Rehearsals were underway for “The Sands Playmates.” Our choreographer Ron Lewis, announced, “Attention, you all have Thanksgiving Day off and rehearsals will resume at 10 am on Friday!”
Everyone started shouting, “Thank You!” I was in shock. I never had a holiday off during my fifteen years of professional dancing.
My mind was focused on the dinner party I always dreamed of hosting. Ron started laughing. He said, “Everyone get out of here. I cannot stand to watch all your mistakes. Go home.”
I went to the store and bought the largest turkey they had, thirty-three pounds. The label read, “Allow one pound per person. So, I invited thirty-three friends.
The turkey had been in the refrigerator for two days. When I washed it, the clamp on the tummy would not budge. Nonetheless, I put the turkey in the oven at midnight. When it was done, the clamp came out easily.
Everyone arrived bringing gifts of wine, pies, and hugs. The turkey was picture-perfect. Bobbie volunteered to carve the large bird at the table.
When he pressed the carving knife down onto the breast, the legs opened up, and something shot out of the turkey, flying through the air and landing at the other end of the long table.
Carol shouted, “You cooked it with the bag in it?” I replied, “I did not put a bag in there! I never could get its legs apart!”
Trish shouted, “She cooked it with the bag full. Everyone was howling with laughter.
I did not know what to say. I removed the evidence from the table.
I remembered the cranberries were still in the refrigerator. When I removed them, the idea to add Cognac and light them on fire seemed elegant. I added the whole bottle of Cognac, but the cranberries would not light. Don said, “Pass the cranberries; they will be scrumptious.”
Marilyn stood up, raising her glass of wine, with a toast, “My compliments to the chef
for a delicious Thanksgiving dinner with the memorable flying bag.”
We all laughed again and continued enjoying our meal with wine and sharing stories.
