A Thankful Suggestion

Andy slipped out back of the restaurant to have a smoke and saw March drive up.

“What you doing here tonight?” it was Monday and Andy’s night to cook.

“I have a date with Jean, I thought to wait for her here…Andy what have you done about Thanksgiving?”

“Thanksgiving…nothing.”

“Well you know there are many Americans in this area and more in Coffs I see adds for a special dinner for Thursday.”

“Oh yeah, I hadn’t given it any thought to tell you the truth, what are you supposed to serve, turkey?”

March reached in his jacket pocket and pulled out a folded menu, “I pick this up from Kavanaughs.”

Andy took the menu and looked it over, “Looks easy enough.”

“You know you don’t get out of The Glen often enough, you should go around to different places and see what they are doing.”

“Like when am I gonna have time to shop around, who’s gonna do the laundry and vacuum the floors.”

“Is that what you do on your days off,” March grinned “Ah well lucky for you I do get out.”

“You don’t have a pregnant wife at home that insists on working the same hours she always did.”

“That is true, so do you think we should do it?”

“Yeah, why not offer it as a buffet and keep the regular menu for the locals.” Andy stamped out his cigarette.

“Ah you know I hate buffets…I can do it.”

“Want me to help, I can come in and do the buffet if you want.”

“If you don’t mind, if the laundry can wait a day…” he smiled.

“I should never have told you that, I’ll never hear the end of it. I’ll give Grossans a call tomorrow about a few turkeys. Guess I can pull the recipes off the net.”

“I would lend you my book but then all my secrets would be revealed.”

“What book is that?”

“The one I have been collecting recipes and menus in for the last ten years. I started it when I was in school in France.”

“Collecting eh, I thought all that came from your head…you’ve been cheating.”

“I have not, I get ideas but I use my own ingredients.”

“What time are you meeting Jean?”

“Um in about ten minutes, who’s minding the cooker?”

“Nina, she’s working two shifts all week, says she needs the money.”

“Hmm, she sober?”

“Yeah, has been for awhile.”

“Well I don’t mind then you know I threw her out of my kitchen for coming in drunk but if she wants to work, I will work her.”

“I gotta get back to work, thanks for the Thanksgiving idea, March.”

“Sure, Andy…if uh you need any help with the stuffing.”

Andy turned on the steps, “Stuffing?”