Thanksgiving Table Prep

In honor of Thanksgiving Tuesday Tales is doing a picture prompt for the holiday. Enjoy, and have a Happy Thanksgiving.

The house smelled marvelous as the aroma from the roasting turkey and stuffing permeated the air. Ellie walked into the dining room. The shine on her mother’s good china gleamed back at her as sunlight streaming in from the window hit it.

“The table’s all set, Mom.”

“It looks beautiful, Jessie. You did a great job.”

Ellie was determined to make this the best Thanksgiving, and since it was the first holiday the family would spend without their beloved mother, she didn’t want any unnecessary carrying on. She smiled to herself as she reached in her sweater pocket and pulled out her solution.

“And we'll have a peaceful meal. I made up place cards, the seating arrangement helps when trying to keep the peace.”

“Are you sure that’s going to work?”

“Sure it will." She placed her card at the head of the of the table and Jessie’s to her right. The next card was Lydia’s, her ally and younger sister. She put the card at the left of her seat. The next card was Jane, her nemesis and oldest sister. She put the card at the far end of the table, and Jane’s husband Ted, next to her at foot of the table. The next cards were her brother, Phil, his wife, and their cousins Gina and Eddie who were both single. Since they were neutral, she sat them in the middle of the table to help absorb any shockwaves from the opposite end. Ellie stepped back and looked at the table. She picked up Eddie's card and switched it with Phil. No that's not right. She walked around the table shaking her head and switching place cards.

When Ellie was finished, Jessie walked around the table and noticed Aunt Jane was sitting next to her mother.  

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