An Old Fashioned Thanksgiving Page #5

-You hang the turkey over the fire.

-You do not.

-Do, too! In a hanging oven.

-We already have an oven.

It`s what you use if you do it the proper way.

I think it`s time for a story.

-What story?

-There`s one about a camel who bit me.

I don`t like camels.

What about pyramids?

Do you like pyramids?

You`ve seen pyramids?

I want a story about family. Something real.

-What about a castle?

-That`s not real.

It most certainly is. Your

great-great-great grandmother lived in one.

Why? Was she a queen?

-She was a Lady. Her name was Mathilda.

-Like Tilly.

She lived a long, long time ago.

When there were knights and sword fights.

-And dragons?

-No dragons,

but they had plenty of danger

to keep them busy.

Lady Mathilda`s father

was in trouble with the King.

-Why was he in trouble with the King?

-Because he couldn`t keep quiet, like you.

Most people felt he should go into hiding,

but Lady Mathilda`s mother was dead

and he refused to leave Lady Mathilda alone.

In the end, 20 soldiers stormed the castle.

They brought a battering ram

to break down the gate

and they took him away to prison.

Lady Mathilda wasn`t much older than you.

Did she cry?

No. She wanted to save her father.

She had to be very brave.

I would have taken my father`s sword

and ran those soldiers through.

-Father had no sword.

-Neither did Lady Mathilda.

But she had great spirit.

She put all the gold

and all the family jewels in a basket

with bread and fruit.

And in the middle of the night

she stole one of the soldier`s horses.

She rode to London.

She went straight to the King

and offered the treasures

in exchange for her father`s life.

Now, the King was so moved at her courage

that he agreed

and Lady Mathilda`s father

was released from prison.

Poor in property,

but richer than a king in family.

How is he?

I`ll pay for the doctor

and any other expenses he requires.

-He requires nothing.

-Well, what is his condition?

-Dead.

-Dead?

Quite.

Mother!

Chapter Seven. Scarlet Fever.

He must be a stranger indeed

who has not heard of that terrible disease

that is usually known as scarlet fever.

It begins with a slight indisposition,

much resembling an ordinary cold

until the fever suddenly increases.

Then the rash comes,

from which the disease gets its name.

Then the patient is afflicted with a cough,

quickly succeeded by

the most distressing asthmatic symptoms,

under which the poor creature struggles

until released by perfect suffocation

or stoppage of breath.

The lucky ones survive.

Why did it bite you?

It appears not to have liked

the feathers in my hat.

Camels are notoriously fussy.

How is she?

She`s past the contagious stage,

so all we can do is wait.

You`re a good girl, Tilly.

You`re a great mother.

-Where are you taking it?

-To the Yules.

But why should they have it and not us?

That means we`re not going to have

any cranberries, any stuffing...

Hush. She`s doing it for Mother.

We`ll take the carriage.

There`s too much snow.

You`ll never make it on your own.

-Prudence can`t stay here by herself.

-We`ll be fine.

-Are you going to be all right?

-Never you mind about me.

It`s a relief. Really. He was lost already.

You take good care of your mother.

She`s done so much for us.

She used to laugh more, you know,

when your pa was alive.

-Bye.

-Goodbye.

Thank you.

They are lucky to have her, your mother.

The other day she implied

that she was conceived

in order to guarantee my financial security.

-She was angry.

-No, she was right.

I used her. Which made it difficult

to be in her company.

I traveled often. Coming home

for meetings with the estate lawyer.

He was a good-hearted family man,

so I put your mother in pretty dresses

and took her to the meetings with me.

Over time, he became sympathetic to us,

pressed the other beneficiaries

to settle their case.

Until I received your letter

I considered myself lucky

to have acquitted myself so admirably.

Why are you telling me this?

So you won`t make the mistake

of excusing me.

Telling yourself, as I did,

that it could not have been helped.

Tilly! She won`t wake.

Fetch Dr. Boland! Go!

Get a basin of cold water.

Please don`t take her away.

Please don`t take her away. Please.

She`s everything to us.

I have not been grateful.

Please don`t take her.

-She`s cold.

-Get some more blankets.

Mary.

Hold that.

-Tilly?

-l`m sorry to trouble you.

-No, no trouble at all. What is it?

-lt`s Mother.

We`ve sent for the doctor,

but he hasn`t come.

-The coach must have gotten stuck.

-Well, come in, my dear. Come in.

Scarlet fever, that`s what the boys had.

The carriage won`t go.

I`m going to have them try the sleigh.

Good heavens. Sit for a minute

and warm up. I`ll get you a cover.

-I must go back.

-Please.

Are you all right?

-Gideon...

-Don`t. Don`t talk about it.

I must talk about it.

Everything`s all upside down.

I was wrong to think of leaving.

I see that now.

I love you. And I love my family.

I was too forward.

-Do you love me?

-What do you think?

-lf we were married, how would we be?

-Tilly.

Could we live near my family,

see them as often as we like?

They`re family to me.

Yes.

My answer is yes.

-Put that back!

-lt`s Thanksgiving tomorrow.

-We can`t make a turkey.

-She won`t get better if we don`t.

-lt smells burnt.

-lt`s only been 10 minutes.

-We could check.

-No, that dries it out.

Who`s lived longer, you or l?

What`s happened?

-Where`s Mother?

-She`s in her room.

-ls she better?

-No, she`s not better.

-Where were you?

-The Hopkins`.

-The Hopkins`?

-That`s right.

Well, this is hardly the time.

It`s hardly the time

to roast a turkey, Prudence.

Don`t say a word about that turkey.

It`s the only good thing that`s happened

in months, and I won`t have you ruin it.

I forbid it! At least l`m doing something.

I suppose this means

I wasn`t doing anything...

Ever since I can remember

I`ve had to be sensible, reliable,

organized while you sleep late,

forget your chores, write sonnets.

-l`ve never written a sonnet in my life!

-lt doesn`t make a bit of difference, does it?

-You still end up with everything.

-That`s not true.

Father took you to the woods.

You and Gad. Where was l?

-You hate the woods.

-How would I know? I never got to go.

Pru.

What if she dies, too?

Chapter Eight. Thanksgiving.

Mother, such a tender soul.

Too soon to return to the earth.

I hate snow.

I left home in a blizzard. Remember?

Ever since l`ve been convinced

it would happen in winter.

Something I love would be taken from me.

You know when he died?

The first warm day in March.

The man who brought him home

said the thaw caused that old tree to fall.

Ellis always said

Iife`s purpose is greater

than our imagination.

I was wrong about him.

About everything.

Please forgive me.

The fever has broken.

It seems your mother will be fine.

Mother!

Is it true? Are you well?

-We`ve made the turkey.

-Yes.

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