The One Where The Plot Bunny Grieves...

[chicating]

The smell of the beginnings of herb stuffing contrasted sharply with Monica’s nautical shirt(and shorts) covered by her long apron.

“Mon,” Rachel said. “I think it’s great that you’re staying with us. Especially with…everything.” She welled up, but so far kept her promise not to start crying again. “But I can’t say I get what all you’re doing…here. “ Rachel indicated her and Ross’ kitchen, that had never seen so much action in the time that they had been living here. Well, except for the one time, after the appliances got delivered when they spread Rachel’s grandmother’s mink on the tile and…Rachel flushed. Great memory; so not the point. Excellent answer to the whole not-wearing-it-out in public dilemma, though, she had to admit. Even though just the intimation completely repulsed Emma.
“I don’t get it,” Rachel repeated. “especially in shorts.”

“I’m a chef.” Monica replied. “I’ve always cooked when I was upset. Remember with Richard and the jam? And who knows how many times I made you break-up cookies or muffins. I think I made three batches just over you and Ross.”

Rachel’s laptop made a noise. Joey’s hair and face looked more elegant, as he came into view, but it was clear their friend hadn’t changed very much when he asked “There’s jam?”

“See,” Rachel said.to Ross, in the living room, “I told you I couldn’t make the waiting room thing work.”
“No, Joey,” Monica said. ‘No jam. Anyway, you aren’t coming till this weekend…what could I do? Pour it through the ports?”

“Could you? Cause that would rule.”

Ross used his dad-laying-down-the-law-voice that made them giggle for a different reason than it had made the kids. “There will be no food anywhere near the computer ports…Ira from computer science was very definite about that. I couldn’t face him for the same thing twice.”

“Jam is a lot of work. Even knowing I’m great at it. Anyway, I’m making Thanksgiving stuff.”

“Thanksgiving was last mo…” An elegant French-maincured hand came into the shot as it boxed Joey’s ear. “Ow! I mean, Oh, sorry I was so thoughtless, Mon.” Rachel had heard good things about the woman in Joey’s life, but they hadn’t met her yet. Rachel really looked forward to it for the first time.

“Okay, thanksgiving stuff and cruisewear,” Rachel prompted. “Anything you’d like to talk about?”

“Ross just likes Ira because he makes him feel normal.”

“Honey, I think we all know that! I meant something about you, and how you’re holding up…”

“I know it’s stupid, okay, but sometimes? When I wear this stuff…it makes me feel like I did in Antigua. Like he just went for a manicure and he’s gonna come back.”

“I get it, but you must be freezing.”

Monica nodded, reluctantly. “My doctor already said I was’ putting my toes in danger’
“Is that what he said or is that what you heard?” Ross asked.

“Sweetie, really?” Rachel asked. “Do you really think we’re all crying out for a Professor Proton moment here?”

“ It’s how conspiracies get started, and…I told you you’d like those clips online.”

“They’re all right, but don’t get started on that stuff with Phoebe.”

“I think you should miss the point more, Ross. It gives you much more character than making sure all your new friends are shorter than you.”

“I hear that someone’s picked up some bad habits. But the thing is, Mon. Chandler used humor to relieve tension, not to cause it.”

“Why Thanksgiving?” Monica wiped at tears she didn’t seem to know she was crying. “Because I’m pissed. That’s why. He was supposed to be here. To taunt with the giblets and make mac and cheese for, and all that stupid stuff. I got him to eat gravy last year. After the kids went to sleep, but still.”

“Look, Mon, I’m not judging, but if you don’t want to share anymore…”

“No, not like that. Just, he thought it’d be easier to eat it with just me. Isn’t that kind of beautiful? Beautiful and insane, but still beautiful.”

Comments

[karlht]

Yeah. I know even less about Friends than I do about The West Wing, but I know enough to hear the character's voices.

2023 has just been such a fucking incessant drumbeat of loss. I'm sorry, my dear.

It's not awful to...

[chicating]

try to make that funny, is it?
There are people I really know I might not have spent that kind of time with. Sometimes I forget it's not that way for everyone.

Re: It's not awful to...

[karlht]

No, I think it's very in the spirit of the show and the characters to draw humor out of it.

And heaven knows my family in particular find comfort in truly awful jokes in times of grieving. It's a time-honored tradition.

Re: It's not awful to...

[chicating]

My mother has told me before that she expects to die from being hit by a carload of clowns. "You can laugh," she said once. "I would, but I'd be dead."
Now you know the kinds of things that go through my head when I can't sleep.