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They all knew they were in trouble when Jody paused the movie that was playing on their small TV. True, Colt couldn’t make it through any movie without providing a commentary and was currently bemoaning the overuse of the shaka symbol amongst the protagonist’s friends. It’s one of Jody’s many British-isms that she sits quietly, if not silently, when watching movies. Her producers and editors said she hated interrupting her own screenings to review the day’s footage. But she lived with four Americans, who didn’t mind commenting, reacting, and discussing what was on screen, especially in their own home. So as annoying as that could be, it wasn’t the cause.
Then, Jody stood from her space on the beanbag in front of the sofa and balled her hands on her hips. They must be in big trouble. Claire set her bowl of ice cream down on the side table in anticipation, while Colt and Ryland braced themselves next to her. On the other end of the sofa, Court had donned his perfect poker face… Too perfect to miss.
“Alright, does everyone in this family have some kind of trademarked hand gesture?”
Immediately, the twins raised their respective thumbs. Colt had his stunty thumbs-up that he already knew his wife hated, while Ryland had his peculiar thumbs-down motion. He’d explained that it began on the Hail Mary, something about restricted alien physiology? Nervously, her twin-in-law scratched his head.
“When you put it like that…”
“Aw, c’mon Aunty J!” Claire rolled her eyes cheekily. She formed her hand into the horn sign reminiscent of punk rock bands. “Everyone’s gotta have a thing!”
“You don’t even like punk or metal or whatever music.”
“Fun fact: in many cultures it’s seen as a ward against evil.” Ryland jumped in, and Claire beamed with excitement.
“Not now, Ry.” Colt muttered, still curled on himself to avoid Jody’s wrath. It didn’t help. “Jodes, it’s- we can’t help it! Maybe we’ve got some kinda hand-gesture gene?”
His wife sighed exasperatedly. “Claire isn’t biologically related to you, Colt.”
The young woman sitting next to them huffed indignantly and folded her arms.
“Maybe it’s infectious?” Ryland posited, causing everyone to glance suspiciously at Jody’s own hands. She also looked at them with mild panic, so self-conscious that she didn’t know what to do with them anymore.
Then, at the end of the sofa, Court raised his hand, innocently chewing his gum.
Jody blinked at him.
He looked back.
“Yes, Court?” She offered.
The man shrugged. “I don’t think I have a ‘hand gesture’.”
Four disbelieving pairs of eyes turned on him incredulously.
“What?”
“You literally just raised your hand in the middle of a conversation.” Claire helpfully pointed out.
“Feels more like an interrogation to me, but the point stands.” Colt agreed.
The eldest of the brothers rolled his eyes, he must get it from Claire. “Have you even been in an interrogation?”
“Do you even know how a conversation works?!”
“That… Can be hard…” Ryland tried to offer, but his comment went unheard over the bickering.
“At least I don’t interrupt everyone!”
Colt groaned. “Ry’s kids put their hands up. Grown-ups do not put their hands up.”
Claire frowned at her aunt and mouthed the term ‘grown-ups’, to which Jody just shook her head, having long given up on her husband’s vocabulary.
“Actually, yeah, my kids are pretty good at raising their hands. Even I don’t do that.”
“See!” Colt pointed at his twin. “Even Ry doesn’t do that, and he’s autistic!”
“Hey!”
“What? It’s true.”
“I know, but we’re picking on Court! Not me!”
“You know what?!” Jody finally yelled above the racket. “Forget it! Forget I mentioned anything! Let’s just carry on watching the film and have a nice, calming, relaxing evening.”
The others could practically see her count to ten in her head. They were slightly concerned as she lowered herself back down to the beanbag, letting her fingers flick away the short strands of hair out of her eyes. Colt hesitantly poked his wife with his foot.
“... Jodes?”
“Nope.” She pointed firmly at the screen. “Film time. Shush.”
The movie restarted, and everyone settled back down to their original positions prior to the commotion. Then, in the darkness, Court’s gum popped loudly. Jody flinched. Claire needed to hold her mouth closed to stop her laughter.