”To tell you the truth, I really don’t care about Thanksgiving, so I don’t celebrate it,” I try to keep the conversation alive. ”My parents have always been too busy and nontraditional, so I practically grew up not knowing what tradition is.”

I watch her nod her head slowly.

”Do you celebrate Thanksgiving?” I ask her.

She ponders over her answer for a moment before speaking, ”I don’t see a reason to celebrate it.”

”So you don’t then? No family and friends gatherings?”

”All my family is my mother. I just stay with her and we tell each what we are thankful for, how we are thankful to each other.”

”Well, then there IS a reason to celebrate Thanksgiving.”

”I’m just used to believe that kind words can be spoken without need of celebrations, gatherings and so on.”

I think about it. ”I agree with you. But still, there’re holidays and it’s normal to celebrate them. I mean, unless you have some negative association with it or as in my case – having been raised by nonconformist parents.”

She seems to be lost in thought. In fact, she looks kinda sad. I don’t want to push, but it bothers me to see her sad, not to mention I’m a curious person.

”Do you have a negative association with Thanksgiving?” I ask her gently, using my most soothing voice.

Although I can’t see her eyes, with her head lowered and lips pursed she looks like she’s about to cry. Maybe I’ve gone overboard with my curiosity. Feeling confused and guilty, I reach out and place my hand on top of hers carefully.

”Tina?” I utter in a semiwhisper. ”You don’t have to answer if you don’t want to, I will understand. But please know that you can trust me…”

She raises her head and looks at me, pursing her lips into a sad smile. She then kind of snorts in soft, rueful laughter and lowers her head again. With a shrug she says, ”It’s not really that I don’t want to answer. It’s just…” obviously doubtful to continue, she leaves the sentence trailing in mid-air.

”It’s just what?” I try to help her along.

A long, no-words-spoken moment follows as Tina braces herself up to share her secrets with me and is probably busy wondering if I’m trustworthy enough.