Chapter 1: The Empty Thanksgiving Table
"My wife quietly removed my 74-year-old father from our Thanksgiving guest list.
When I asked why, she said:
“My parents are not spending the afternoon across from a mechanic who smells like a repair shop.”
I stared at her.
Then I nodded.
“Alright.”
She thought I had accepted it.
Ten minutes later, I began packing the turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, rolls, and pie into foil trays.
By the time her family arrived, the table was still perfectly set.
There just wasn’t much Thanksgiving dinner left.
PART 1
My name is Rick Dalton.
I’m fifty-two and live in Fort Wayne, Indiana.
My father, Jack, spent nearly fifty years working with his hands.
He never had expensive clothes.
His jackets still carried a slight smell of oil and metal.
To my wife Karen, that clearly made him embarrassing.
To me, it smelled like the man who had worked extra hours, fixed my first car, and showed up every single time I needed him.
Near noon on Thanksgiving, I called Dad.
“I’ll pick you up in twenty minutes.”
He was quiet.
Then he said:
“Rick, I think I’ll stay home today.”
“Why?”
Another pause.
“Karen called last night.
Said the table was crowded.”
I ended the call and walked directly into the dining room.
Karen was setting out silverware.
“Why did you tell Dad not to come?”
She hardly looked up.
“My parents are particular.
Your father smells like a garage.”
I put down the carving knjfe.
“Alright.”
Then I walked into the kitchen.
I packed the turkey.
The stuffing.
The potatoes.
The green beans.
Even the pie.
Karen eventually appeared in the doorway.
“What are you doing?”
“Changing Thanksgiving plans.”
Her face changed.
“Rick, my parents will be here any minute.”
“I know.”
I carried the food to my truck and drove away.
Straight toward Dad’s small house on the other side of town."
May you like
What will Karen do when she realizes Rick chose his father?
Comment “NEXT” for Part 2.
