A/N: Hello! I thought it would be nice to have a little something up for Thanksgiving! I know that its super short, but I thought it would be cute and meaningful. Enjoy!

Just to let you know, the random dates that are above the notes are just the days when the crew wrote them. The crew had already been writing the notes since the beginning of the year, so they have randomly pulled a few from previous months, not just November. I thought I would clear that up in case anyone gets confused.

Don't forget to leave a review. Everyone have a Happy Thanksgiving!

Disclaimer: I do not own Star Trek...


The Thankful Box


For the past three years, the crew of the USS Enterprise has a tradition that they do every Thanksgiving. For three hundred sixty-five days of the year, Captain James Tiberius Kirk and six of his close crewmates write on a small piece of paper and insert it into a festive holiday box.

The paper contains a few sentences or so, explaining what the crew member is thankful for. Beginning the week before Thanksgiving, one of the thankful messages is taken from the box and read aloud each day before the great holiday of thanks. In the end, seven notes are taken from the box.

During the tradition, Pavel Chekov, Commander Spock, Hikaru Sulu, Nyota Uhura, Leonard McCoy, Montgomery Scott, and Captain Kirk each take a turn selecting a paper at the dinner table.

The man who started the custom had been none-other than Admiral Christopher Pike. He was over-seeing the Enterprise one day and had noticed that the crew was not getting along. The Admiral came up with the idea of the seven members to write down one thing they were thankful for each day of the year in order to learn how to be grateful for one another.

His idea had worked, and in fact, it was such a success that the crew wanted to do it again and again. Writing about their blessings has kept the USS Enterprise on an encouraging and helpful behavior. Originally, the box is to be opened up on New Year's Day, but Captain Kirk had decided that Thanksgiving would be a more appropriate time to announce some of the messages. Still, the crew continues to write down their thanks in the box when Thanksgiving is going on, and they reveal the rest of the notes on January 1st.

The Thursday before the feast, Kirk shakes the beautifully decorated box that is covered in hand painted leaves, pumpkins, and cornucopias in delight. "Let's get started!" he exclaims.

The notes can contain anything. There can be meaningful, humorous, sarcastic, or heartbreaking thankful messages. There have even been times where there have been angry and insulting notes of thanks. The crew is required to write at least one thing they are glad for, even if they have experienced an awful day.

One example is the note that was chosen last year. It had been written on the day Dr. McCoy had almost been killed by a phaser that malfunctioned. The surgeon explained on the paper that he was thankful that one else had been hurt (besides himself) after revealing how he wanted to murder the red shirt that had forgotten to put the weapon on stun.

Not every officer has one of their notes selected from the random drawing. Last year, everyone had their papers chosen except for Scotty and Sulu. Hopefully every crew member has their thankful message read out loud this Thanksgiving. If they aren't, the crewmates will have to wait until the New Year to finish reading all of the notes.

The tension hangs in the air as Pavel Chekov reaches inside the box and pulls out the first note of the week.


Day One:

Kirk's Note

May 18th

I'm thankful I have such great hair.


Day Two:

Uhura's Note

January 21st

I'm thankful that I speak multiple languages because then Captain Kirk doesn't know what I'm saying about him.


Day Three:

Chekov's Note

August 15th

I am thankful for being able to solve quantum physics at the young age of seventeen.


Day Four:

Dr. McCoy's Note:

March 22nd

Today I'm glad that everyone called me a doctor. I wasn't once named a farmer, a cowboy, or a dang dog expert!


Day Five:

Scotty's Note:

October 12th

I'm very blessed for the existence of E = Mc2…


Day Six:

Sulu's Note:

June 30th

I'm thankful for my new fencing sword. Because of it, I won 1st place in the Enterprise Tournament.


Day Seven:

Kirk's Note:

September 5th

I am thankful for the USS Enterprise and the wonderful crew that is inside of it. I am thankful for the closeness we all share and the time we spend together. May it last forever and go where no crew has gone before.


Spock finishes reading the thankful message and looks at the surroundings of cooked turkey, tart cranberry sauce, and fluffy marshmallows covering the sweet potatoes. He places the note on the table. "Those were very pleasant words, captain." He says.

Kirk smiles, "Why thank you, Commander. I meant them with all my heart back in September."

The Vulcan nods back. "Since my notes were not present this Thanksgiving, would you mind if I add something to your last note, Jim?" he asks.

Kirk considers the question. "Go ahead, Spock." He encourages.

Spock looks to all of his comrades and speaks. "I am also grateful for everyone on this vessel and I wish for this magnificent crew to live long and prosper." He announces.

Everyone grins at the words. They are very touching and no one can argue with the officer's wishes.

Jim Kirk rubs his hands together in anticipation. "Well, what are we waiting for? Let's dig in!"

With that, the crew of the USS Enterprise begins to feast on the delectable turkey. They are very thankful for such a wonderful meal.


The End


A/N: There you go! Hope you liked it. I also enjoyed writing this in present tense. I have been really excited for the new Hunger Games movie, and I just finished re-reading Catching Fire today. I am now ready for the movie! I think I have all of Suzanne Collin's writing style stuck in my head, so I think that is why I chose to do the one-shot in present tense...

Anyway, thanks for reading and even clicking on this story, it means the world to me!

Catch you later!