An Old Fashioned Thanksgiving Page #3

My father planted beans and beets, potatoes.

He could tell the precise day of the year

just by looking at the plants.

My.

Most people were improved by my father.

Gad says he could reform

the worst cynic in the world.

-Shall I add cynic to my list of virtues?

-That`s up to you.

My father built this.

I suppose he`s the one

who taught you how to write.

No. He didn`t know how to write.

My mother taught us.

-How did he die?

-Working the fields.

Mr. Yule found him crushed by a tree.

You must miss him.

My father said everything is a lesson

from which we ultimately profit.

Nevertheless, you have the right

to complain.

You`re a strong young woman

like your mother.

``Once I beheld a splendid dream,

a visionary scene of bliss.``

``Truth! Wherefore did thy hated beam

awake me to a world like this?``

I forgot about Mr. Carterud!

Most people will have their

Thanksgiving dinner, and then it`ll be gone.

We`ll have ours the whole year round.

I`d like it better

if there was pudding involved.

Well, I think if your father were here,

he`d find lots to love about this tablecloth.

Can we put him on it?

He`d like that.

It`s best not to distract Tilly.

She`s quite at sea when it comes

to practical matters.

She`s up half the night writing stories,

then she arrives late for work.

Mr. Carterud has already complained.

I must go to the Yules`.

The children aren`t well.

You can run, too, if you like.

What sort of stories does Tilly write?

She`s burning up, isn`t she?

All three of them, burning up.

I`ve seen this before.

I`ve seen people die from it.

You must put cold wet cloths

on their foreheads.

It will draw the fever out.

And change them often.

Thank you.

Welcome home.

You look dreadful.

Carterud was wretched.

Poor Tilly.

He lectured me on my lateness,

refused his soup and held back half my pay.

On the bright side, Grandma seems happy.

We might just get that turkey. And pudding.

One minute and l`ll have the tea.

You`ve done something.

Absolutely.

You have no right.

Thank you.

You hated it.

-I didn`t say that.

-You didn`t say anything.

It is quite lively.

-Lively?

-Spirited.

-You did hate it.

-I like your people.

You don`t find them dull and ordinary?

There is nothing ordinary about you

or your people.

I hate putting my characters

in a place like this.

Do you? What`s wrong with a place like this?

There`s nothing but cows and fir trees.

Well, if you don`t like cows,

maybe you should get out.

You mean leave?

You could travel, as l`ve done.

Explore the world.

Take note of what it`s like.

Chapter Four. Possible Allies.

How long will it take?

Well, if it were up to me,

she`d have it already.

Caused quite a stir, your mother.

All the women coming in

trying to match her outfits.

A couple more days. Could be a week.

A week?

European parts.

Good luck, isn`t it?

She`ll make the Hopkins` party.

Tighter.

Good.

-Why tie her up?

-To keep her parts in.

Old people have trouble otherwise.

May I cut this up

for the Thanksgiving project?

-I can make a bed of leaves out of it.

-Certainly.

Isabella says I should have a proper gown.

-Does she?

-Yes.

She says the first impression

is what one always remembers.

I trust it does not owe solely

to one`s costume.

The outward appearance

affects the estimation of the rest.

Do you hope to affect a particular person,

or just cause a general stir?

We do not have lsabella`s wardrobe

at our disposal.

I know.

Mother.

I thought you might wear it.

It`s not the dress that matters, Tilly.

It`s how you feel inside.

What is that? Where did you get a corset?

Special delivery for Mathilda Bassett.

She said I could have it.

-I see.

-Just for tonight.

Just put those things in your room

for now, children.

My mother took few things

when she and Ellis Bassett left her home

when she was 17.

The plainest dress she owned.

A pair of sturdy shoes,

for my father had warned her

they would do a great deal of walking.

The embroidered shawl he gave her

when they became engaged.

And a porcelain cup.

The cup was part of a tea service,

originally presented to Louis XIV in 1683,

which Isabella had painstakingly

reassembled on her many trips abroad.

It was the only complete set of its kind.

For most of my mother`s childhood,

Isabella had the service

on proud display in the hallway.

My father heard rumor that she kept it out

after my mother left,

the empty saucer a daily reminder

of what had been taken from her.

-Hello.

-We`re so glad you could make it.

-Good to see you, old man.

-Good to see you.

My dear, you look lovely.

At last, our guest of honor.

Looking lovely as always.

-Good evening.

-Good evening.

-How wonderful. Good evening.

-Good evening.

Mrs. Bassett.

Hello, Mary.

You must forgive us for staring.

We are struck dumb.

Praise more eloquent than any flattery.

Easy, girl.

You`re talking to me like l`m your horse.

-A thoroughbred, no doubt.

-Gad!

Just follow me. You`ll be fine.

Your mother seemed unhappy

when I walked in.

That`s because she`s feeling guilty.

-For what?

-Not accepting you sooner.

It seems we both were rather late

to come to our senses.

You have always had my friendship.

Your friendship is not what I crave.

You never did like parties.

They`d always find you hiding somewhere.

Under the piano, in the coat closet.

Tilly`s doing beautifully. You should see her.

You shouldn`t have given her the dress.

Poverty was your choice, not hers.

I don`t want her regretting

what isn`t within her means.

She can have whatever she wants.

-Not from you.

-So you continue to punish me

for wanting you a better husband.

Oh, tell the truth.

When I left with Ellis you were relieved.

Don`t be ridiculous.

Why didn`t you stop me, then?

-You made your choice.

-There was no choice.

You never wanted me.

My whole childhood

I saw you fewer times

-than some people see distant friends.

-You embellish.

When you did come

I was kept out of sight by my governess

who was quick to remind me

I must keep my distance

or run the risk of shortening your stay.

You had everything as a child.

-Complete freedom.

-Freedom is not what a child needs.

You were no comfort.

From the moment you were born

I felt your judgment.

Judgment? I was a baby.

How could I judge you?

Was I to grovel for your approval?

So, deprived of approval from me,

you will take it from Tilly?

I have lost much this past year.

I do not wish to lose my daughter as well.

It`s Tilly. Come quickly. Come.

Help me.

Some air, please.

-Gad, get some water.

-Yes.

Tilly.

I`m fine.

She just fainted dead away. I...

Corsets generally produce such outcomes.

I`ll take her home.

But the party has just started.

She`s right. I want to stay.

Chapter Five. A New Life.

A changed world in one night.

Every door once closed swinging open.

What on earth are you doing?

-I had a grand time last night.

-So did l.

-Come to tea?

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