(The Glenridge Family: Travis, Toni, Jimmy, Sarah, Bill, Kyle, Tee, Michael, Josh and Tomalee)

Thanksgiving at Glenridge

Toni felt she had a lot to be thankful for this holiday and in her Aussie household she was the only one that celebrated that particular holiday. She sat at the kitchen table with Tomalee discussing the meal and the traditional food that would be served. She intended to invite Travis’s parents and Jimmy Kelp since he was the only other American on the station and one she knew would appreciate the turkey and dressing. Of course Tee was included and he was hanging over the back of a chair asking about particular dishes.

Travis and Kyle came in, just back from an overnight trip to Sydney for Travis to sign some papers related to some of the businesses he was involved in.

“We’re gonna have a turkey Uncle Travis.”

“A turkey, on a cattle farm?” he stopped to kiss Toni hello.

“We’re going to have Thanksgiving, darling,” she smiled up at him.

“That’s a Yank holiday,” he teased.

“Well there are a few of us around here, Tee included along with Jimmy.”

“As long as there’s good food involved I don’t care what we celebrate,” Kyle said pulling a soft drink from the fridge.

“How did your trip go, honey?”

“Made it there and back, nothing exciting in between,” Travis took a chair at the table and reached for a cookie.

“You gonna cook a big turkey?” Kyle asked leaning against the sink.

“I cook a turkey,” Tomalee replied, “but I don’t know about this stuffing.”

“I’ll make that,” Toni chewed the end of her pen, “oh pumpkin pie,” she began scribbling.

“I can eat that,” Tee grinned and reached for another cookie catching a frown from Tomalee.

“How many you have already?” she wanted to know.

“So this is gonna be a big dinner am I right? Who have you invited?” Travis asked.

“Just family, our Glenridge family.”

“Josh and Ian too?”

“Ian can’t come but Josh said if it was free he and his wife would be here.”

Travis grinned, “I ought to make the bushwacker pay for it, tell him he has to buy a ticket.”

“Travis I didn’t even ask you if this was okay…I hope…”

“Toni you don’t have to ask me to do anything, honey. This is your house as much as it is mine.”

“She make it hers, she got a housekeeper comin’” Tomalee raised her brows and nodded her head.

“Well, he had the best references of all and Tomalee liked him.”

“Him?”

“Yes, a him. He’s from Singapore and he’s called Lee.” Toni answered.

“He’s not much bigger than me,” Tee said having his hand smacked on the way to the cookie plate by Tomalee.

“He not much bigger but I think he can do some work, he straighten you out little man.” Tomalee looked up at Tee.

“That’s good news, I’m glad you finally got around to it, honey. I think it’s good to go ahead and get somebody in here before the baby comes. Anybody been up to the butcher shop lately?”

“No not since I was there with you.” Toni answered.

“Dad needs to get busy on knocking that wall down if he still insists on doing the work.”

“Okay, I got my list made and I’m going shopping anybody want to come along?” Silence around the table.

“I can go with you.” Tee volunteered. He and Toni got in Travis’s SUV and headed out.

Toni put the last touches on the dining room table, all four leaves had been added and chairs brought in from the kitchen to accommodate everyone. She lit the candles and went back to the kitchen to help get everything dished up.

Travis and the men were out on the front veranda talking and smoking cigarettes and cigars, Nell Walker and Josh’s wife Mary were in the garden swing.

Soon Toni, Sarah and Tomalee pronounced it done and Tomalee went to the back door and rang the dinner bell.

Travis took his place by Toni, “I must say I am impressed,” he kissed her cheek and smiled at Toni’s happy face as she watched every one find a seat.

Josh in his Sunday clothes without a hat, his wife Mary with her dark curls bouncing around her face. Josh wasn’t used to eating in the dining room, he and Ian and Jimmy took their meals in the kitchen during the day.

Jimmy nudged Nell, “That’s what I was tellin’ you about, we’re in for some good eatin’ here today.

Toni had something she wanted to say.

“This is what we call Thanksgiving in America, it’s a time for family and friends to gather and give thanks for the good things that have come their way. I have a lot to be thankful for this year, I have a whole new family,” She felt Travis take her hand. “I count all of you as family because we all live and work here together,” she stopped hearing the front door open and all heads turned to the door to the dining room and her father walked in.

“You made it,” she broke away and gave him a hug.

“I wouldn’t have missed it for the world,” Michael Stanley kissed his daughter and found his place at the table.

“Now that we are ALL here,” she smiled at her father, “I want to ask God to bless all of us as we give thanks for this meal and the company we share it with.”

“Amen to that,” Jimmy said nodding in agreement.

“I’ll drink to that,” Travis picked up his glass and they all did the same, “I’d like to add that the biggest blessing I could ever hope for is right here beside me. Let’s eat.”