Turkey Monster Thanksgiving by Anne Warren Smith

Author:Anne Warren Smith [Smith, Anne Warren]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 978-1-4532-7081-3
Publisher: Albert Whitman & Company
Published: 2012-07-02T17:19:00+00:00

Chapter 12

Dad Makes a List

A FEW MINUTES LATER, Dad came into the bathroom. He took his glasses off as they clouded over with steam. “That was your teacher.”

“Oh?” I closed my book and pressed it against my aching stomach.

“She thinks we’re having company for Thanksgiving dinner.”

I swallowed. My ears crackled.

“She thinks SHE is our company for Thanksgiving dinner.”

I sagged over. My book stuck sharp corners into my chest.

“She called to say she’s bringing two pies.” Dad’s voice was tired. He rubbed his forehead. “Who else is coming?”

“Just her. No one else.”

“Didn’t you hear me say ‘no company’?” he asked.

Tyler stared at Dad with big, round eyes. “Get me out now.” He stood up and tub water sloshed around his knees. “I want my train jammies.”

Dad reached for the towel and lifted Tyler out of the tub.

The tub water gurgled down the drain.

“I wanted to watch the game and enjoy my family,” he said in that same tired voice. “I wanted to get this report done. And then, I wanted to relax.”

“Can I have a story?” Tyler asked. His chin wobbled. His eyes filled with tears.

“Of course,” Dad said. He carried Tyler out of the bathroom.

While Dad read to Tyler, I huddled on my bed. Hiccups filled up my chest. Hiccuped out of my mouth.

Once Tyler was in bed, Dad came into my room. “How did this happen?” he asked. “This Thanksgiving thing has turned into a monster.”

I hugged my pillow against my sore chest and told him about the extra invitation and how it got delivered. “I’m sorry, Dad.”

“Nothing is ready,” he said.

“We have most of the groceries,” I told him. “Tomorrow I’ll make the Sweet Potato Brûlée. Tuesday, the Green Beans Deluxe. Wednesday, the Cranberry Tower. It’s under control, Dad.”

Dad stared at my lists on the bulletin board. “It’s different now that there’s company.” He found a piece of paper and a pencil and started making a list of his own. “Glasses that match. Cream for coffee.”

“We’ll clean house Thursday morning,” I told him. “While the turkey is cooking.” He groaned. But he wrote “TURKEY!” on his list.

“Ms. Morgan’s bringing the dessert.” I crossed off popsicles and ice cream sandwiches. “Real butter,” he said, writing furiously. “We used to have real napkins. Where’d they go?”

“They turned into diapers for Tyler’s bear. Maybe we can find them?”

“We’ll buy paper.”

“We need a table centerpiece, Dad.”

“Where’s that turkey poster you made?”

“On the front door.”

“It’s now for the table,” Dad said. He reached over and crossed CENTERPIECE??? off my list.

His list got very long. He frowned at it for a while. “Too much to do,” he said finally.

“I didn’t know you like making lists,” I said.

“It’s not a matter of liking,” he said. “It’s a matter of necessity.”

“I’m worried about one thing,” I told him. “Tyler at the table.”

“He’s just a little boy.”

“He’s awful,” I said.

“We’ll work on it.” Dad rested his forehead on his hand.

“Are you still mad?” I could feel my hiccups waiting to start again.

“I’m not mad,” he said. “I’m worried we can’t get everything done in time.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.