Thanksgiving

- Thanksgiving

- Midpoint

Thanksgiving Without

By Robert C. Waggoner

Copyright 2014 Robert C. Waggoner

Smashwords Edition

Thanksgiving Without

Short Story

2014

Arlene Madison said, while holding her tattered apron to her runny nose “Russ what are we going to do for Turkey Day?”

“I don’t know, but crying is not going to help, said Russ Madison while standing at the window looking out at his ruined crop of corn from a few months ago. It had not rained enough to hardly settle the dust in the last year, thought Russ. Drought was the ugliest word in his dictionary. He heard Arlene with an occasional sniff as she made morning coffee. He shook his head thinking after almost fifty years working the land, it had come to this: dead broke and the land not worth the price of advertising.

Russ thought back while talking to his crop insurance salesman about the increase in premium he was faced with. Talk about a rock and hard place. He did not have the funds to buy the insurance and if a crop failed, that was the end of him. Now he faced ruin. The crop failed, his credit was to the limit everywhere in town, and his worthless two sons were in no position to lend a hand. Both had left right after high school to the city to seek their fortunes. The fortunes came in the form of a brown stubby and green plant growth.

“Arlene let’s have a cup of coffee and talk. I know talking isn’t what we have done much of in the past, but it appears we’re really up against it.”

She burst into more tears, but amazingly brought over two mugs of coffee without spilling a drop. She returned to the fridge and brought a small can of half and half that he liked in his coffee. She sat; she stirred her coffee after a teaspoon of precious sugar was added. He said, “We’ve been together for fifty years Arlene. I’ve no real complaints. Both of us have worked hard and as most people reach retirement age, wonder what they’ll do the rest of their lives. I always thought I’d be sitting on the porch in my rocking chair and my faithful dog at my side. I was never thinking I’d be whittling a piece of wood. My old eyes and ears would be tuned to the fields where our sons were toiling away preparing or harvesting a golden crop of corn or some other vegetable.

My eyes would turn and see the two houses of our sons resting under those three giant oak trees out front. Our grandkids would be running around raising dust chasing each other. And then after the fall harvest, we’d celebrate the bounty of our labor with a family turkey dinner. I remember wearing a white shirt years ago. I also remember getting a fresh haircut from town. The smells and sounds still echo in my head Arlene. But in reality, as I look around today, this morning, I see two old people without a pot to piss in. Our two off spring living in a city of filth and despair. And you know the funny thing; they too don’t have a pot to piss in. We haven’t seen our grandkids, not that I really miss them, for years.” Russ took a sip of hot coffee and starred into his wife’s eyes. He continued, “By God come hell or high water, we’re going to eat turkey next week Thursday.”

Arlene perked up hearing the positive side of things. “Where are we going to get a turkey Russ?”

Stan told me the food bank in town has some small ones set aside for farmers who are in trouble from the drought. He said I’ve one with my name on it. I’m going into town today and pick it up. I’ll ask the electric company to not cut off our power until Friday next week. We can keep the turkey in the fridge. How’s that sound?”

“I like it and Belinda came by yesterday and told me she’d gotten a sack of spuds from a friend. She gave us a bag full. We’ll have mashed taters and turkey Russ. I’ll ask around for some canned beans for a vegetable. I guess pie is out of the question, but that’s alright with me.”

“This could be our last hurrah Arlene. I feel us going down the slippery tube. Well, I’ve some work to do and best get after it. After lunch I’ll go to town for the bird.”

Arlene followed him to the door. She held the door open while he went through the squeaky screen door with more holes than screen. It snapped shut like a shot out of a rifle, but neither she nor he paid any attention. He looked up as he walked to the barn. He saw a nice fall day coming and the big oak trees were half naked from fallen leaves. It was times like this when he’d welcome the company of his old dog. The last one died at around the age of fifteen. Since then he had been without a faithful companion.

Arlene shut the door as a chill was in the November air. She slowly moved into the kitchen to clean up the coffee mugs and fix a meager breakfast of oatmeal and toast. It was a wish on her part that she had friend she could talk to. But sadly, they’d no phone and what friends she did have had moved away some years ago. She shook her head thinking how smart her friends were leaving when things were turning sour. However, Russ was stubborn as a mule. He said God made the earth for men to live off of. It was up to Him to send the life giving rain to provide subsistence for his children. A lonely tear rolled down her aging weathered cheek thinking about all the years of hard work that had passed by doling out just enough to keep them alive.

~~~

The day before Thanksgiving, both Russ and Arlene motored to a special church service at 6 pm. Russ had picked up the turkey and pleaded with the power company to keep the lights on through Friday. Russ also figured that he had just enough fuel to go to town and back. After that it was wait and see what the good Lord had in mind for the Madison’s of Lawrence County, Missouri.

The good Pastor Eli J Whitney stood behind his pulpit gazing out at his dwindling congregation. To a person he saw poverty at its work ruthlessly ripping away at the fabric of his people. All in town knew he was feeling the pain like the rest of the county was. Yet he had a special sermon that he’d spent many hours on. It began like this:

“You’al are Gods chosen ones. It’s common knowledge we take the good with the bad. But, my friends, we’ve not seen much good and have witnessed a lot of bad. We’uns are only human and not without feelings of being ignored by the greatest of spirits: God. Without water everything dies. I can’t believe He has death for us all by withholding rain.”

Russ was astonished to hear Pastor Eli so vocal and challenging the good Lord to show his compassion for the people of this county. Russ was on the edge of his seat listening to every word spoken. He continued: “I’m challenging you Father in heaven to provide some way to make rain for our crops. These people have toiled for years to live under your rules and if you expect all of us to enter heaven’s doors happy, then find a way for us to enjoy a few years of life,” he screamed with an arm raised with a fist on the end to show God he meant business.

The congregation jumped up and shouted, “Amen and show us the way Lord!” Slowly quiet descended upon the church and then off in the distance a loud sound of thunder rattled the windows. Russ wondered, “Is this a sign or just God clearing His throat?”

Indeed rain did fall, but not enough to do much except settle the dust. Everybody went home with less hope than they came with. The next day dawned clear and cool. Arlene had made their usual morning coffee and both were sitting at the old wood table in the kitchen when they heard a vehicle arriving. “Now I wonder who that can be,” said Russ standing up craning his neck to look out the window. He walked over and opened the front door. He swung open the screen door and saw a late model pickup truck with a logo on the door of an oil well. He couldn’t read the writing as the lettering was too small. Two men got out and walked over to the front door. Russ was standing on the porch when the two came up with smiles showing.

“Good morning Mr. Madison. Sorry to bother you on this fine holiday but we felt you deserved some good news. I’m Rollie and my partner here is Sidney. We’re geologists working for a major oil company. May we sit down and discuss some important information with you and your wife? We won’t take up much of your time sir.”

“Yes, please come in and have a cup of coffee with us,” Russ said while walking back into the house wondering what this visit was all about. Arlene had been listening and scurried back to the kitchen for two additional mugs for coffee.

Russ introduced his wife and all three men sat at the old wooden table. After all were seated, coffee poured, Rollie said, “This report just came in yesterday by satellite. We’ve some new technology that scans the earth for fossil fuels underground. Our information shows a substantial amount of oil directly under your 80 acres Mr. and Mrs. Madison. We know how hard it’s been to make a living with the drought we’ve experienced. I think, or we think your financial problems are over. We’ve a contract here Mr. Madison that you should take to an attorney. There’s nothing sneaky about it. I also have here a check as a down payment of one hundred thousand dollars. This is not a joke and as both Sidney and I live in this state, are pleased to share this happiness with you. For the most part, you’re very well off from this day forward. Congratulations and happy Thanksgiving.”

~~~

In Springfield, Missouri the two Madison brothers were notified that some farmers in their hometown area had struck it rich with oil found beneath their farms. The oldest brother had heard the news from his neighbor who had read it in the newspaper. It took awhile for Bret to assimilate the news as he was suffering from a three day love affair with ‘long necker’ friends. When he sobered up, he went next door in an apartment building to tell his younger brother Bart that their parents had become rich. The younger brother Bart, who was preparing for his nightly security job, broke out into a big smile thinking he could ditch this job and go home. Bret was laughing and carrying on like he’d just won the lotto. They made plans to go north and have a wonderful reunion with mom and dad.

A day later they arrived in Bart’s less than reliable used car at the farm they’d grew up at. It was deadly quiet and the place looked deserted. An envelope was attached to the screen door with their names on it. Bart grabbed it and ripped it open. It said:

Dear Bret and Bart,

You both left us high and dry to seek your fame and fortune in the big city. You made your bed so now you lie in it.

Trying to find us would be difficult for you and even if you found us not a dime would be available to deserters of parents.

The filthy rich Russ and Arlene Madisons,

PS: Hard work pays dividends.