I Can't Imagine

I Can't Imagine

         I was excited to accept Jane’s invitation to Thanksgiving dinner hosted by her parents.  It was too far to travel to spend the holiday with my family and be able to be back to work on time.  Jane and I hadn’t known each other long and I was anxious to meet her family and not spend the holiday alone.  My mind went crazy imagining a golden brown turkey and a wide array of dishes waiting to entice me to over eat.  My mouth watered just thinking about it and I believed I could smell and almost taste the food that would be available.

         Jane and I arrived and walked into the house.  I didn't smell anything familiar in the air that I associated with Thanksgiving.  I offered to help Jane's mother in the kitchen out of curiosity, wanting to see what we were going to eat.  But, there was nothing for me to do.  The dinner table was nicely set with a lovely centerpiece made of a variety of fruit.  Around the table there were trays of sliced bread, a variety of cheese, vegetable trays and deviled eggs and a small platter of sliced meat.  I assumed these were the appetizers.  We sat down at the table and Jane’s father led a prayer giving thanks and expressing gratitude for the harvest of food placed before us.

         Jane’s mother beamed as she passed the plate of meat and trey of bread.  “We were lucky to find this food” she said, “considering the competition with scavengers is getting more difficult every day.”

         I took a few slices of meat and bread and passed it on to Jane.  “What do you mean?” I asked. 

         “So much food is wasted in our city.  People eat part of their meals and then throw out the rest.  The grocery stores and restaurants throw out perfectly good fruit and food.”

         “I suppose that’s true,” I said, helping myself to the cheese and veggies and a few more slices of meat.  The cheese and veggies were good, but the meat had a peculiar taste I couldn't place.

         “It’s amazing how much quality food you can find in the dumpsters after the stores and restaurants have closed.”  Jane’s father continued.  “We also have a problem with raccoons breaking into the trash cans and dumpsters and making a mess everywhere.

         That meat you just put on that slice of bread was raccoon I caught in a dumpster one night and brought home.  In fact everything you're eating this evening came from a dumpster somewhere in town.  Isn’t that something?”

         Yes, it was.

         “Would you care for some dessert?”


(373 Words)