Cooking for the Family 11
Jensen’s dad said, “Would anyone be offended if I said grace? I’ll keep it nondenominational and short.”
Everyone laughed and there was a chorus of, “Go for it Pappa Ackles!” and other people called, “It’s hard to find you offensive!”
Everyone bowed their heads and Alan said, “Dear God, thank You for the wonderful company. It’s been a really long time since we’ve had so many people we love all in one place. Thank You for bringing Jared and his great family and friends into our lives, we are blessed to know them. Thank You for giving us a whole new generation of children with whom to share our traditions. And thank You for this wonderful food cooked by our families.”
Everyone said, “Amen,” at once. Steve laughed and said, “I never hear a grace except when I’m with you, Poppa Ackles.”
Then Chris added, “It really does make me feel like this is a block party.”
Alan smiled, “Whether or not there is anyone up there listening I like to list off everything nice about the day.”
People dug in and were chatting and laughing. Jared was just watching it. What James had said about people tuning in for celebrities was true. But everyone is was sitting around in casual clothes and bathing suits. It was comforting and homey. No one had camera make up on now and it was all their families together. There were cameras around but the crew was doing the best they could to be unobtrusive. Jensen said softy, “You okay?”
“I wish I grew up in your neighborhood, ours wasn’t this friendly. We never would have had parties like this. I’m loving it.”
Jensen leaned over and kissed him chastely, “I love you.”
Jared smiled, “You too.”
“So I know that you kind of lost having the Coolest Bring a Parent to School Day as Jamie was hospitalized but do you think we’ve won Coolest Family Barbeque?”
“Add in Manhunt and we will have it in the bag.” They both laughed.
Everyone had seconds and talked about how awesome the food was as well as filling each other in on their lives. Once everyone was so stuffed and saying they couldn’t even imagine eating dessert Michael and both the Jameses started chanting, “Texan Manhunt, Texan Manhunt.” Then people joined in. Jensen stood to get the supplies and everyone cheered.
Elisha raised a hand, “Am I the only one who has no idea what we are doing? I kind of draw the entertainment line at lynching.” Chad, Jeff Morgan, Katie Cassidy, and Paris all agreed with her as everyone else laughed.
Tom said, “Okay, if tag, hide and go seek, and capture the flag had a baby that you played in the dark it would be Texan Manhunt.”
Katherine laughed and said, “Tom, we only met a short while ago but I feel we like each other enough for me to say that that is the most inept explanation possible.” Everyone laughed, including Tom.
Meggie said, “I’ve got this. All our parents said that they aren’t playing so we have forty people. Which translates into four teams. Each team has a home base. Each person gets two bandanas in their teams colors and a flashlight. You may not hide your flashlight. One person on each team is designated captain. They have three bandanas and two flashlights. They can see better than anyone else but they are also more visible. When someone tags you from a different team you have to give them one of your bandanas. When you tag someone and get their bandana you take it to your home base and leave it there. If you are tagged too many times and you lose all your bandanas you return to your home base. People who still have bandanas can go into other people’s home bases and steal back their own team’s bandanas, they can’t take other colors. They can give those bandanas to anyone who is out or is close to being out. To avoid being tagged you can run and you can hide. But you can’t hide in the kitchen or anything it has to be in the yard, behind trees or whatever. You can also climb trees. Now, the team that collects twelve bandanas wins. However eight of those bandanas must be of the same color and you must have one each of the two other teams. If it goes on for long enough and people get bored then whichever team has the most bandanas both their own color and everyone else’s wins. That’s the Texan Manhunt. But Jensen said something about arbitrators which we never had.”
Michelle said, “We have five arbitrators, not in the game. They decide whether or not something is fair. Any player can call foul if they think they’ve been cheated out of a bandana. So if someone doesn’t actually touch you but takes a bandana, that’s a foul. If two people gang up on you, that’s a foul. If someone fakes a broken leg to get you to come near them so that they can tag you, that’s a foul. If the arbitrators agree that it’s a foul the offender must give all their bandanas to the cheated person and go to their home base to be tagged in.”
Paris said, “Y’know what’s funny? While Tom’s explanation was incredibly vague it was also totally accurate.” Everyone laughed again.
Jensen came out and said, “We have a new rule too: you cannot tackle or pick up an opposing team member.” Some people groaned and Jensen laughed, “I know when we were younger half the point was to be the first person to pick up Mackenzie.”
“Yeah, that wasn’t funny,” said Mack.
“You were the youngest you were bound to get picked on,” Jensen shrugged. “But, now that the age gap is so large between players, that’s just mean. It’s funny when Mack was fourteen it’s not funny when Honor is two and a half.” He went to close the pool cover and said, “I’m shutting this so that no one slips in but don’t run across it. It will hold you up but it will break the mechanism. Home bases are the bottom of the tree house tree for red, the two soccer nets for blue and green and the far end of the pool for yellow.” To Elisha, Chad, Jeff, Katie and Paris he said, “You five in?” They all nodded. “Awesome, pick teams.” That went fast and he was handing out bandanas and flashlights.
They all went to their home bases and it was LeAnn’s Mom who did a two fingered whistle and said, “Let the Manhunt begin.”
It wasn’t very serious, no one got competitive with such little kids involved they just played. Mike and Michael got the most fouls called on them. Every once in a while you would hear a mother say something along the lines of, “Michael Weatherly, you put Annie down this minute and give her you bandanas, y’hear?” Everyone was laughing. The camera guys kept giving away people’s positions with their lights but one actually cared.
After about an hour the little kid were flagging and it was Chris’ mother who called, “The Manhunt is over because all the real adults are ready for dessert.” People laughed and went up to the tables to have their team’s bandanas counted. Chad was really excited that his team, the green team, won and asked what the prize was.
“Bragging rights,” said Jensen. Chad looked a little hurt and Jensen said, “You can have a goody bag if you like. I made up one for every one as a joke because Oriental Trading Company makes you order, like, fifty of everything.”
Chad nodded, “I feel that is an appropriate prize. But I’m going to make the green team t-shirts. Watch the mail, people, wear them proudly.”
Jensen smiled, “Let me go get the goody bags. I think the kids are going to pass out right after dessert, everyone one looks dead on their feet.” He went into the house and came back with a laundry basket full of cellophane bags. He handed one to Jessica and said, “That’s Honor’s it has extra stuffed animals because I wasn’t sure about the other stuff. Vet it.”
Jessica opened it and said, “Cool bottle of bubble water which is too large to be choked on, friendship bracelets are fine because they get tied on, cute stuffed animals, the very nice sheriff badge doesn’t have a pointy pin so that’s awesome.” She got to the sticky lizards and said, “Those will definitely get swallowed,” she handed them back to him and to Honor she said, “What do you say to Jensen?”
“Thank you, Jensen.” She hugged a stuffed dog.
“You are very welcome.” To the two teenagers Jensen said, “I know you’re a bit old. But at the same time a goody bag is always nice. These two have extra sticky lizards.” He handed them one each.
“Thanks, Jen,” they said in unison.
“Again, totally welcome. I just hope they aren’t too lame. Personally I think the sheriff badges are really funny.” To everyone else he said, “The rest are all the same, so pick ones with stuffed toys you like.”
The kids dug in and everyone else helped themselves to desserts. Sandy said, “I think it’s time for the camera crew to leave so say your goodbyes.”
Jared turned to the closest one and said, “Thank you for watching our Family Barbeque.”
“Usually,” said Jamie, “on the Family Barbeque show the chef does all fancy versions of barbeque food and then they sit around with a few friends eating, like, grilled asparagus.”
“Well, welcome to Texas,” said Chris which made Jamie laugh. “We play Manhunt, say grace, and play music. Might not be classy but it’s home.”
Jensen smiled at the camera and said, “Hope you had fun; we’re having fun.” Then he did a spot on impression of Jared, “We’ll see you next season -- right here -- on the Food Network’s Family Barbeque. Have a great summer!”
“Why do you always make fun of me?” asked Jared.
“You open yourself up for it.”
Jared laughed, to the camera he said, “Good night!” Everyone else repeated it laughing and cheering. It was just after nine when the camera guys left. They kept eating dessert.
Afterwards the music started up again and Jensen opened the pool back up for people to use. The concert continued and Jensen was playing the violin. Jared watched him, totally in his element. It was like watching the YouTube videos; this was Jensen at the top of his game. Honor was asleep in Jessica’s lap. The other kids had all gotten a second wind and were back to playing together, playing tag in the dark with their flashlights. Jessica turned on the baby monitor that was already on the patio, “Be right back,” she whispered.
A few moments passed and then the other baby monitor was turned on. And they heard Jessica say, “Okay, sweetheart, sleep well.”
Shortly thereafter Mattie came and cuddled up in Michelle’s lap to fall asleep all the while claiming she wasn’t tired. Then Mary and Suri did the same thing. They were put to bed and Mary was put in the lower bunk in Jamie’s room. Jamie went to swim with his friends and Jensen went back to the piano and the party just kept going. People were drinking and still eating everything and singing along with the music.
Jensen got up and got out the four sleeping bags and spoke to the parents who weren’t staying there, “All the kids can crash here. The couch pulls out. Once they’re asleep they’re impossible to move.” The kids had all been wearing sweats and tee-shirts to play in so it wasn’t as though they needed PJs. It was decided that August and Sullivan would sleep on the pull out. Tim, Mary, Marky and Jamie were going to be in his room. Eric and Kurt were adamant that they could stay up as late as the adults. The music tapered off and people just sat around chatting. Around half past midnight Tim, Jamie and Marky all headed off to bed or their own accord. Jensen called after them, “Try not to wake Mary, boys.”
They started drinking coffee and it wasn’t too long before all the real adults left in cars Jensen had called for them. Jeff and Kayla left with Eric and Kurt at the same time because the boys were dead on their feet.
Everyone else was in the pool, enjoying themselves. Paris was on a raft and said, “I think I should quit my gym.”
“Why?” asked Meg.
“I got a way better work out from Texan Manhunt.”
People chuckled and Jared felt really pleasantly drunk and Jared asked, “Do we have any booze left?”
“There’s some of the acid green one and some of the pink one,” Jensen slowly climbed out of the pool, “Drinks, anyone?” He served everyone drinks. Everyone was drinking in the pool. Some people were ashing into Solo cups. Jensen was sitting on the edge and said, “Dad was right, it’s really nice to have all the kids around.” He was silent for a moment looking at the water. “Sometimes you don’t miss something until it is back.” He looked up and said, “From now on we’re open for business. During the summer, all of you can come over whenever you like. During the school year we’ll have to figure something out ‘cause Jamie needs quiet school nights. But, yeah, this was always the party house and Tom and Mike picked up the slack but I’m ready. We’re an open house again. And these barbeques are a monthly thing now except for December, January and February, those are too cold. I’ll send out mass emails. Come if you can.”
Mack smiled but then said, “Everyone is staying for another few days, don’t get maudlin on us.”
“I have to be on a plane in five hours, I have to be at the airport in three and a half.” said Chad. “That’s going to suck.”
“Should you go to bed?” asked Jensen
“No, I’ll sleep on the plane, it’s three hours and then I’ll have two hours to sleep before we start shoot. What I should do is stop drinking and start eating.” He got out of the pool and started eating ribs and potatoes. Chris handed Jensen a cigarette.
As Jensen lit it Steve said, “August, Sullivan, you didn’t see this. Jensen does not smoke.”
“Especially if my mom or Jamie asks.” The boys both laughed.
At around three people got ready to leave. Jensen was calling cars for everyone. He was up on the patio as people were getting out of swim suits. Jared was eating more cobbler. Annie sat next to Jensen and said softly, “Would you mind if I went home with Jason?”
Jensen smiled, “Seriously? I never thought this would actually happen. Why would I mind?”
“Well, I mean, for a long time it’s been you and me and now it’s you and Jared and I just wanted to check if it was okay.”
Horror washed over Jensen’s face, “You’ve been holding back on my account? God, Annie, go.”
Annie shook her head, “No, I mean, I was holding back on my account too. But I want to go home with him and I just wanted to make sure it’s okay.”
Jensen smiled, “It’s awesome. I’m thrilled.” Jensen called everyone cars and drunkenly hugged them goodbye.
The people who were left slowly set about putting the leftovers away. They were all stumbling drunk but they managed to put the food away and Jensen shut the pool for the night. Everything else was left to be dealt with in the morning. The extent of Jensen’s drunkenness became obvious when he couldn’t take off his tee-shirt without assistance. “Arms up,” said Jared and then tugged Jensen’s shirt over his head.
“I’m so drunk I might vomit if I stand up much longer.”
Jared chuckled, “Lie down on the bed. I’ll do it for you.” Jensen flopped down and Jared pulled off his flip-flops, jeans and boxers. “Better?”
“Yeah, come lie next to me,” Jensen patted the bed next to him. Jared stripped and rested next to Jensen. Jensen pulled one of Jared’s arms around him. Jared switched off the lamp and Jensen nestled into him. “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.”
“For everything.”
“You’re welcome for everything.” Jared kissed his forehead.
“And for stalking me.”
Jared laughed and said, “Shut up and go to sleep.”
Jensen leaned up and kissed him, “Love you too.”
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