[Critique Group 1] cleora's November Submission

[sitting.duck at springmail.com]

Thanksgiving. A time to reflect and be thankful. Right?
by: C. S. Boyd

Hustle and bustle for days Pealing, baking, stirring, planning. 
For what?
Two small families gathered together.
The adults at the big table.
The children sitting on wooden apple carts pulled up to rickety card tables.
After everyone is uncomfortably stuff, someone pulls out the board game Clue.
The other players having played it so often, they have all the solutions memorized.
I never understood that game. How ridiculous.
Finally, time to go home. Sweet, blessed, quiet home.

Sixty  years later
Beep, beep, beep, beep, beep. The microwave signals the Turkey & Vegetable entree is ready to eat.
I dump the vegetables and meat in a bowl.
Two pads of butter on top and a slice of onion and two grape tomatoes chopped and added to the pile.
Sprinkle generously with salt.
Stir thoroughly. 
Ready to eat.

Chirp, chirp.
Sounds plaintive and lonely. I eat my concoction and then, going to the bathroom door, I look in.
Chirp, Chirp.
"You want to join me?"
Chirp.
I offer my hand. Dusty steps aboard. I grab his dish of food, and together we settle down to watch whatever Thanksgiving marathon program is playing.

A signal from the iPhone announces a nieces Happy Thanksgiving wish.
At least someone remembered me.

Actually, it's not that bad.
No pretense to know what's going on.
No fake enjoyment of eating too much.
Just quiet, peaceful, home.
Maybe I'll go out in a few minutes and feed the ducks that are probably waiting at my back gate.