What Margaret was Thankful For - 15 Minute Challenge – Thanksgiving
Word Count: 459
Time: 15 Minutes
Author's Note: Yeah, what I'm writing when I should be NaNoing!
Margaret Eppes loved Thanksgiving. She loved the crisp autumn air, the family gatherings, the time to think and reflect on all the good things that she had been granted in this life. Oh, yes, and the food.
However, she was fairly certain that she would not be cooking Thanksgiving dinner this year.
She wasn't even certain that she would be eating Thanksgiving dinner this year. However, she still needed to get the show on the road.
But she needed to sit down for a bit.
Fatigue was a common side effect of chemo therapy. However, she was determined to not let it get her down. She wanted to have a… nice? Wonderful? Happy? Thanksgiving Day with her family.
After all, this could be her last one.
Margaret shook her head. This wasn't a time to be negative, no matter how realistic that negative view might be. Besides, there was always the chance for remission.
She hoped.
She wasn't sure how she was going to fix Thanksgiving dinner, but she had to at least start the preparations.
"The Wednesday before Thanksgiving, really should have a special name," Margaret said. "Panic Wednesday, perhaps, as everybody tried to do their last minute food shopping and / or get to their holiday destination before it was time to leave for home."
"Good point," Charlie said. He hesitated. "So, what do we do first?" He plopped himself at the kitchen table and eyed her anxiously.
"You're helping me with Thanksgiving dinner, are you?" Margaret asked dryly.
Charlie blinked at her. "Well, yeah," he said. "I am the logical candidate. Dad and Don are both working full time. They don't have the luxury of taking today off."
"Your father is going to try to get off early," Margaret informed him.
Charlie nodded. "Yeah, I know," he said. "However, Don may not be able to get off today at all. And, since, I was clever enough to hold my mid-terms earlier in the week, I have today off. So I thought I would do the shopping for you. It's early enough, I might be able to get to the store before the mass of crowds."
Margaret's smirk made him frown.
"I said, 'might'," Charlie said defensively.
"Well, we'd better get started, then," Margaret said.
Charlie frowned worriedly. "Shouldn't you just give me a list?" he asked.
Margaret patted him on the hand. "Charlie, I'm feeling better today," she said. "I don't want to spend all day cooped up in the house."
"Oh," Charlie said.
"Besides, I always seem to leave something off the list and won't think of it until I see it in somebody else's shopping cart," she said lightly.
"Oh, OK," Charlie said. He paused. "But if you get tired, I'm not carrying you!"
