tom-grape

[tom-grape]

There was an uncomfortable silence. Finally, Tom asked, with a quiver of concern in his voice, "Uh, Bob? What is a thumb?"

"Stockings go over the fireplace, not in the fire." (from bob)

"Oops," said Tom in a very non-apologetic tone, "Those ugly things must'a just... fell off the hooks and right in! Ain't that a shame." He shook his head slowly. "C'mon on, Bob. Y'all were using these things back when I was workin' on the show with y'all. They were moth-eaten, must-smellin'... hell, most of the office decorations are old as me."

He paused. He wasn't sure how old he was, but the ornaments had been there when Pa first brought him on the show, and they were old then.

"I think you and me ought to go buy some new ones."

[tom-grape]

"Now that's just silly, Taylor. Bad perfume. How do you think of these things? Oh, fine. If ya don't run off and leave me. I'm used to bein' there with Rosie, and she ain't ever comin' back. I know that."

"You cannot escape the ugly jumpers, Tom.” (From Taylor)

"Aw, Taylor, you know I ain't much one for those stupid traditions of Pa's. I ain't even sure I'm goin' to the family Christmas party."

[tom-grape]

"Aw, it ain't nothin', Bob. Forget it. I may not have the fondest memories from actin' here, way back when, but I always appreciated y'all 'round here for tryin' to make me feel included. Even when I felt like I stuck out like a sore thumb."

"Stockings go over the fireplace, not in the fire." (from bob)

"Oops," said Tom in a very non-apologetic tone, "Those ugly things must'a just... fell off the hooks and right in! Ain't that a shame." He shook his head slowly. "C'mon on, Bob. Y'all were using these things back when I was workin' on the show with y'all. They were moth-eaten, must-smellin'... hell, most of the office decorations are old as me."

He paused. He wasn't sure how old he was, but the ornaments had been there when Pa first brought him on the show, and they were old then.

"I think you and me ought to go buy some new ones."

[tom-grape]

"Oh, you always act like it's so hard on Tomatoes, but when's the last time anyone's hired a Grape who wasn't related to each other?" He challenged. "Naw, forget your budget. I'll put in for it. I made some good scratch a few years back, and I ain't barely spent any of it."

"Stockings go over the fireplace, not in the fire." (from bob)

"Oops," said Tom in a very non-apologetic tone, "Those ugly things must'a just... fell off the hooks and right in! Ain't that a shame." He shook his head slowly. "C'mon on, Bob. Y'all were using these things back when I was workin' on the show with y'all. They were moth-eaten, must-smellin'... hell, most of the office decorations are old as me."

He paused. He wasn't sure how old he was, but the ornaments had been there when Pa first brought him on the show, and they were old then.

"I think you and me ought to go buy some new ones."

[tom-grape]

"You cannot escape the ugly jumpers, Tom.” (From Taylor)

"Aw, Taylor, you know I ain't much one for those stupid traditions of Pa's. I ain't even sure I'm goin' to the family Christmas party."

[tom-grape]

"Stockings go over the fireplace, not in the fire." (from bob)

"Oops," said Tom in a very non-apologetic tone, "Those ugly things must'a just... fell off the hooks and right in! Ain't that a shame." He shook his head slowly. "C'mon on, Bob. Y'all were using these things back when I was workin' on the show with y'all. They were moth-eaten, must-smellin'... hell, most of the office decorations are old as me."

He paused. He wasn't sure how old he was, but the ornaments had been there when Pa first brought him on the show, and they were old then.

"I think you and me ought to go buy some new ones."

[tom-grape]

"Oh, good. I ain't ready to apologize to the bagboy. I uh... I was gonna... do it in a letter. So uh, Jimmy. Of course. Because of... the..." he trailed off. He knew better to admit to anything. He didn't know what Jerry was accusing him of. Was Jerry accusing him of something? He felt nervous, and his anxiety was rising. He felt cornered. His heart pounded in his ears. He felt guilty, but what was he guilty about? He didn't remember doing anything particular to Jimmy. Maybe he had said something hurtful. Maybe he hadn't.

"Jerry, is this about... you not likin' me spendin' so much time with yer brother? Or... somethin' else I may or may not have done?"

‘ i’ve been picking up the pieces of the mess you made. ’ (from jerry)

"You been talkin' to Pa?" Tom asked, confused. "Or Ma? Or Rosie? Or Uno, or... Jimmy? Or the bagger at Stuffmart who I freaked out at when he asked for my autograph and had a panic attack and he started cryin'? I've made a mess of a lot of things lately, ya gotta be more specific."

[tom-grape]

‘ i’ve been picking up the pieces of the mess you made. ’ (from jerry)

"You been talkin' to Pa?" Tom asked, confused. "Or Ma? Or Rosie? Or Uno, or... Jimmy? Or the bagger at Stuffmart who I freaked out at when he asked for my autograph and had a panic attack and he started cryin'? I've made a mess of a lot of things lately, ya gotta be more specific."

[tom-grape]

Alright been sitting on this one for far too long

#34-36 Grape family

Ma and Rosie being relatively the same.

Tom becoming 18 years old, works along side with pa at the store.

[tom-grape]

have you gotten any Closure with Taylor?

"No, I reckon I haven't spoken too much with her in a way that got much deeper than references to her music. ain't like it's her fault about pa, though. She's a victim like the rest of us, right?"

[tom-grape]

"We'll arrange it when you're ready! But the least you could do in exchange is like, spend the holiday with me," Tom neglected to mention that he didn't celebrate Christmas, but he still wanted to hang out with his bestie.

you’re gonna leave me all alone ?? on christmas ?? ” (from tom to Jimmy, main)

"Uh... yeah, well... you know... I promised Jerry I'd spend some time with him. You know how he is."

[tom-grape]

"Anyway, I... I heard that Miss Acmetha friend of yours runs a Caroling group. Could we get in with hers?"

“   later ,   we’ll have some pumpkin pie   &   do some caroling .   ” (from Thomas, SoC)

"Pie sounds nice!" Evelyn smiled, though she became more skeptical as she asked, "When you say 'caroling', do you mean....?"

She'd been running in Mrs. Acmetha's ring for several Christmas's now. Whether Thomas knew about their operation or not, she was unsure.

[tom-grape]

"I didn't come all this way into town to see my best friend and get ditched by him! Tell Jerry he can see ya any other day of the year. I gotta fly back soon. Or drive. I don't remember if I said how I got here. I - I can... shit. Okay, Taylor Grape's in town. I can... let ya meet her, if ya want."

you’re gonna leave me all alone ?? on christmas ?? ” (from tom to Jimmy, main)

"Uh... yeah, well... you know... I promised Jerry I'd spend some time with him. You know how he is."

[tom-grape]

"Singin'. I don't celebrate the holidays, but it seems kinda fun. There another kind I don't know about?

“   later ,   we’ll have some pumpkin pie   &   do some caroling .   ” (from Thomas, SoC)

"Pie sounds nice!" Evelyn smiled, though she became more skeptical as she asked, "When you say 'caroling', do you mean....?"

She'd been running in Mrs. Acmetha's ring for several Christmas's now. Whether Thomas knew about their operation or not, she was unsure.

[tom-grape]

“Seems like a fair plan, Esther. Thanks. Say, have you been to any weddings before?”

“ so , this party… will there be strippers? “ (from esther)

"Uhhh... I didn't hear of it, but there could be, I guess? They don't typically have 'em at weddings, but... hey, I can ask!"

[tom-grape]

How do you really feel about your estranged half sister being back?

"Eh? Which one? Oh! Oh, Taylor. I guess I don't feel any sort of way about it strongly. It ain't her fault or nothin'. I just... don't like how it reminds me of how shitty Pa's always been. Everytime I kinda start to hear how he's 'better now' from his friends, I just get reminded of his fuckups and all the damage he left behind."

[tom-grape]

What's really going on with Jimmy? JUST friends?

"Just friends. Don't get me wrong, I wouldn't turn him down if he asked, but uh, I don't think he'd ever ask, ya know? And that's fine with me. No good ruinin' a friendship over somethin' stupid like feelings, yeah?"