The Malones Thanksgiving 1993

Chapter 1

November 1993

"Oh Sam, I love this house so much, it's perfect for us. Thank God Margaret was here to help us get moved in and settled. What would we ever do without her"?

"No kidding. She's really a take charge person, isn't she? I'm just glad the previous owners weren't here when we moved in. Remember what happened with the last house we bought together"?

Diane laughed at the memory and said, "I really was a little nutty wasn't I? But it worked out for us."

"Yes, you were a little nutty but that's one of the things I loved about you and still do."

"Oh Sam, I'm not still nutty, am I?"

"Well, a little. What was it that Frasier called you? Bonkers? That's more like it," Sam said as he laughed.

Diane lightly punched his arm and said, "You dork."

Sam and Diane had purchased a house in the quiet Chestnut Hill area of Boston, about ten minutes west of downtown Boston. The house was lovely but they were most attracted to the things they saw surrounding the house when they looked at it. They saw tricycles in driveways, strollers on porches, a school one block away, girls were outside jumping rope and boys were out playing strike-out against their porch steps. Sam didn't even care about negotiating a deal with the realtor when he saw the basketball hoop attached to the garage with an ample cement court below. He also noticed a garden and liked that too. Sam had always said he wanted to grow old like 'The Godfather' and do nothing but tend to his roses.

Over coffee the following morning Diane said to Sam;

"Sam, are we going to the cabin for Thanksgiving? If not, I have another idea."

"The day after Thanksgiving is a busy day at the bar so we probably won't be able to go to the cabin. What's your idea or should I be afraid to ask?"

"I was just thinking. Wouldn't it be nice if we opened Cheers for the day and provided free meals to anyone who might be alone on Thanksgiving. I'm not just thinking about homeless people, I'm thinking about lonely people, rich or poor, anyone really, who wants to come. We could get a caterer to cook the meal and serve it there. It's just that we've been so lucky, I think it's time we gave back a little. Don't you?"

"Diane, Thanksgiving is only two weeks away. I don't think we could pull it together that quickly."

"Maybe you're right but you will think about it, won't you?"

"Diane, this might be a 'bonkers' moment right here." Sam laughed and kissed her goodbye, saying, "I will think about it. We'll talk tonight. Okay?"

"You really are 'bonkers' Diane but I love that about you," Sam yelled just before getting in the car to go to Cheers.

"Hey you guys, wait until you see the basketball hoop I have hanging on my garage. Good times ahead for us that's for sure."

"How about we come to your house this Thanksgiving Sam," said Carla, "We could have another food fight like we did that one Thanksgiving. One of the most fun Thanksgivings I've ever had."

"Oh God, Diane would kill me if we threw food all over the house even though she still laughs about that day too. Actually, Diane came up with another idea that I've promised her I'd think about. I kind of like the idea but don't know if it would work. It's kind of late to be thinking about it."

"What egg-head idea did she come up with this time Sam. Does she want us to eat Turkey Italiano with tofu dressing then go to the opera?" said Carla.

Sam laughed and said, "No she thinks we should open Cheers that day and serve free meals to everyone. Her idea is that anyone; homeless, rich, poor, lonely be invited to eat together. She thinks we should contact a caterer to prepare the food. Anyone willing to help if we do it?"

"Sammy, I think even Vera would be willing to come and help. I think it's a great idea. The beers taps will be fully operational that day won't they?" said Norm.

"I'm in," said Cliff.

"Put me in too Sam and my kids will help. It's about time they did something for someone else. I like the idea." said Carla.

"Woody, how about you and Kelly? I know you have a baby and it might be harder for you to get away."

"We're supposed to go to her parent's house that day so I'll send her there and come here to help. I'll use any excuse to get out of seeing her parents. This is a perfect one."

"And I know Margaret will help," said Sam, "I'll tell you what, I'm going to see if I can round up a caterer. If I can, let's meet tomorrow night to do some planning. I'll tell Diane and Margaret."

Sam called Diane at her school office. "Let's go out to dinner tonight."

"That sounds wonderful Sam, I don't really feel like cooking tonight. Where should we go?"

"There is a great restaurant that I haven't been to in a while and I'd like to take you there. You'll like it, it's very upscale."

"You have something up your sleeve Sam, I know you do."

"Can't I just take my beautiful wife out and treat her to a fine meal?"

"Oh okay, I'll just wait and see what you're up to but I know you're up to something."

Entering the restaurant, Diane and Sam were met by the maître d who was happy to see him back. He showed them to his finest table. Sam asked the maître d to tell the head chef that he was here. The chef came out of the kitchen and warmly hugged Sam.

"I'd like you to meet my wife Diane," said Sam

"Ah, la belle femme," said the chef as he kissed Diane's hand,

" J m'appelle Pierre."

"Save it Pete, she speaks French," Sam said as he laughed. Pete laughed too.

"Diane, Pete likes to pretend he's French because he went to chef's school in France but he's as East Coast as I am only with a Boston accent."

Pete looked at Sam and said, "Sam, is this the one?" Sam shook his head yes and Pete said, "See I told you she'd come back to you and you doubted me. I told you, in matters of the heart, I know these things. I'm so happy for you both."

"Diane, Sam came into the restaurant many times for many years all alone. We sat and talked for hours and he always talked about you. I don't think he had anyone else he could talk to about you. Sometimes it's safer to tell strangers things, isn't it?"

"Pete, be careful, now that Diane is pregnant she cries easily and she might start again. Besides, I'm here to talk business and to see if you and Rick would be interested in an idea that Diane had this morning."

Sam went on to explain Diane's idea about serving meals to others on Thanksgiving Day and wondered if Pete would be willing to prepare the food for the day. Sam told him he'd pay him. The restaurant that Pete worked for was closed for Thanksgiving as was the restaurant where Rick, also a master chef, worked.

"I'd love to do something like that Sam and I know Rick would too, although I'll pretend to ask him. You certainly will not pay me to donate my time. All I would ask for is the cost of the food and maybe a couple of glasses of your best wine."

"Thank you Pete, I think this is going to work out. I'm having a meeting at the bar tomorrow night to discuss it if you can make it."

"Sorry Sam, have to work but I'll call you." Pete turned to Diane and lifted her hand kissing it again, "Enchante belle femme."

Diane leaned over, kissed Sam, and gently placed her hand over his, squeezing it.

"Sam, you are the dearest person I know. Who else would follow through with one of my 'bonkers' ideas? Most people just roll their eyes."

"Their loss then sweetheart, their loss."