Jim Sharp started refinishing the hardwood floors during the week of Thanksgiving and didn’t expect to be done for another week. No matter how hard the sisters tried to keep things clean, everything seemed coated with a fresh layer of sawdust by the following day. It was bad timing, but then the floors were in terrible condition and this job had to be done.
“I don’t see why he couldn’t have waited until next week,” complained Jane as she wiped the coat of dust from the teakettle. “I’d really been looking forward to cooking a traditional Thanksgiving dinner this year. Usually we did something trendy and exotic at the restaurant. I’ve been hoping for good old-fashioned turkey and dressing, with homemade cranberry sauce and candied yams.”
“Sounds good to me,” said Louise.
“How about cooking a meal like that at the church?” suggested Alice. “I know that there are a number of people in town who are alone on Thanksgiving. As usual, the ANGELs are preparing food baskets for the needy, but maybe we could do something even better this year.”
“What a great idea, Alice,” agreed Jane. “I love cooking for a crowd.”
“Are you sure?” asked Louise. “It sounds like a lot of work.”
“Oh, but it would be fun.” Jane looked at Alice. “How many people do you suppose we could expect?”
“Oh, I’m not sure, but I could find out pretty easily. I doubt that it would be more than, say, twenty, maybe thirty at the most. Does that sound like too much?”
Jane shook her head. “Piece of cake.”
“We can all help out, Jane,” Alice reassured her. “And maybe my ANGELs would be interested in helping to serve that day.”
“That would be great.”
Louise looked as if she felt left out now. “Perhaps you’d like me to play some music for the event?”
“Oh, Louise, that would be wonderful,” said Jane.
“And I happen to make a pretty good pumpkin pie,” she added.
“Fantastic. I’ll make some pecan and apple and …” Jane went over to the table and began making a list.
“Well, I’m off to work,” announced Alice. “I’ll start contacting our potential guests. I suppose I could even ask Carlene to put a notice in Wednesday’s paper.”
“Well, we don’t want this thing to get too big,” warned Louise.
“Oh, the more the merrier,” said Jane with a wave of her hand.
“But who’s going to pay for it?” asked the ever practical Louise.
“Goodness,” said Alice. “I hadn’t given that much thought.”
“Doesn’t the church have a fund for things like this?” asked Jane.
“Yes,” said Alice. “We do. I’ll call Pastor Ley during my morning break and ask about it. Naturally, he’ll need to give his okay before we proceed, but I’m sure he’ll love the idea.”
Alice was exactly right about Pastor Ley’s reaction.
“That’s a f-fine idea, Alice,” he told her over the phone. “I know of s-several elderly p-people who should be invited. They may be s-some of the s-same ones you have in m-mind, but I’ll m-make a l-list just in case.”
Alice even invited some of her co-workers to join them. She knew of several hospital employees who might be alone for the holiday. Then she called Carlene and asked her about putting a notice in the Acorn Nutshell.
“I’d be glad to,” said Carlene. “Fact is, I wasn’t sure what I was going to do on Thanksgiving myself. Until last week, I thought I was going home to my parents, but they’ve decided to fly out to Arizona to visit my brother this year. I might just end up at Grace Chapel too.”
“Great,” said Alice. “We’d love to have you join us.”
The next couple of days whizzed by for Alice. Between her work at the hospital, helping out at home, and shopping for their upcoming dinner, she was practically asleep before her head hit the pillow each night. Some of her ANGELs were able to help serve on Thursday afternoon, and they all helped to decorate the assembly room on Wednesday night. They skittered around the room, artfully adorning the tables with bright gold tablecloths, little pumpkins, gourds, Indian corn and candles. Alice thought the room had never looked more festive. Just to be on the safe side, Alice had set the tables with forty-eight place settings. She figured they’d have some empty spots, but felt that was preferable to not having enough. She didn’t want anyone to feel left out. Jane and Louise and even Aunt Ethel had been cooking for days. Not only that, but when others in the congregation heard about the dinner, they had offered to drop something by too.
“We’ll probably have way too much food,” said Jane. “Maybe we can send doggy bags home with our guests.”
“Yes,” agreed Louise as she pulled another pumpkin pie from the oven. “The worst thing about eating Thanksgiving dinner at someone else’s home is that you miss out on the leftovers.”
Thanks to Jane’s expertise and punctuality, everything was ready at two o’clock sharp. The first half hour was supposed to be for socializing and appetizers, and the real dinner was to begin at two-thirty. Louise, already seated at the piano, was thumbing through sheet music, while Alice coached her ANGELs on proper serving techniques. Before long a few guests began to trickle in. Alice greeted a couple of young co-workers from the hospital, as well as Cyril Overstreet. Taking their coats, she showed them to the appetizer table. She was beginning to feel a bit concerned. What if only a handful of people showed up today? Poor Jane, how would she feel if all her lovely food went to waste? Suddenly Alice remembered the story that Jesus had told about the rich man who gave a big fancy dinner, but nobody came. The desperate host had sent his servants out in the streets to invite more guests. She figured that the few streets of Acorn Hill would be fairly deserted right now.
Then more people began coming in. Carlene from the newspaper showed up with a basket of wheat rolls. And Hope from the Coffee Shop appeared with a hot blackberry pie. Alice graciously took their offerings, but at the same time fretted that she’d have to send them back home with them since there was already far more than enough food here. Then Viola from the bookstore showed up with a young family that had recently moved to town. Alice had heard that the father had suffered a back injury and the mother was looking for work.
Soon the basement was bustling with people and noise. Even Fred and Vera decided to come, explaining to Alice that both their girls had been invited home by college chums. “We were feeling a little lonely,” confessed Vera as she handed Alice a casserole dish of yams. “Let me know if I can lend a hand with anything.”
“Oh, I’m so glad you came,” said Alice.
Alice took the hot dish to the kitchen and asked Jane if she needed any help.
“The place looks packed,” said Jane as she pulled an extra pan of turkey dressing from the oven. “Have you done a nose count yet?”
Alice nodded. “Yes, and I think it was nearly sixty now. Can you believe it? And I was worried that we’d have way too much food. I already asked Sarah and Ashley to set another table.”
“Oh my, I hope we have enough food for that many people,” said Aunt Ethel as she paused from mashing potatoes and glanced out across the crowded room. “Good grief, Alice, there’s another whole bunch more coming down the stairs right now. You better do another count.”
Alice went back out and continued to greet people, smiling and taking coats, and all the time counting. This time she made it to nearly eighty. Eighty people! She was stunned. How was it that so many people were alone or in need? She hurried back to the kitchen to inform the others.
“My word!” exclaimed Aunt Ethel. “Eighty people? I thought you were only expecting about thirty.”
“We weren’t really sure,” said Alice.
“But how will we manage to feed everyone?” said Aunt Ethel.
Alice grinned. “Remember the loaves and the fishes, Auntie.”
“You better inform Pastor Ley that he needs to say one mighty impressive blessing,” said Aunt Ethel.
Alice went out to tell the ANGELs to set up another long table with twenty more place settings. They had long since run out of paper plates and plastic utensils, but fortunately the church’s kitchen was equipped with about forty sets of real dishes and silverware. Of course, this meant that someone would have to wash up now. But that seemed to be of little consequence at the moment.
Next Alice located Pastor Ley and his wife. “Quite a crowd, isn’t it?” she whispered.
“This is quite a gathering you’ve pulled together, Alice,” said Patsy.
Alice nodded with wide eyes. “Believe me, I’m as surprised at the turnout as anyone.”
“W-wouldn’t your father have loved this?” said Pastor Ley as he adjusted his wire-rimmed glasses. “I don’t know w-why we didn’t do something like this long ago.”
“We didn’t have Jane then,” said Alice. “She’s the cook in the family.”
“Speaking of cooks,” whispered Patsy, “you sure you’ll have enough food? I brought a ham, but I could run home and get something else if you think—”
“No, no, Patsy,” said Alice. “You just stay put.” She turned to Pastor Ley now. “I was just reminding Aunt Ethel of the loaves and fishes. I told her I’d ask you to say a special blessing.”
He grinned. “I’d be h-happy to invite the Good Lord to help us out.”
Alice had already asked Lloyd Tynan to use his public speaking ability to get the crowd’s attention, perhaps tell a few jokes and invite everyone to take their seats before he gave them an official welcome.
“We thank you all for coming,” said Lloyd in his authoritative voice after the guests had been seated. “It’s a pleasure to see you all here today. We had no idea we’d have such a fine group.” He glanced toward the kitchen. “Maybe this will become a Grace Chapel tradition, although we better not mention this to the cooks just yet as it seems they have their hands full.” This brought a few laughs. “Now, I’d like to ask Pastor Ley to say grace.”
Pastor Ley nodded and bowed his head. “Dear heavenly F-father, we gather here today to give You th-thanks. We have so m-much to be th-thankful for … for our family and f-friends and community … for all this f-fine food and the hands that prepared it today. And we ask You to b-bless it—in the same way You b-blessed those loaves and f-fishes so many centuries ago. We ask that we m-might all leave this p-place f-filled with good food and good f-fellowship. Amen.”
A hearty “amen” echoed throughout the basement. It wasn’t long before everyone had a full plate of turkey, dressing, potatoes and gravy. Meanwhile, the ANGEL servers skittered about the tables bringing additional baskets of rolls, salads and a variety of other side dishes.
Louise and Alice finally took seats near Aunt Ethel and Lloyd and the Humberts, but Jane insisted upon staying in the kitchen.
“It’s just my way,” she had assured them. “I can’t relax and eat until all of my customers—I mean guests—have eaten their last bite of dessert.”
“Everything is delicious,” said Vera.
Fred nodded. “I guess if we couldn’t have Polly and Jean at home, this is the next best thing.”
“Church should be like an extended family,” said Louise. “I never really experienced that with our large congregation back in Philadelphia, but I’ve always felt that way here at home.”
“Acorn Hill is just that kind of town,” said Lloyd. “It makes you feel right at home.”
“It sure does,” said Jim Sharp from the other end of the table. “I’ve only been here three months and I feel like I know half the people in town already.”
“You probably do,” said Lloyd. “It only takes a week or two.”
Aunt Ethel laughed. “We always tell newcomers to hang out at the hardware store if you want to get acquainted with folks.”
“Thanks,” said Fred. “I appreciate the business.”
“It’s true,” said Lloyd. “Sooner or later, everyone in Acorn Hill goes into the hardware store.”
“You got that right,” said Jim. “I should know since I’ve been in there almost every single day these past two months.”
“How’s the renovation coming along?” asked Lloyd as he helped himself to another roll. “I haven’t been by for a while. You got that roof replaced yet?”
Jim shook his head. “Afraid we’ll have to wait until spring now that the cold weather’s set in.”
“Bet that’s going to be one expensive little job,” said Lloyd, blowing a low whistle through his teeth.
Louise nodded. “Don’t we know it, but we can’t very well run a first-rate inn with the rain coming down through the roof, now can we?”
“Daniel was lucky it held up this long,” said Aunt Ethel. “I think that roof’s about as old as the house.”
Jim nodded. “Yep. Some of the worst sections of slate have been replaced over the years, but most of it’s in pretty bad shape.”
“I’ve been wondering about the church’s roof too,” said Fred. “I expect it won’t be long before it’ll need replacing too. Now, that’s going to be an expensive job.”
Alice felt uncomfortable with all this talk of repairs and money. “How are your girls doing, Vera?” she asked. “Does Polly like college?”
“She was pretty homesick, you know, but then she made a good friend. That’s who she went home with for the weekend. The girl’s family lives in Connecticut. And, of course, Jean went home to meet her boyfriend’s family. We’re not too sure what to make of that just yet.” She gently elbowed her husband.
Fred made a groaning noise and shook his head. “I told those girls I didn’t want them to even think about getting married before they graduated from college and found themselves a decent-paying job.”
Alice laughed. “Doesn’t always work out that way, Fred.”
“That’s right,” Vera reminded him. “Remember we got married during my second year of college.”
“At least you finished up your degree,” said Fred. “And you started teaching just as soon as you graduated.”
“So will Polly and Jean,” she assured him.
Alice checked from time to time to see how the food was holding out. There was still plenty for everyone. And they hadn’t even brought out the desserts yet! Jane was in her element, and the compliments were flowing fast.
When it was all said and done, and everyone was as well stuffed as the turkeys had been, there were still leftovers. Alice felt certain that there must have been at least twelve baskets full! She asked Lloyd to announce that everyone was welcome to take leftovers home with them if they liked, and most of their guests happily obliged them.
Louise played piano while dessert and coffee were served, and most of the people sat around and visited for at least another hour. Then when it was time to clean up, several of the guests insisted that Jane should sit down while they commandeered the kitchen. Jane didn’t protest and Alice made sure that the ANGELs brought Jane everything she wanted as she sat with her sister.
“That was a beautiful meal,” she told Jane as she sipped a cup of hot tea.
“Thanks, but it was only partly due to my efforts.” Jane took a bite of yams. “For instance, I didn’t make these, but they’re really good.” She glanced around the slowly thinning room. “A lot of people must’ve brought food with them today.”
Alice smiled. “Good thing too.”
Jane nodded. “Great thing!”
“I honestly believe God blessed our food too,” said Alice. “Just like the loaves and fishes. We had a lot of people to feed.”
“I have no doubt about that either.” Jane forked a tender-looking piece of turkey and smiled.
“Really?”
“Yeah. I took a quick inventory before the dinner ever started. After all these years, I’m no fool when it comes to calculating amounts of food against the appetites of my customers, Alice. I have to admit I was honestly worried that we’d run out of turkey before all of our guests had even been served once.”
“But there was plenty—enough for seconds.”
Jane nodded with wide eyes. “I know. It was truly amazing.”
“Oh, I don’t know.”
Alice sighed. “Well, I like to imagine Father up there in heaven, Jane. I envision him looking down on us and seeing we’re in trouble. Then he turns around and says to God, ‘Could You give them a hand down there?’”
Jane laughed. “You think?”