Previous Challenge Entry (Level 4 – Masters)
Topic: COUNT (01/27/22)
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TITLE: Sunday Dinner | Previous Challenge Entry
By Yvonne Blake
02/03/22 -
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I pondered my lifted fingers. “That’s nineteen. We’ll have to put three kids on the bench and set up another table for the bigger ones.”
Yes, it was a lot of work and preparation, but it was worth it. By the time everyone arrived after church, there would be a mountain of boots by the door, laughter in the living room, and savory roasts carved on a ceramic platter. Tables would be decked with tablecloths, rows of plates, cloth napkins, and glass water pitchers. Bowls of steaming vegetables and baskets of sliced bread filled any remaining spaces.
When the food was ready, everyone would squeeze into a spot - a mismatched chair, bench, tall stool, folding chair, or high chair. A hush would settle over the family as hand was placed in hand and heads bowed. Following the “Amen,” the air would fill again with clatter of serving spoons, requests for favorite foods (or denials of others). As always, there would be the exclamation over a spilled glass and the hurried gathering of napkins to catch the runaway stream. Little ones would be encouraged to eat a few more bites before having dessert.
Within a half hour, everyone would scatter either back to the living room or outside to play. Some would go home for naps. Some would offer to help with the dishes as we cleared the tables, but I shooed them away. It was a time to sit and chat, share stories and memories, watch a ball game, or play a game. It was a time to let the grandchildren build their own memories.
Placing a stack of dishes down, I counted again. “Nineteen! I think we need a bigger house.”
Jon wrapped his arms around me and whispered, “That’s what we get for having so many kids.” He ended with a kiss. “We’ll be fine. There’s always room somehow.” He disappeared, and I heard him thumping about on the back porch. Soon he emerged with our folding table for the older grandchildren. “If this snow continues, there may not be a church service.”
He opened the legs of the table and set it upright just as the phone rang. I paused to listen as Jon answered it. “Oh, hi, Ann… oh, no!... I hope he feels better soon… Yes, we understand… We’ll miss you at dinner.” Turning to me, he explained. “Little Jimmy has a stomach bug. They won’t be able to come.”
“Oh, that’s too bad.” I put away five dishes. “That leaves fourteen of us. That gives more room at the table. We probably won’t need the folding table after all.”
Jon sighed as he folded it back up, then bundled up with coat, hat, boots and gloves to shovel the pathway and brush the snow from the car. As I peeled potatoes, I watched the swirling snow drift back onto the path behind him. The weather didn’t look so good. There was a good possibility that the roads would be too slippery for travel. Sure enough, the phone rang and delivered the announcement that services were canceled. I passed on the news to Ben and Carl and subtracted in my head. Fourteen take away five - Nine. Take away three more - Six.
I began to punch in the numbers to call Lisa, who lived farthest away on a winding dirt road. There’s no way they’d be able to come. The phone rang in my hand. “Oh! Good morning! I was just calling you… Yes, it’s snowing pretty hard here. We don’t have church today; do you?… Yes, we understand… Stay safe… We’ll see you next week… Love you, too.”
Jon stomped his boots as he entered the house and saw me on the phone. “Was church canceled?
I nodded. “Plus Ben and Carl are snowed in.”
“So how many now?”
“That was Lisa. They can’t come either because of the snow.” I looked at the pile of potatoes. “It looks like it’s just the two of us. I hope you’re hungry.”
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The tables for the children, and so many over for dinner, reminded me of my youth on Sundays after church. My mom would make such a sumptuous meal.
My two sets of grandparents would come, and my great grandmother, my uncle who was single, and my two aunts who were single. My parents, and my two siblings.
It was great!
And yes, we too were subjected to snowy days.
Great job, excellent writing. And thanks for the memories.
Blessings~
Congratulations! One of my many favorites this week.
Blessings~