The Thanksgiving Turkey

“Oh, Mary, I’m so glad you came early. I have so much to do to get ready for our Thanksgiving meal today,” said Mrs. Jankowski as her daughter entered the back door.

“Yeah, I knew you’d need some help, Ma,” said Mary. “Where do you want me to start?”

“Oh, you can start getting the turkey ready for the oven. I hope we got enough time to get it finished.” Mrs. Jankowski said.

“Oh, we got time,” answered Mary getting the turkey out of the fridge.

Placing it on the counter, she cut off the plastic wrapping and began to get the pan ready for the turkey while Mrs. Jankowski stirred her pumpkin pie batter.

“Ma!” said Mary, “I think there’s something wrong with this turkey!”

“What do you mean?” asked Mrs. Jankowski, continuing to work on the pie batter, “I got that from Mr. Mazaroski down at the Kroger. He’s such a nice man; I think he likes me because he’s been adding a little extra meat to my hamburger order since your father passed away. Why do you think it’s bad?”

“Well, turkeys don’t have claws, do they?” asked Mary as Mrs. Jankowski joined her at the counter.

“Oh, look at that nice plump breast,” said Mrs. Jankowski patting the turkey breast, “It’s a butterball, one of the best. Just inject it with the seasoning and it’ll be fine.”

“Well, OK,” said Mary starting to puncture the turkey breast with the hypodermic needle.

There was a loud sound and suddenly the turkey shot off the counter and onto the floor. Mary grabbed a large cast iron skillet and struck it with all her strength, flattening it against the floor.

“Well, Ma, I think we are going to have to get another.”

“Goodness,” said Mrs. Jankowski looking at the flattened turkey. “I’d better hurry down to the Kroger.”

“Are they open? This is Thanksgiving day!” said Mary.

“Oh, yes, they’re open. People are coming in to get their cooked turkeys this morning, but he will close at noon, so I'd better go now,” she said taking off her apron and gathering up the remains of the turkey.

Mrs. Jankowski hurried out the door and getting in her car, drove the short distance to the Kroger Grocery. As she entered the meat market area, Mr. Mazaroski saw her and greeted her in his usual friendly manner.

“Hello, Mrs. Jankowski, I am surprised to see you. I though you would be home cooking all that good food you are so famous for.”

“Oh, Mr. Mazaroski, you make me blush. But I have a problem with the turkey I bought.”

“A problem?” he remarked, “I am sorry, what is the problem.”

“Well, it’s this turkey,” she said pulling the flattened bird from her bag,”

“Ummm, that is bad. Looks like he was run over by a steam roller,” he observed.

“Well, my daughter did hit it with a skillet, but look, Claws!” she said pointing to the claws.

“You’re right! I wonder how that happened. This was one that was shipped sealed. Well, I’m going to send it back and demand an explanation,” he asserted.

“Do you have another Butterball, Mr. Mazaroski?” she inquired hoping.

“No, those are all sold out, but I have something better,” he said with his eyes flashing. “I have an extra fried turkey that I just pulled out of the cooker and you can have it. Have you ever eaten a fried turkey?”

“No, I never have. Is it like fried chicken, cause my family kinda likes to carve a turkey.”

“Oh, no, it’s just like a baked one, all together and golden brown. You are going to like it! Look, here is one,” he said pointing to a turkey sitting on the table.

“Oh, that looks just like a baked one. Uh, how much more does that one cost?” she asked.

“For you and all your troubles with that first turkey, it cost the same thing. No extra charge,” he said grinning.

“Can you afford to give it to me without charging extra? I don’t want to take advantage of you. Can’t I pay you something?”

“No, no, no. I won’t hear of it. I want you and your family to enjoy a good thanksgiving with a good turkey. I’m going to put it in an insulated bag so it’ll be just right by the time you have your dinner.”

“Well, thank you, Mr. Mazaroski. This will be a wonderful Thanksgiving day for my family,” she said beaming.

She turned to leave the store, but after a few steps, stopped and said, “Mr. Mazaroski, what are you going to do for Thanksgiving?”

“Oh, I’ll close the store about 12 or 1:00, then I’ll go home and watch some football and have some turkey and dressing from the store here.”

“It’s not good for a person to celebrate Thanksgiving alone. I want you to come to my house and have Thanksgiving dinner with my family. We will expect you at 3 pm.”

“Mrs. Jankowski, are you sure? I don’t want to interfere in your family’s celebration…I”

“I won’t hear another word,” said cutting him off. “You be at my house at 3.” And she turned and left the store with her turkey.

When she arrived home, she showed Mary the nice fried turkey and told about inviting Mr. Mazaroski for dinner.

“Ma,” said Mary, “I think you kinda like Mr. Mazaroski, don’t you?”

“Well, he is a very nice man and he makes good money in that store.”

“You think you two might, uh, you know, have a date?” Mary asked.

“Oh, I don’t know, she said blushing. “You’re father’s only been gone for 18 months. I don’t know if it’s proper. Uh, what would you kids think if I did have a date?”

“Aw, Ma, it don’t matter what we think. The important thing is what do you think? Do you really like Mr. Mazaroski?”

“Well, he’s a very nice man. Your father and I would see him at some of the community dances and he’s a very good dancer. And he has a very good business, but I think Mabel Swartz has her eye on him, and I...”

“Ma, you can out dance and out cook Mabel, plus you’re younger and better looking. I say if you like Mr. Mazaroski, get him in your sights and go for it.”

“Heh heh heh,” Mrs. Jankowski chuckled. “I once took Dan Mizelli away from Mabel when we were in the 4th grade. I wonder if she remembers that?”

“See, you already beat her. Anyway, who cares if she remembers or not, all is fair in love and war, Ma. So turn the charm on Mr. Mazaroski.”

Mrs. Jankowski thought about their conversation and the possibilities all morning as the cooked and prepared the meal. She put an extra effort in the preparation because she wanted everything to be perfect.

At noon, her two sons and their families arrived, as did Mary’s husband, and the guys gathered around the TV to watch whatever football game was on. Soon Mary slipped away from the kitchen and huddled with her brothers in the living room.

“Guess what?” she asked.

“What?” both her brothers said in unison.

“Ma’s got a boyfriend!”

“What!” they both said in unison.

"Who is this guy trying to move in on Ma?" asked Joe.

"Nobody's making a move on Ma; she's making a move on him," said Mary and then filled them in on the happenings and conversation that had occurred that morning. They were amused by the events and agreed with Mary that their mother needed companionship with someone her age.

About 2:00 Mrs. Jankowski slipped away and bathed, fixed her hair and put on one of her best dresses. By 3:00, she was stunningly dressed and sitting near the front door when right on the minute, the doorbell rang.

“I’ll get it,” she sang out going to the door and opening it.

“Oh, Mr. Mazaroski, I am so glad you could come,” she said opening the door to the well-dressed man. “You look handsome. That suit is perfect for you, do come in.”

“What a beautiful dress," he said. "You're as pretty as a vacation postcard, Mrs. Jankowski."

“This old thing? I just threw it on this morning,” she said, "And call me Shirley."

“Only if you will call me, Fred,” he responded in kind.

“Well, Fred it is. Come meet my family.”

They had a wonderful dinner, the best Shirley had had since her husband had died. The kids enjoyed Fred’s company and the boys discussed football and the possibilities for the playoffs and Superbowl. Fred turned out to be quite knowledgeable about sports, especially the NFL.

After the meal was completed, everyone headed back to the football game, that is all except Shirley and Fred, who enjoyed a cup of after dinner coffee at the table.

“Hey, Fred,” Joe called, “They tied it up. Better come on or you’re going to miss overtime.”

“You guys enjoy, I think I’ll sit with Shirley for a while,” he answered.

After a while, they walked into the living room and Shirley said, “Fred and I are going for a drive out by the lakefront. We won’t be long.”

Joe, Shirley's oldest stood up and met the couple at the door as they were donning coats to leave and said, “Now, Fred, we’ve only known you for a short time, but as the oldest man in the house I must ask, "what are your intentions with my mother?”

“Joe, they are entirely honorable. You have a wonderful mother,” and winking back said, “You may not always be the oldest man of the house.”

As they walked down the sidewalk to Fred’s Lincoln, Shirley was positively glowing.