Stories For Thanksgiving 2023

By Jeff Baker

AUTHOR’S NOTE: I meant to only write one story but my post on “Rainbow Snippets” got me thinking about this story https://authorjeffbaker.com/2022/11/18/baby-if-youve-ever-wondered-spending-thanksgiving-with-friday-flash-fics-november-18-2022/ and I decided to follow up on that family a year later in that big old house. Enjoy these vignettes, with a side of cranberry sauce! —-jeff

Turkeys Away!

By Jeff Baker

The table was set, the mashed potatoes steaming, the turkey and dressing glistening. Chris nudged his boyfriend Enrico sitting next to him and grinned. Across from them were Chris’ sister Susie and her husband Max with year-old James (who they called “Little Chris,” from his middle name) in his high chair at the end of the table. Chris and Susie’s Mom sat smiling at the other end of the table.

“I can almost feel your father here,” she said.

“Yeah,” Chris said.

There was a splat!

Little Chris had grabbed a slice of turkey and tossed it across the table.

“Okay,” Big Chris said grabbing the turkey platter. “Maybe I’d better serve this.”

Little Chris laughed and so did everybody else.

“Happy Thanksgiving!” Max said with an apologetic shrug.

—end—

Wild Turkey

by Jeff Baker

Pete and Zack had been driving the long-haul route for two days. They were zipping between small towns at the moment down the original stretch of Kansas highway which was basically a paved country road.

“Hey, isn’t today Thanksgiving?” Zack said.

“Yeah,” Pete said from behind the steering wheel. “That’s why I’m glad the radio’s off. Not much reception out here and I doubt we could get the football games.”

“Wouldn’t you want to be home?” Zack asked.

“Not this year.” Pete said. “Third wife bailed on me last spring. Maybe I’ll get out to second wife and my daughter after Christmas, but I don’t mind this.”

“You’re lucky,” Zack said. “I’ve been on my own since I was nineteen. No family to speak of and I’m twenty-six now.”

Pete smiled. “I’m forty-eight. My daughter is almost twenty-six.” They drove in silence a few more miles. “Listen, when we drop off the last load let’s find some restaurant and make our own Thanksgiving, okay?”

“Yeah, okay.” Zack said glumly. “Turkey with all the trimmings,” he sighed.

In another minute, they rounded a curve through rows of trees and bushes and suddenly eight wild turkeys stood in the road ahead of them. They suddenly took flight, not like eagles but they did soar into the sky towards the trees.

“Oh my gosh!” Zack said. “Lookit that! Turkeys!” He laughed. “Thanksgiving turkeys!” He laughed again and realized he felt better. Not as down as he had been.

“And as God as my witness,” Pete said with a smile, “I guess turkeys can fly!”

—end—

Happy Thanksgiving, from all of us at Friday Flash Fics!—–jeff