This incident took place last year on Thanksgiving. I haven't posted anything in quite a while but with the holiday having just passed I was thinking about this that happened last year quite a bit and felt like sharing it here. I was hoping it would become an annual tradition, but nothing happened yesterday so I guess I'm out of luck. 😉
Flip-flops on Thanksgiving
Last year on Thanksgiving Day the chilly, usually rainy weather of November in the Northeast was nowhere to be found. It was sunny and about 55 degrees, which was warm for the season. My wife Keri and I were hosting the holiday, and I was in the yard arranging chairs around the fire pit and straightening up the patio when Keri stepped out the back door onto the patio wearing a black cardigan over a pearl white v-neck t-shirt which was tucked into a pair of slim high waisted black trousers. Her hair was straightened and pulled neatly back and she was wearing ruby red lipstick. Fairly standard attire for the holiday, except for the black flip-flops on her feet. They weren’t quite standard black flip-flops–the straps were shiny with some kind of logo on them–but they were still flip-flops.
As I approached her near the house, I said “You look beautiful. Everything ready in there?”
“Thanks. I can’t figure out what shoes to wear. I really just want to wear these flip-flops. I’m in my own home, what's the big deal right?” Keri said, a little unsure of wearing such casual footwear on a holiday.
I shrugged my shoulders and said “Yeah. Who cares? I’m all for you wearing flip-flops anytime of year!” with smirk.
She rolled her eyes ever so slightly as she smiled and said “yeah yeah…” sarcastically as she turned to walk back into the house.
– – –
Now, Thanksgiving is a big holiday in our family. I think last year we were hosting upwards of 25 people. For many reasons I’ll just introduce the characters that were directly involved in the story. But, I think for the sake of setting, it’s important to know that the house was thoroughly packed.
Keri’s half-sister Laura and her family were the first to arrive. Laura is 11 years older than Keri and they are pretty close, in spite of a very slight jealous streak that Laura holds onto and penchant for taking her usually-poised younger sister off her guard. She’s 45, with dark hair and an olive complexion and a good fit body that she’s maintained over the years. Her half-hispanic genes put her in stark contrast with Keri’s fair skin, dirty blonde hair and faint freckles, but they do share a vague intangible similarity of some sort.
Laura’s daughter is Kelly. She’s 22, and she has a nice relationship with Keri. She’s a quiet, somewhat shy girl and even though she’s a 22 year old girl with a busy social life, she’s content to spend the holidays at our house with family around.
Next to arrive was Keri’s mother Dawn. She’s in her late 60s and has a great warm personality. She used to be a snappy dresser and, though her clothing choices are more subdued, she makes a point to dress for the holidays.
Dawn, Laura and Keri were in the kitchen putting stuff out before the other guests arrived and for whatever reason, Dawn said “are you going to put some shoes on?” gesturing down at Keri’s flip-flops.
Keri shrugged a bit and when I looked down I saw her slightly wiggle her freshly painted toes while she said “Nah… I don’t feel like putting heels on today.”
Dawn said “so go put on a flat… You cannot wear flip-flops on Thanksgiving!”
Laura chimed in “At least her toes are always done.” defending her half-sister.
Dawn added “it’s like wearing white after Labor day!”
Keri shrugged again and said “It’ll be OK mom, trust me.” sarcastically.
– – –
So, at about 3:30, I'm in the kitchen cooking and the group is mostly split between the dining room, the den and the living room. Keri had been floating around taking care of random things since everyone got there and I was steadily absorbed in cooking and the meal. Keri came into the kitchen and poured herself a glass of wine and asked if I needed anything. I said I was good and she went into the living room.
The turkey was in the oven, I had made the glaze already, and so now it was kind of a waiting game. So I wandered first into the dining room and talked to my parents then into the living room where I saw Laura, Kelly and Dawn all sitting on the sofa in that order. The sofa isn't really that big, so they were sitting pretty close to each other. Keri was sitting on the floor Indian-style facing them. I took a temporary seat on the ledge of the bay window.
At some point Kelly got up and went down the hallway, not once looking up from her phone. Keri climbed up off the rug, stretched a little, and plopped down in the seat Kelly was in right between her mother and half-sister. She placed her wine glass on the tray on the ottoman in front of them and then slipped out of her flip-flops and placed her bare feet on the ottoman, crossed at the ankles, shiny scarlet red painted toes and soles on full display.
When Kelly came back into the room she said "Hey! You stole my seat!" as she approached the couch.
Keri said "You gave it up..."
Kelly, not liking that response, thought about it for a second or two and then sat down on Keri's lap "fine, I'll just sit here."
She sat there for a good few minutes and Keri didn't seem to care. Kelly though said "ugh you're not comfortable to sit on" and shifted her position around, trying to push her way onto the couch.
Laura said "Kel... You know you can get Aunt Keri to move real easily..."
I couldn't see Laura do it, but I heard Keri yelp and saw whole body buck for a second.
Keri turned to her half-sister and said "Laura don't you dare..." and then again. I saw her buck and under the 120 or so pounds of her niece while shei let out another yelp this time followed by "MOM!"
Laura said "You see Kel.. She's suuuper ticklish..." with a devilish look on her face, and dug both hands into Keri's midsection. I couldn't see where specifically because Kelly was blocking my view, but Keri was immediately hysterical, so I'm guessing it was her ribs.
Kelly chuckled but didn't join in. Dawn gave Keri a few pokes here and there when she tried to get away from Laura and ended up leaning on her. So she couldn't get away at all. Laura just kept tickling her.
Keri yelled "Kelly! Get off me!" right before another fit of laughter but Kelly didn't move. Keri leaned almost all the way over, behind Kelly and onto her mother, effectively stopping Laura's assault.
I watched Laura’s brows furrow a bit as she realized she couldn’t really reach Keri’s ticklish ribs or belly and saw her gaze shift right to Keri’s bare feet that were still on the ottoman, though no longer crossed at the ankles.
Her hands followed her eyes quickly and she wrapped her right arm around both of Keri’s ankles and began tickling both soles which were partially upturned from the twisted position Keri was in on the sofa.
Keri yelled "ah! wha--no! no! No!" clearly surprised as she giggled and tried to push Kelly off again. I had a good view now and Laura was digging her fingernails into Keri's arches. Keri was laughing hard but it was barely audible under her niece.
Kelly said "see now that's just mean" gesturing toward her mother doing her worst..
Dawn agreed and said "poor Keri... but that's what she gets for wearing flip-flops on thanksgiving.”
Laura turned her head to look at keri but couldn't see her buried under Kelly. She said "Are you going to get up?"
Keri said "Yes yes! Just stop tickling me!"
Laura said "Huh? I can't hear you..." and kept tickling Keri’s soft wrinkly soles. Laura seemed like she knew exactly where to scratch her fingernails and I watched her pull Keri’s toes back on her right foot while she skittered over the arch. Her laughter got louder and she was pushing at Kelly and even Dawn trying to just some leverage to stop Laura.
Keri’s brother and Laura’s husband were looking over amused at the situation, though I couldn’t hear what they were saying.
Kelly slid off Keri’s lap and she said “alright, leave her alone.. She’s so ticklish!”
Keri finally pulled her upper body vertical and pushed at Laura’s back while she yelled “Laura! You have to stop!” still laughing.
Dawn said "that's enough Laura… She’s out of breath!”
Laura leaned back which kind of pushed Keri back down a bit and took her final few swipes before Keri was able to yank one of her feet free which ended the assault.
Laura stood up and looked down on Keri laying across the couch now with her head on Kelly’s lap and said "wow... I think you’re even more ticklish than you used to be!”
– – –
As if the tickling on the couch wasn’t enough, Laura gloated to a few of the other guests who had either seen or heard what was going on and she made sure every time she passed Keri to poke her sides, which made her jump and squirm and yelp every time.
After dessert, most of the guests had left but Keri’s immediate family remained to help clean up the house.
During the cleanup, Keri said something to Laura, i'm not sure what it was, but I heard Laura say "You're going to be sorry you said that Keri…”
Laura began sort of stalking Keri playfully making tickling fingers in the air and Keri backed her way down the hallway already laughing before Laura could even touch her saying "Stay away. I'm serious."
She backed Keri all the way into the turn at the end of the hallway and grabbed her, both hands under her sweater but over her t-shirt, tickling like crazy. Keri collapsed to the ground in a defensive heap, laughing and yelping.
Kelly said "Oh god.. She's going to kill her."
Keri’s brother said “ugh She used to do this to her all the time!”
I walked down the hallway, under the guise of not letting it go too far or so I thought, but I let Laura continue. She said "Apologize" sternly.
Keri was laughing so hard. They were both a little buzzed by then too, so that wasn't helping. Laura this time, laughing herself said "Say you're sorry!"
Keri yelled through her laughter "Sorry!" and Laura dropped down to her knees and reached down for Keri’s foot. She pulled it up off the floor and tugged the flip flop off of it.
Keri gasped out “No! Laura! I said sorry!”
Laura didn’t tickle her foot, either out of pity or just wanting to make Keri apologize. She dropped her foot and stood up and then extended a hand down to help Keri up too.
Laura poked Keri’s ribs one last time on the front steps while we saw everyone out to their cars later that night, but that was it.
I asked Keri what it was that she said to Laura and it was something about Keri saying facetiously that he couldn’t understand why one of the mothers at their youngest child's school would think she was bitch. I laughed when she told me and said “you should’ve known better…”
Keri rolled her eyes and said “I guess I should have listened to my mom and not worn those flip-flops.”
Flip-flops on Thanksgiving
Last year on Thanksgiving Day the chilly, usually rainy weather of November in the Northeast was nowhere to be found. It was sunny and about 55 degrees, which was warm for the season. My wife Keri and I were hosting the holiday, and I was in the yard arranging chairs around the fire pit and straightening up the patio when Keri stepped out the back door onto the patio wearing a black cardigan over a pearl white v-neck t-shirt which was tucked into a pair of slim high waisted black trousers. Her hair was straightened and pulled neatly back and she was wearing ruby red lipstick. Fairly standard attire for the holiday, except for the black flip-flops on her feet. They weren’t quite standard black flip-flops–the straps were shiny with some kind of logo on them–but they were still flip-flops.
As I approached her near the house, I said “You look beautiful. Everything ready in there?”
“Thanks. I can’t figure out what shoes to wear. I really just want to wear these flip-flops. I’m in my own home, what's the big deal right?” Keri said, a little unsure of wearing such casual footwear on a holiday.
I shrugged my shoulders and said “Yeah. Who cares? I’m all for you wearing flip-flops anytime of year!” with smirk.
She rolled her eyes ever so slightly as she smiled and said “yeah yeah…” sarcastically as she turned to walk back into the house.
– – –
Now, Thanksgiving is a big holiday in our family. I think last year we were hosting upwards of 25 people. For many reasons I’ll just introduce the characters that were directly involved in the story. But, I think for the sake of setting, it’s important to know that the house was thoroughly packed.
Keri’s half-sister Laura and her family were the first to arrive. Laura is 11 years older than Keri and they are pretty close, in spite of a very slight jealous streak that Laura holds onto and penchant for taking her usually-poised younger sister off her guard. She’s 45, with dark hair and an olive complexion and a good fit body that she’s maintained over the years. Her half-hispanic genes put her in stark contrast with Keri’s fair skin, dirty blonde hair and faint freckles, but they do share a vague intangible similarity of some sort.
Laura’s daughter is Kelly. She’s 22, and she has a nice relationship with Keri. She’s a quiet, somewhat shy girl and even though she’s a 22 year old girl with a busy social life, she’s content to spend the holidays at our house with family around.
Next to arrive was Keri’s mother Dawn. She’s in her late 60s and has a great warm personality. She used to be a snappy dresser and, though her clothing choices are more subdued, she makes a point to dress for the holidays.
Dawn, Laura and Keri were in the kitchen putting stuff out before the other guests arrived and for whatever reason, Dawn said “are you going to put some shoes on?” gesturing down at Keri’s flip-flops.
Keri shrugged a bit and when I looked down I saw her slightly wiggle her freshly painted toes while she said “Nah… I don’t feel like putting heels on today.”
Dawn said “so go put on a flat… You cannot wear flip-flops on Thanksgiving!”
Laura chimed in “At least her toes are always done.” defending her half-sister.
Dawn added “it’s like wearing white after Labor day!”
Keri shrugged again and said “It’ll be OK mom, trust me.” sarcastically.
– – –
So, at about 3:30, I'm in the kitchen cooking and the group is mostly split between the dining room, the den and the living room. Keri had been floating around taking care of random things since everyone got there and I was steadily absorbed in cooking and the meal. Keri came into the kitchen and poured herself a glass of wine and asked if I needed anything. I said I was good and she went into the living room.
The turkey was in the oven, I had made the glaze already, and so now it was kind of a waiting game. So I wandered first into the dining room and talked to my parents then into the living room where I saw Laura, Kelly and Dawn all sitting on the sofa in that order. The sofa isn't really that big, so they were sitting pretty close to each other. Keri was sitting on the floor Indian-style facing them. I took a temporary seat on the ledge of the bay window.
At some point Kelly got up and went down the hallway, not once looking up from her phone. Keri climbed up off the rug, stretched a little, and plopped down in the seat Kelly was in right between her mother and half-sister. She placed her wine glass on the tray on the ottoman in front of them and then slipped out of her flip-flops and placed her bare feet on the ottoman, crossed at the ankles, shiny scarlet red painted toes and soles on full display.
When Kelly came back into the room she said "Hey! You stole my seat!" as she approached the couch.
Keri said "You gave it up..."
Kelly, not liking that response, thought about it for a second or two and then sat down on Keri's lap "fine, I'll just sit here."
She sat there for a good few minutes and Keri didn't seem to care. Kelly though said "ugh you're not comfortable to sit on" and shifted her position around, trying to push her way onto the couch.
Laura said "Kel... You know you can get Aunt Keri to move real easily..."
I couldn't see Laura do it, but I heard Keri yelp and saw whole body buck for a second.
Keri turned to her half-sister and said "Laura don't you dare..." and then again. I saw her buck and under the 120 or so pounds of her niece while shei let out another yelp this time followed by "MOM!"
Laura said "You see Kel.. She's suuuper ticklish..." with a devilish look on her face, and dug both hands into Keri's midsection. I couldn't see where specifically because Kelly was blocking my view, but Keri was immediately hysterical, so I'm guessing it was her ribs.
Kelly chuckled but didn't join in. Dawn gave Keri a few pokes here and there when she tried to get away from Laura and ended up leaning on her. So she couldn't get away at all. Laura just kept tickling her.
Keri yelled "Kelly! Get off me!" right before another fit of laughter but Kelly didn't move. Keri leaned almost all the way over, behind Kelly and onto her mother, effectively stopping Laura's assault.
I watched Laura’s brows furrow a bit as she realized she couldn’t really reach Keri’s ticklish ribs or belly and saw her gaze shift right to Keri’s bare feet that were still on the ottoman, though no longer crossed at the ankles.
Her hands followed her eyes quickly and she wrapped her right arm around both of Keri’s ankles and began tickling both soles which were partially upturned from the twisted position Keri was in on the sofa.
Keri yelled "ah! wha--no! no! No!" clearly surprised as she giggled and tried to push Kelly off again. I had a good view now and Laura was digging her fingernails into Keri's arches. Keri was laughing hard but it was barely audible under her niece.
Kelly said "see now that's just mean" gesturing toward her mother doing her worst..
Dawn agreed and said "poor Keri... but that's what she gets for wearing flip-flops on thanksgiving.”
Laura turned her head to look at keri but couldn't see her buried under Kelly. She said "Are you going to get up?"
Keri said "Yes yes! Just stop tickling me!"
Laura said "Huh? I can't hear you..." and kept tickling Keri’s soft wrinkly soles. Laura seemed like she knew exactly where to scratch her fingernails and I watched her pull Keri’s toes back on her right foot while she skittered over the arch. Her laughter got louder and she was pushing at Kelly and even Dawn trying to just some leverage to stop Laura.
Keri’s brother and Laura’s husband were looking over amused at the situation, though I couldn’t hear what they were saying.
Kelly slid off Keri’s lap and she said “alright, leave her alone.. She’s so ticklish!”
Keri finally pulled her upper body vertical and pushed at Laura’s back while she yelled “Laura! You have to stop!” still laughing.
Dawn said "that's enough Laura… She’s out of breath!”
Laura leaned back which kind of pushed Keri back down a bit and took her final few swipes before Keri was able to yank one of her feet free which ended the assault.
Laura stood up and looked down on Keri laying across the couch now with her head on Kelly’s lap and said "wow... I think you’re even more ticklish than you used to be!”
– – –
As if the tickling on the couch wasn’t enough, Laura gloated to a few of the other guests who had either seen or heard what was going on and she made sure every time she passed Keri to poke her sides, which made her jump and squirm and yelp every time.
After dessert, most of the guests had left but Keri’s immediate family remained to help clean up the house.
During the cleanup, Keri said something to Laura, i'm not sure what it was, but I heard Laura say "You're going to be sorry you said that Keri…”
Laura began sort of stalking Keri playfully making tickling fingers in the air and Keri backed her way down the hallway already laughing before Laura could even touch her saying "Stay away. I'm serious."
She backed Keri all the way into the turn at the end of the hallway and grabbed her, both hands under her sweater but over her t-shirt, tickling like crazy. Keri collapsed to the ground in a defensive heap, laughing and yelping.
Kelly said "Oh god.. She's going to kill her."
Keri’s brother said “ugh She used to do this to her all the time!”
I walked down the hallway, under the guise of not letting it go too far or so I thought, but I let Laura continue. She said "Apologize" sternly.
Keri was laughing so hard. They were both a little buzzed by then too, so that wasn't helping. Laura this time, laughing herself said "Say you're sorry!"
Keri yelled through her laughter "Sorry!" and Laura dropped down to her knees and reached down for Keri’s foot. She pulled it up off the floor and tugged the flip flop off of it.
Keri gasped out “No! Laura! I said sorry!”
Laura didn’t tickle her foot, either out of pity or just wanting to make Keri apologize. She dropped her foot and stood up and then extended a hand down to help Keri up too.
Laura poked Keri’s ribs one last time on the front steps while we saw everyone out to their cars later that night, but that was it.
I asked Keri what it was that she said to Laura and it was something about Keri saying facetiously that he couldn’t understand why one of the mothers at their youngest child's school would think she was bitch. I laughed when she told me and said “you should’ve known better…”
Keri rolled her eyes and said “I guess I should have listened to my mom and not worn those flip-flops.”
Thanks for sharing your experience here. 
