Tuesday Tales: Writing Turkey

Tuesday Tales is a weekly blog featuring diverse authors who post excerpts from their works in progress based on word and picture prompts. We’re a dedicated group that enjoys reading as much as you do. Today my passage is based on a picture of a glorious roasted turkey. The snippet is from a light paranormal set in the 1950s. The heroine works hard to make a living in her restaurant and raise her little daughter while awaiting the return of her husband from the Korean War. Please visit the other fabulous authors at Tuesday Tales.

Laura paused with a spoon in mid air. Would Gwennie eat cranberry sauce? She doubted it, but it wouldn’t hurt to put a smidgen on her plate. Along with golden turkey topped by giblet gravy, dressing, mashed potatoes, English peas, and white rolls, it was dinner fit for a princess. If her little girl disliked eating out front in the restaurant rather than in a dining room like most of her friends, she never remarked on it. She was good natured and took most things in stride. Living in a restaurant with a skylight in her bedroom seemed adventurous at her age. Maybe someday after Jeff returned from overseas and the business built up, the three of them could afford a little house of their own.

Laura prepared a plate for herself as well, to join her daughter for the Thanksgiving meal. Since it was only eleven fifteen, there was not much of a crowd yet. They’d pile in by noon. “Crook a finger if you need me, Nita.”

An earnest grin shot back at her. “Will do. Now get on out there and relax a few. You and Bertha have been slaving over the stove since daylight.”

A few minutes later she and Gwennie dug into the feast. “This dressing is yummy, Mama.” She hid a smile as her daughter moved aside a tidbit of liver from the gravy. Then her brow scrunched at a taste of the cranberry sauce. “But this purple stuff.” She warbled it around in her mouth. “It’s pretty and looks like jelly but tastes sour.”

“Cranberry sauce should be tart. Have a sip of sweet tea after you swallow it, Gwennie. Then later you’ll have a slice of pumpkin pie, which will sweeten you up even more.”

That brought a peal of laughter. “You always say I’m sweet.”

“I should hope so! It’s a requirement of a young Miss, remember?”

“Oh, yes, and hold my pinky out. Only I haven’t a cup, just a glass.”

“A glass will do fine for a pinky extension.” She illustrated and Gwennie followed suit.    Her daughter nodded earnestly. “If we visit the Queen, we’ll be proper.”

“Plus a fine Miss doesn’t gobble everything down but always leaves one bite on her plate.”

“What for, Mama?”

“For the fairies.”

Blue eyes widened. “Fairies?”

Laura was getting into the spirit of whimsy, as her Granny used to do. “They’re invisible, and you can never catch them eating, but they’ll sneak a taste when you aren’t looking. And the old story goes you’ll be granted a wish for your generosity, especially close to Christmas time.”

“But Christmas is a whole month away!”

“Not long at all in fairy time. Another thing, too.” Laura held up a delicate v- shaped bone. “I saved the wishbone for you. We’ll let it dry for a day or two, and then you hold one end and I the other. We pull, and the winner is the one who ends up with the longest piece. It’s possible you could receive two special wishes, Gwennie.”

“Even if I win the longest piece, you can have that wish, Mama. I’m going to leave the fairies a bite, and I know what my wish is already. Do I have to keep it a secret?”

Laura glanced up at Jeff’s military portrait on the wall and touched her daughter’s cheek. “It’s best kept a secret, darling, until it comes true. That gives it extra special power.”

I hope you enjoyed my take on the picture prompt showing a beautifully baked turkey. Thanks for stopping by. Remember to return to Tuesday Tales and read all the fine offerings.

Cheers & Happy Reading!

Flossie Benton Rogers, Conjuring the Magic in Romance