Kids Table

If you ever notice on a thanksgiving there is always a kids table perched at the end of the adults table. This is a story of me and my experiences being a member of the kid’s table on one of the best thanksgivings ever. A Reynolds family thanksgiving isn’t family related at all. Actually quite the opposite, friends of friends and family of friends all come to this wondrous affair. It was a crisp and sunny thanksgiving morning. I came down in my Thursday best or in other words my underpants and my 2 dollar old navy to-shirt. I was sitting downstairs drawing turkeys with the outside rim of my rather small and scrawny hand. They would become table decorations for the festivities later in the day. With the smell of freshly baked pumpkin pie and marinated turkey cooking in the oven the house was full of tremendously amazing aromas. Horns bells and drums were flying out of our 1987 TV set a one from an infomercial proclaiming “It was the Best”; no doubt everyone was watching the Macys day parade. It was hosted by the anchors of the NBC morning show the today show. I knew all of their names and backgrounds.

Once the attendees arrived the festivities began. One by one the people with completely empty stomachs arrived at the door. Our thanksgiving is a usual come in and eat while we cook and clean for you party’s. No different for the 12 years we have lived here. Everybody was finally here; the table was set and my turkey table decorators were sitting on top of the beige table cloth and white flowers sitting under my turkeys. I took my final spot at the kids table down at the end. I was trying to hear all the different conversations going on to catch up on my friends and families goings and comings. The faint sound of John Caltrans “Blue Train” was playing in the outskirts of all the chatter.

The turkey arrived, we cleared off our table poppers (the kind with the little paper crowns in them) I was the only person at my table who had the courage to eat the turkey, don’t do it Noah they said, it’s too dangerous. I told them that if I can draw the turkeys sitting of the table I can eat one. That was my first turkey and to this day I have never taken a bite of turkey again. So I moved on to the mash potatoes, the soft and creamy potatoes melt easily in my mouth with the addition of butter and pepper. Up and down the people were going to the buffet coming and going with each course. My head was buried in the red handkerchief type napkin I was holding. “Noah it’s rude to lay down at the table,” be quiet mom I’m sleeping, I commanded her. I eventually made my way under the table hiding there with my friends.

While I was still halfway asleep the others were talking and talking as if they were shouting all across the room. My sister and her many friends were the loudest. All I needed now was a cup full of antacids and an Advil. To be honest I really like the party, friends and family filling our house making each other happy.

NOAH