'Pirates of the Caribbean' belongs to Disney.

----

"I appreciate your taking the trouble, Jack, but this really wasn't necessary."

"Of course it was! If yer going to hold United States citizenship- even dual citizenship- it's required that you make some observation of Thanksgiving. A national feast-day instituted by Abraham Lincoln hisself!"

"I suppose you gave him that idea."

"Alas, no. Our discussions generally centered around military stratagems, seein' how we were conductin' a war. But this is hardly the time or place to dwell on such unpleasantries, eh?"

"I suppose not... You know, the way you're ogling that table suggests you've prepared this repast for your own delectation, as much as mine."

"I'll freely admit to a partiality fer stuffed turkey accompanied by gravy, hot rolls an' stewed cranberries. Which shouldn't undercut yer own enjoyment of it."

"I'm sure it won't. You do realize, there's considerably more here than we can hope to eat at one sitting."

"That's as should be- feedin' on leftovers fer days afterwards is part of the tradition! But before we start, we should observe the pre-meal ritual of listing things to be thankful for."

"Does this recitation follow any specific format?"

"We jus' describe those events, situations or persons which've inspired personal gratitude over the past year. As the initiate, you're welcome ta take the first turn."

"All right. To start with the obvious; I'm grateful to have recovered from an injury which, under any normal circumstances, would have been lethal. I'm grateful that my recent application to the United States Coast Guard Academy has been accepted. I'm grateful for my ongoing correspondence with the delightfully articulate Miss Meredith Chaucer, and the enjoyable excursions which have supplied me with subject matter. I'm grateful I've been able to experience the music of Wolfgang Mozart, Aleksandr Borodin and Scott Joplin; the writings of Herman Melville, P.G. Wodehouse and Iris Murdoch; and the abundant varieties of eating-chocolate. I also owe thanks to the authors of the 'Dummies' instructional books, despite the off-putting title. And to the people who maintain the Google search engine."

"Anybody else?"

"Sorry, Jack- that's everyone I can think of offhand. Your turn, now."

"Humph. Well, I'm grateful my financial portfolio is sufficiently diverse ta weather a storm or two. I'm grateful this year's hurricane season was no worse 'en the average; that keeps down the property-insurance premiums. On a related topic, I'm grateful fer the unsatiated market for Cohiba cigars, an' my CPA's special bookkeepin' skills. I'm grateful I encountered that marvelously talented lass in Miami: Sally... or Sarah. Whichever! Also glad fer the continuing productivity of the Appleton Estate. Lastly, I'm grateful fer the recovery an' companionship of a certain honorable an' trustworthy former Commodore, even though he can be an insufferable, stuffy, stick-up-arse Naval prig."

"Oh, thank you very much!"

"Ah, that's much more better, James!"

"Fine. Can we eat now?"

"That is why we're gathered here. Enjoy your Thanksgiving, Mr. Norrington!"

(And the same to everyone else.)

----

FINIS

----

The Appleton Estate is a sugar plantation and distillery, located in Jamaica, which has been manufacturing rum since 1749.

Cohiba cigars are a premium brand, produced in Cuba. These command a very high black-market price, since American citizens can not legally buy them.

-

This is the closing excerpt from a 1863 Proclamation of President Abraham Lincoln:

"It has seemed to me fit and proper that (our country's blessings) should be solemnly, reverently and gratefully acknowledged as with one heart and voice by the whole American people. I do therefore invite my fellow citizens in every part of the United States, and also those who are at sea and those who are sojourning in foreign lands, to set apart and observe the last Thursday of November next, as a day of Thanksgiving and Praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the Heavens. And I recommend to them that while offering up the ascriptions justly due to Him for such singular deliverances and blessings, they do also, with humble penitence for our national perverseness and disobedience, commend to his tender care all those who have become widows, orphans, mourners or sufferers in the lamentable civil strife in which we are unavoidably engaged, and fervently implore the interposition of the Almighty Hand to heal the wounds of the nation and to restore it as soon as may be consistent with the Divine purposes to the full enjoyment of peace, harmony, tranquility and Union.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand, and caused the seal of the United States to be affixed.

Abraham Lincoln

Done at the city of Washington, this third day of October, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty-three, and of the independence of the United States the eighty-eighth."