Those people down the road.

    "The kids ain't comin' for Thanksgiving tomorrow", Francine yelled out to Darrell, who was blowing leaves off the deck in back of the house. "Angie's got strep, so we're going to be alone".

    "Well I can watch the Cowboys without all that commotion", said Darrell.

    "I guess I can just sit here and eat this big ham all by myself, then" , she said.

    Rural North Texas had already had a cold spell down into the teens, but today it was sunny, the wind was blowing leaves, branches and acorns in every direction. Despite the wind Darrel and Francine sat on the deck eating left over chicken fingers but not talking much. Then Darrel jumped up, looking down the fence row.

    "That looks like a beagle dog out there", he said.

    "Probably belongs to those people down the road", she said.

    Francine went back into the house with the plastic plates and Darrell went on raking leaves. He tried not to notice the beagle who had worked his way up to about fifty feet from the deck, trying to dig under fence. As Francine came back out, the dog squeezed under the barbed wire and ran straight up to Darrell.

    "Friendly little thing", he said.

    "Take him back down there", she said, "those people never take care of their dogs, must be ten dogs down there."

    "I'm going to finish raking", he said.

    Two hours went by while Darrell finished the leaves and split some oak firewood. The beagle ran in circles around him, alternately jumping Darrell's leg and running back to the fence to mark the property line. Francine had been watching from the kitchen window, opened it and yelled at Darrell.

    "Don't get any ideas about keepin' that dog. You need to put him in the truck and take him back to those people down the road", she said.

    "This little boy needs to be fixed", he said.

    Another hour went by and nobody showed up looking for the beagle. Darrell put the dog in the front seat of his pickup and drove off down toward the pond. About a half hour later he came back down the drive path, parked the truck and got out carrying the dog. Francine bolted out of the house but Darrell cut in before she could say anything.

    "The whole damn trailer burnt down", he said, "those people are gone and there's dogs everywhere. When I tried to put him out he was scared to death and scratched my arm off trying to hide behind the seat. I couldn't leave him, we'll just put him in the shed until tomorrow morning."

    Thanksgiving morning the beagle was out marking the fence line when an old minivan came down the drive path and the young couple from down the road got out.

    "We heard you was down at our place yesterday with a dog. We came by to see if it was ours. We been staying at the Economy Inn, comin' back ever day to feed the dogs what we can, but we can't afford it no more. That beagle ain't one of ours" , the woman said.

    "I'm sorry about your trailer", Francine said, "where are you stayin' now."

    The woman looked at her boyfriend who shrugged his shoulders and about two minutes ticked by and no one saying anything until Francine looked over at Darrell.

    "Don't just stand there, Darrell", she said, "go set up them bunk beds in the loft. Now you kids come on in here, I've got a ham in the oven. "But don't let him in",pointing to the beagle who seemed calm for the first time in two days and appeared to be smiling, " we only have outside dogs around here."

     

    Happy Thanksgiving!

     

     

    Comments

    The events in Ferguson are almost too depressing to contemplate. I was sitting around here tonight kind of glum and decided to write this story to cheer myself up a bit.


    It sure has been depressing.  A crappy election and now the African American community has had enough.

    It is 6 am in the morning and I am finally headed to bed. I had an apple pie fail me tonight and had to make a second one.  That hasn't happen in years.  My grandson in laws requested he bring one of my apple pies to Thanksgiving Dinner.  They said it was ok if I came along with the pie. But they were counting on the pie. LOL Here is the final result.

    The other kids are with their other grand mother.  My turkey will be roasted later tonight for Friday. I haven't been invited out for Thanksgiving in years.  It does feel strange not having a turkey in the oven.

    Thanks for the story.  And have a nice holiday. 


    Thank you for this lovely story.  Happy Thanksgiving.


    Happy Thanksgiving 


    A wonderful piece of writing, Oxy!   I didn't want the story to end.  Thanks.  Hope you're having a happy Thanksgiving.

     

     


    Something interesting I just ran across.  Iceland is having a Black Friday Sale also.  Check it out.  Also there is a nice slide show of Bardabunga eruption that is going on since the end of August. It sorta fits into the Thanksgiving theme.  You will have to use the google translator. 

    http://www.mbl.is/frettir/innlent/2014/11/27/myndasyrpa_rax_ur_holuhrauni/

    I am not doing any shopping but I thought it was interesting that other countries copies us. I am avoiding the grim news. Trying to keep it happy. 


    Great read, Oxy.

    I do so much writing that I rarely get the opportunity to read other writers, but I'm going to have to change that - it's much too self-centered. I'm also going to have to check you out more often. You have a knack for story-telling.


    I'd like to thank all the folks who read and commented on the story. Honestly, it's a real treat to be able to put up creative work and have it acknowledged by this august group. I cut the line where Francine admonishes Darrell, "Don't make eye contact, you'll never get rid of him." So, beware.


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