�Who else is going to be there?� Sadie asked. Aggie told her. �You sure you want folks like us?�

�Sadie, if I didn�t I would not ask you. And I don�t want you all dressed up, just come normal like. Okay?� Sadie beamed and the little girls thought it great.

�What shall I bring?� Sadie asked.

�Yourself, Ceph, Bell and Star.� Then Aggie, asked, �Sadie you got time to walk up there and help me stake out some property boundaries?�

�You selling it , you selling my farm?� Sadie asked, most in jest.

�Yes selling it to some worthless durn couple with two little girls, yes Carl Batters will have it surveyed and appraised after we lay out Cephus�s place.� When they got back to Aggie�s, Joe had to go, so Aggie, Sadie Lou and the girls got some stakes and red ribbon and three hours later they had staked out about four or four and a half acres. Aggie could not believe how sharp Sadie Lou was and she had a couple ideas how she could let some of her smarts become profitable for them.

As they walked back down the road, Aggie and Sadie Lou chatted about what she wanted to do up there, �Aggie, if we get that place it will be the first place ever owned by anyone in my family in a long, long time.� Aggie laughed for she was thinking of the dinner.

A few days later Joe came over and they had lunch, and Joe helped Aggie move some stuff to the barn. Afterwards, Joe and Aggie sat down with a glass of wine in their hands and started to plan the menu, �Turkey of course, homemade dressing, light rolls, turkey gravy, cranberry sauce, pumpkin pie, pecan pie, pickles, well a relish tray, candied yams, green beans with almonds, candied carrots, fruit Jell-O with cranberries, apples, and the like.� Joe stopped,

�And I will bake the sweet taters,� Aggie said with gusto.

�Aw shucks ma�am, Ain�t you a fixin not turnips for Jeter Lester?� Sometimes Joe could be and was a clown for he loved that old movie, Tobacco Road.

Aggie laughed for Joe was like a little kid, anything he could think of or had heard of he wanted. �Aggie, What if we do it this way, I will buy all the food, and you and the others fix it, but I get to help and I will see to its transport.� Aggie shook her head for it was already fun and they had nearly a month to get it all prepared.

�What if we had a table for the children, there would be Jean and Paul, and Bell and Star?� Joe asked.

�No! We all will sit at the same table, one large table, for I remember that happening as a child and I felt left out, no every one will sit at the same table even if we have to eat in the barn.� Joe heard Aggie and knew that was not negotiable. �Don�t you remember the kids being shuffled off to the side or into another room? No siree.�

�Yes maam,� Joe said as he stood and saluted Aggie. She threw a dishtowel at him. �Mrs. W is bringing sweet potato and pumpkin pies, Mrs. Cranston is bringing candied yams, and a chess pie.� Joe was reading from his list.

�Mrs. Jenkins said she will make the stuffing and dressing and cook the turkeys,� Aggie said. �Joe how many turkeys do we need?�

They both laughed and Joe started to figure, �Large or small?�

�One should be the largest we can find that will fit in an oven and then say four smaller ones, which we will send home with others,� Aggie said, and you will get whatever Mrs. Jenkins needs for her?�

�Oh Sadie Lou says she has peach pickles, pear pickles, and sweet cucumber pickles, oh plus beet pickles.� Joe put in, then he looked at his list, �Lucy wants to do the green beans, and the cranberry nut Jell-O.� Joe and Aggie went back and forth and soon it was all figured out.

She laughed, �Joe, this is one of the old things I still use especially in the winter time.� She laughed again, �Do you know I have been offered twelve thousand dollars for that old stove?�

�Really?� Was all Joe could reply, but he was thinking twelve grand for an old cook stove. Wow.

Cephus and Sadie Lou came over after supper, �Just passing by Miz Lane, wanted to give you this money and Sadie has the paper work.� Cephus said and then he smiled, �That portable electric fence sure does work well, that one big old Billy with the broken horn, it had to bite him three times before he learned.� Aggie took the paper and opened it, stapled was the money in cash and the bill and receipt Sadie had made up. �Fine, how about after Thanksgiving, we sit down and work out some sort of arrangement about the place, and the goats, want to?�

Sadie and Ceph both smiled, �Yes Mrs. Lane, oh yes indeed.� Then Ceph put his hat on and said, �Better get home woman, nearly supper time and those two girls hard telling what they might do,� and they departed.

�See you next Thursday,� Sadie said as she took Ceph�s arm and they headed back home.

Aggie had reviewed her list a passel of times and each time she wondered what if? What if this one got sick, what if that one got sick and as a result she got all worried, and she just went to town and bought enough so that if someone did not come through she would be able to fix it right then. She even went so far as to buy two medium sized turkeys. �Mrs. Lane, did you know that we cater large meals, especially Thanksgiving?� The Deli Manager said to her. We provide good food at reasonable prices.

Aggie smiled, �Thank you Mister Smith, but this one is special for do you know how many years it has been since I could afford other than my normal sweet tater?�

�Mrs. Lane, yes I know it has been hard on you, but it seems the sun is shining your way again, you have your son and grandkids, and old Joe, plus your businesses seems to be going great.� He had always been friendly and nice, and over the years had managed to give her an extra bone or two with enough meat on it as to be stock for soup, and Aggie really liked him for as he was, his wife was even more so; nicer and more congenial even though they had seven children who had all done well and were prospering.

On Wednesday Aggie baked, made candy and did little things she had nearly or had really forgotten how to do, but as she listened to some good music and with Joe beside her, she remembered and the more she did the more she enjoyed and the more she wanted to do. �Woman, you ever going to stop?� Joe asked as Aggie finished making cookies.

�Here eat this and get your list out, so we can check it again,� Aggie said as she wiped a floured hand across Joe�s face. They kissed and oh did she feel good. They had been checking the weather and it said a ten percent chance of snow showers, but Aggie studied the sky and said, �Joe, it is going to come a big snow,� Then she looked sad.

About nine Joe started home and it was already snowing, Aggie�s heart fell into her socks. After Joe left she called JP, �Son, it is snowing and looks like it may ruin tomorrow, can you scare up some transportation so we can get everyone here tomorrow?�

There was a pause, �Mom, let me make a couple calls, I just had an idea, and between Lucy and I we will see everyone gets there, now lets go over the list and where each one lives.� Aggie went over the list and what each person was supposed to bring and then JP said, �OK mom, talk with you in the morning, you call the people and tell them if it snows too much I will pick them up and take them to your house OK?� Then he added, �Love you.�

Tears came to Aggie�s eyes.

Five AM Thursday morning, Thanksgiving morning and there was nearly two feet of snow on the ground. At six Joe showed up, he had chained all four wheels of his truck. Then about seven, Aggie heard something and looked out, there was Ceph and Sadie Lou shoveling the drive and a parking area. The two girls were running about and throwing snow on each other; a pretty sight.

About eight, Joe yelled to Aggie, �look out the window to the road,� and she did.

Sadie Lou grinned and said, �Well I played baseball till Ceph here put me to work. And Ceph was all smiles for he won the men�s throwing contest.

The children all got to shoot a BB gun while Jean and Paul were allowed to shoot with the adults. The day was chilly and not cold for the sun was bright and needless to say all had a little sunburn when they went inside for a late evening snack.

By five the roads were opened and Aggie had a time getting people to take stuff home with them. Finally four boxes were made up for some unfortunates and then Bill and Joe started taking people home. No one cared for a return ride in JP�s large monster truck, which he had borrowed. And by seven only Aggie and Joe remained, as they started the clean up.

It can be said that a real old fashioned Thanksgiving was had, and a good time was enjoyed by all; with fond memories of years gone by and of things long past forgotten relived and needless to say, a lot of soda water and pep to bismol was drunk that night.