Tomorrow is Thanksgiving Mami said Tia Jenny is coming over and I am so excited!!

I haven't seen my Tia since I was a baby, I'm a little nervous.

I always get nervous and extra shy when meeting new people or seeing people I haven't seen in a long time.

My Mami came in to put me to bed and saw the frown on my face

"Que tienes, papi?" mami asked.

"Nada!, Goodnight Mami"

I didn't want Mami to think I didn't want to see my Tia, and I didn't want her to know I was nervous!

"Okay, pues. It's time for bed."

She kisses me on the forehead but before she leaves she wrinkled her brow and said "if you need anything let me know."

"Okay, Mami" I said. I forced myself to smile.

I tossed and turned all night, too excited and too nervous to sleep!

Mami was in the kitchen cooking with my grandma who I call Mom. I said good morning to everyone and sat down to have some pancakes.

at the table mami reminded me Tia jenny would be there around noon and asked if i was excited.

I smiled big and wide! "Yes Mami I am super excited to see my Tia" It wasn't a lie, I was excited to see Tia Jenny but I was nervous too.

Mami always makes me hug relatives and I don't like it.

I went outside to play with my neighbor Christian while my Mami and Mom prepared the food.

"Hey dude, do you ever have relatives over and hate when they make you hug them?" I asked Christian.

Christian replied, "My mom used to do that to me all the time! One day I told her I didn't like it and she said ok!"

"NO WAY!?" I said, I had never thought about telling my mami how I felt about it!

"She wasn't mad about it?", i asked.

"Nah, she told me I should say hello to people but then I told her I just didn't like being touched by people I didn't know too well and when i explained it that way she said it was ok!"

Of course, I thought that made so much sense. Kids need personal space too!

We played basketball for a couple of hours while I thought about how I was going to tell my Mami that I didn't like hugs and kisses.

Mami finally called me inside to shower and get ready for the family gathering.

I got butterflies in my stomach, what if Mami got mad at me? What if Mami forced me to hug Tia Jenny anyway? What if Tia Jenny felt bad that I did not hug her? I don't want to make anyone feel sad.

I went inside and up to my room to take a shower. Hmm. How can I do this without hurting anyone's feelings?

I thought and thought about it in the shower...

Hmm...

hmm...

Thinking about this was making my head hurt and the butterflies in my stomach were getting bigger and bigger! I had to tell Mami.

I need her advice!

I got out of the shower got dressed and combed my hair.

I heard Mami in the kitchen.

"Mami, can I tell you something?"