Thomas’s Nightmare

A chorus of thank yous is heard over the clinking of silverware as Mom passes the mashed potatoes around the table. The stuffing comes next, the thank yous now thick and buttery from those who are already stuffing themselves. Grandpa looms over the turkey, carving fork and knife in hand. As he makes the first cut, the drumsticks waggle and the kind of muffled squawk that can only come through a sewn-closed neck hole startles the guests: “No thank you!” Grandpa cuts anyway, carving off huge chunks of meat, and the squawking doesn’t stop until the plate is almost full.