A Thanksgiving Day Story

It’s a Thanksgiving Day Story

            (To the tune of “Twas the Night Before Christmas”)

On Thanksgiving morning, when all through the house, every creature was stirring, or whirring, or thumping and dashing.

The turkey was roasting, all snug in the pan, a bag of his juices snuggle up to his...his...what's that thingie, Mom?

Oh, yeah, wattle. Except dad cut if off.

That's okay, honey. Let's hear some more of your story.

'Kay. Let's see.

Um, like anything's gonna rhyme with wattle.

The cranberries were bubbling in orange sauce, all tingly and smashing,

And Gram's got her arms bared, rolling crusts with her old soda bottle!

I count up the fillings ready for pies - there's cherry and pumpkin, mincemeat

and pecan. Shoefly is Gramp's favorite, but he won't get any this year cuz he broke the seat.

Giggles.

Hey, that's pretty silly.

It rhymes, Mommy.

It sure does.

The stuffing is stinky, like Aunt Jan's creamed beans,

But jello and cherries my favorite aunt Caro brings

I sneak the sweet potatoes to my dog mister clean,

And steal Jakie’s butter roll when he pretends to sing

We all say we’re thankful for what we got

Then we gnaw on the turkey and drink cider a lot

Cleaning and football and eating more pie

Wearing aprons and pilgrim hats and laughing till we ’bout die

Grams saves the wishbone

She gives it when we go home

Oh how I love being Thankful this day

That’s very nice, honey. Why don’t you color a turkey on it and we’ll send it to Grams?

Okay, Mommy. I love you.

*********

Lisa Lickel is a Wisconsin writer who lives with her husband in a hundred and sixty-year-old house built by a Great Lakes ship captain. Surrounded by books and dragons, she writes inspiring fiction. Her published novels include mystery and romance, all with a twist of grace. She has penned dozens of feature newspaper stories, short stories, magazine articles and radio theater. She is the editor in chief of Creative Wisconsin magazine. Lisa also is an avid book reviewer, a freelance editor, a writing mentor, a hostess at Clash of the Titles.com, and enjoys blogging at theBarnDoor.net and AuthorCulture.blogspot.com. She loves to encourage new authors. Find more at LisaLickel.com.