why don’t we join the same course next year; both go into sport, you said you wanted to do that in January” Yasmin suggested, grinning as she lay with her arms behind her head against the pillow; her eyes roaming her girlfriend before returning to meet her gaze
“I don’t want you to feel I am keeping you back though” Raven looked at her with surprise
“Never” Yasmin smiled happily, raising her tone playfully towards the last two letters sound closer to ‘va’ than ‘er’ before letting out a slight chuckle of amusement “I reckon if we go into the same course, I can keep you on track…., or…, you can keep me on track…”
Raven considered this for a moment, her smile widening as she gave a slow nod “Okay; but no complaints if you start getting bored”
Yasmin winked in response, the sound of running feet padding heavily against the floor in the hallway drawing their attention “Think Dylan is back”
“Which means Eliza is too” she said brightly
On the opposite side of the bedroom door; Eliza, the eldest of Jenna’s children at the age of 23 – she is the more feisty of the three, taller than her mother, lean and quite physically strong as part of her martial arts training, a physique developed through years of competitive fighting from local to regional, national and international competitions still retaining her slender build; her hair a lighter shade compared to Raven and reached to the base of her neck, unlike her mother and sister who both inherited the Silvery-Grey Eyes from their Great, Great-Grandmother; Lydia Langdon – Eliza had inherited the blue Caribbean warm eyes of her Great, Great-Grandfather; Thomas Davidson.
Eliza made her way up the stairs quickly, take two or three at a time, practically jumping up them to get to the top, a light giggle escaping her throat as she purposely moved to evade her boyfriend; who chased up after her shouting down ‘Hello Mrs Wright’ as he rushed up with Jenna calling out ‘Hello’ with a cheery tone
Tyler just managed to reach her before she could open her bedroom door; his arms wrapping her waist quickly as they stumbled into the room with further giggling erupting, Tyler’s foot purposely banging against the door at the heel to close the door.
Raven let her eyes drift to her own closed bedroom door a moment hearing al the heavy movement followed by her sisters giggling and the door slam, her smile present as she looks back to Yasmin “Hope it doesn’t start getting noisy” Yasmin jokes eliciting Raven’s a slightly tremor for a brief second before purposely dropping her head against the mattress, causing her fringe to scatter across her face as she lifted her head again; Yasmin’s fingers already moving to brush her hair free from her eyes
Downstairs; Jenna continued to manoeuvre around the kitchen when she heard Dylan’s voice pipe up startling her for a brief second “Can I have some tea please mum” his bright smile as he looked at his mother; Jenna glancing her eyes towards her youngest
At 9 Dylan was amongst the cheekiest of his siblings, short dark hair and eyes like his father, dark, wooden oak-like eyes but looked at his mother with the same warmth as his two sisters instead of the usually absent gaze of his father, he was usually a ball of energy and constantly getting himself in trouble, Christmas would be no different.
Taking a breath she made a quick movement to flick the kettle the gestured him out of the way “Shift it trouble” she said with warmth as she moved to moved to open the oven, using a folded towel to safely grab the metal tray containing Yorkshire Puddings Dylan quickly moved out of the way, hopping up onto the metal stool opposite the countertop and essentially in the dining room part of the space of a Kitchen and Dining room; his eyes already locked onto the Yorkshires with a wide smile “No nicking them trouble”
Dylan quickly rolls his eyes before simply grinning “Is Nanna and Granddad coming round?” he queries
“Should be pet” Jenna answers without looking, drifting back to the kettle hearing the click, Dylan’s eyes lighting up; a sound of light steps drawing Jenna’s quick gaze towards the doorway to spot Raven and Yasmin coming into the room “Helpin’ or trouble?”
“We can help if you want” Yasmin beams – Raven already moving to help followed by Yasmin
Later into the evening; Yasmin sat once again in Raven’s room, purposely spinning on the chair as she waited for Raven to come back from her bath; when Raven did come back, hair still damp with a towel in her hands drying her hair, Yasmin noticed she was now wearing that Velvet choker; the one that Yasmin initially suggested as a Joke in Tossa de mar the previous year, the one Raven immediately took interest in, accepting it without a second thought, it drew a smile to Yasmin’s lips as she stilled the spinning chair and simply watched Raven as she plonked herself down onto the edge of her bed, eyes focused as she kept moving the towel through her hair.
When Raven’s eyes drift to Yasmin, she notices her smile “What?” she asks softly, her lips curving up into a smile
“Nothing…, just, you still wear it” she gestured with a wide smile towards the choker
“I told you; I see it as a symbol” she murmurs, her fingers gently tracing it, with a limp wrist-gesture she smiled “Could you throw me the brush please”
Yasmin maintains her smile as she reaches and collects the brush, purposely standing and walking over to hand it to Raven, leaning forwards and purposely kissing her, surprising Raven as she feels Yasmin’s lips against hers – she soon melts into it though, eyes half-lidded her left hand drifting back to support herself as she leans backwards a little – when Yasmin pulls back, she leans her forehead against Raven’s and smiles “I love you”
Raven feels her cheeks warming as she feels giddy excitement for the first time in a long time, her right hand raising and fingers connecting softly against Yasmin’s face as she leans forwards; lips against lips “And I love you” she murmurs against Yasmin’s mouth “But I need to brush my hair”
Yasmin lets out a light chuckle of amusement before gently pulling away from Raven and stepping back, panting herself back onto the chair and spinning around with a wide smile.
Downstairs, once everyone has gathered for their evening meal – Jenna surveys the scene with a bright smile, it was finally peaceful, no disruptions for once, no snide comments, and while the shadow of Raven’s experience did linger, they had for now, been pushed to the back as Raven kept focused on the present.
It was a truly warm scene to behold as the family enjoyed their meal with jokes here and there, barely a disruption to the flow.
Tyler sat beside Eliza, splitting his attention between his girlfriend as they discuss future competitions they’ve already been told about by their Instructor while also playing a game with Dylan; part of the established pattern since he and Eliza first began their relationship, he had become a role-model for Dylan due to the absence of Philip, a bond that simply warmed Eliza more than she would admit.
As Tyler’s easy-going charm met with Eliza’s affectionate twinkle – his hand found its spot on her thigh giving her a wink.
Dylan continued to be that usual whirlwind of energy even as he picked at his sprouts and carrots, occasionally commenting he hates them, yet still continues to eat them – his mother had made them for him, he wasn’t going to disappoint.
Yasmin sat beside Raven, eating the warm meal provided by the woman who had become like a mother-figure since her first encounter with Raven in nursery, and had been encouraging of her and Raven’s relationship since it first began.
Yasmin’s hand occasionally drifted to squeeze Raven’s wrist, drawing her eyes and a wide smile – They were going to be looking forward to this years approaching Christmas.
Jenna watched them, heart full to bursting, it had taken years, but they was finally a united family, a home that was filled with love and acceptance – the moment was suddenly interrupted by a sharp, insistent chime that broke through the cosy him of the conversations; Dylan, ever eager, rushed from his chair and was already flying from the kitchen to the door and disappearing down the hall – Jenna smiling as she rose slow and grabbed the tea-towel to wipe her hands before following Dylan who was already opening the front door finding his grandparents there “Nanna!…, Granddad!” he announced with an excited shout
Eliza and Raven exchanging a smile, a familiar blend of affection and the typical mild apprehension – Jenna’s father; Ralph, and mother; Barbara greeted Dylan with equal affection, Ralph purposely hoisting the lad up and Barbara giving her daughter a warm hug as they closed the doors; the four moving back to the kitchen where Eliza gave a wave “Look; Granddad and Nanna are here!” Dylan announced to the room
“We see that Pipsqueak” Raven smiled, her eyes turning to her Grandfather and Grandmother, her hand raising to offer a wave in greeting
Despite his age, Ralph remained a rather imposing figure, a lean, tall man with piercing Silvery-Grey Eyes that spoke of old secrets and tales that he wouldn’t reveal and short grey hair; while beside him was Barabara; a short woman with darker eyes and silver hair purposely drawn back into a bun offering a warm smile as they joined the table “We’ve got a few things to put under the tree” Barbara announced “To add to ‘Santas’ visit” she added, her eyes drifting to Dylan
“Indeed” Ralph said, his voice rough, old northern rumble “It’ll be a good Christmas holiday this year” he gave a wink as he looked towards his daughter; Jenna as she sat down at her seat smiling
Written By: Westley H.
Leave a Reply