Ready for the Dinner Guest!

Noticing something weird about your mothers voice you make your way down the stairs and in into the kitchen. You see your mother at the base of the stairs, her long blonde hair uncharacteristically unkempt, and her glasses askew. She seems very excited for some reason. "Straighten your hair," She chides "We're havin' company," with that she turns on her heels and walks back to the kitchen. You may be mistaken, but you think you see her steadying herself in the doorway to the kitchen.

Something wasn't right. She hadn't mentioned your essay at all. She never called you down before your essays were done.

Making your way cautiously down the stairs you peer around the corner into the kitchen. You immediately notice the vodka bottle sitting half empty on the counter, with the cap on. Your mother must not have poured all of it out. What could have changed her mind?

"Mom," You begin "wha-"

"I am not telling you again, Hyrum." your mother says, her tone is firm, but her diction is strangely sloppy. "Go clean yurself up, go!" She has a tall glass next to her with a small amount of clear liquid in it. It had to be water, it had to be.

Deciding to not risk another tongue lashing you route into the bathroom and tidy up your appearance. As you finish up you hear the sound of your doorbell, and the clatter of something glass from the kitchen, accompanied by a loud exclaimation of "Oh My Heck!" from your mother in the kitchen. Peeking out of the bathroom you see your mother shuffling to the door, "Hyrum stay outta the kitchen, there's glass e'erywhere!" She clumsily removes her apron, which had gotten all twisted somewhere in transit.

If you didn't know better you would swear your mother was tipsy! "Hullo!" She chirps as she swings the door open. Your mother is making a rather uncharacteristic show of herself, her hair askew, apron clutched awkwardly in one hand, and leaning on the door for support. Standing in the doorway is a short young woman with red hair and freckles. Her long hair is tied back behind her ears, and her green eyes stare flatly at your mother. Then she smiles and returns your mothers greeting.

Suddenly, you remember her. Her name was Kaiden, and she graduated in the same year as your older sister. You had had a small crush on Kaiden, she had a prominent chest, and just the right number of curves, but she had always been distant. Like she thought she was better than you. Last you checked she had been on mission. Had it been 18 months already- it could have been, your sister had been married and was three months pregnant. Before you can complete your mental math, your mother invites her in with a grand wave of her arm, and you see Kaiden smile thinly at you when she comes in.

She is wearing a white blouse with a professional, if slightly short black skirt. She was wearing a modest set of pumps that she leaves in the shoe rack by the front door. She moves past you with a cool collected attitude. She rounds the corner into the living room and begins talking with Cami, your other sister. You are about to join them in the living room when your mother calls you from the kitchen to help set the table.

You see your mother cleaning up what appears to be remnants of the vodka bottle from the floor. Grabbing the first of the dinner plates you wordlessly begin to set the table, you begin to suspect why Kaiden is here. When you return for the food you see your mother leaning against the counter flushed. "Hyrum, could you bring in the food, momma jus' needs to prepare the refreshmens." You pause, shocked. Your mother is definitely drunk. Had she nipped the vodka that she got on you for having?!

"Missher you are not lissening today!" Your mother snaps "We haf company, you not make a scene in fron' the company we have."

Nearly speechless you robotically grab the dishes. Your mother was one of the most devout and fervent members of the LDS you knew, the idea of her being drunk was insane. "Come on mom, pull yourself together we have a guest." you grumble. It was the only thing that came to mind, and you spin out of the kitchen and bring the last of the food to the table.

"Grubs ready," You call into the living room. You see Cami give you a dirty look, and Kaiden fixes you with a level stare. You could never really get a good read on her, but she never seemed to enjoy being around you. Shame too, her time on mission had been very kind to her. She had filled out just right, and her blouse no longer quite fit, it almost seemed like her chest might pop a button, and the once respectable neckline now displayed a healthy amount of cleavage. It was very challenging not to stare. From the way your sister smacked your arm as she walked past, you are sure she noticed at least. Turning crimson you turn away, and move to the table.

The table was set, and your mother had set a glass of clear amber liquid in front of each place setting. Kaiden led the table in prayer, and no sooner than she finished, you mother and sister grabbed the glasses and downed them with fervor. You mimic their movement, but stop when you smell the drink-tequila! Kaiden leaves hers untouched. You see Camilla staring at you, and your mother hisses at you "Hyrum, issa blessing, I won' have you dissrespecting the scripsur in front of an RM!"

You bring the cup to your lips, and drink slowly to avoid ****, as the hard liquor burns your throat. Cami tops off your glass, and refills hers and your mother's. "You ha'n't toushed yer blessing yet." Your mother says to Kaiden, and you realize that your mother is completely trashed. "Yous got to, to loosen yer sphfincter." She says as if teaching her Sunday school class.

Sphincter, where had you heard that today? Then it hits you like a thunderbolt- The Book changed religious doctrine.

"No, its not that I don't appreciate the divine's blessing." Kaiden starts slowly. "But while I was on mission, well..."

There's an awkward silence, and you worry that somehow she's caught on to whatever is happening. "While I was on mission, the Elders cautioned me away from strong drink." she says, as if uncomfortable and confused.

"Thas right!" says your Mother, leaning heavily to one side. "Onna mishun Sisters might ged taken advantage of. We godda try an' make sure you reddy fer marriage to a good sain', before the outsid' world distracts you. Used ta be that sister miss'naries wouldn't come back, so the Ellers changed it."

Kaiden nods, "Yes, well, and since then I'm worried that I've lost the taste for it."

Your sister nearly chokes on her second helping of tequila, and your mother looks horrified.