Billy and the Turkey
Shoot
A Thanksgiving Story
By Danny Tillman
Setting up!
You never saw such a commotion, as the whole group began talking to each other all at once about, "How nice it was to be invited!" and "How nice of you to come!" and the turkey shoot, and what each and everyone did for a living.
Billy and Uncle Rufus were standing in the center of all this, and going at it with the best of them, when, all of a sudden, Billy, as if from another world, heard a familiar, yet long-time-not-heard-from voice--even as one calling out in the wilderness Billy's very own name! He turned expectantly toward the hard road, and saw Betty and four others coming toward him through the crowd. "Hey Billy, and Uncle Rufus!!! Can't a guy get a parking place around here, or what!?!"
Lo and behold!! It was no less the voice of, and none other than the very personage of, his and Betty's old and trustworthy friend and relation, cousin-wise, namely Morris Mixson, accompanied by his ever faithful wife, Barbara, and their very young and obedient daughter and son, Brenda and Larry![1] And indeed--even though the years of Deuie's young life were few--whenever he happened to see Billy and Betty, the Mixsons were most likely present also.
Albey Yark approached the group of Rufus, Mary, Billy, Betty, Morris, Barbara, Brenda & Larry and was introduced, and a brief account of the turkey shoot was shared. At the appropriate moment, Albey asked Rufus and Mary where they would like the tables and chairs set up, and they decided on the front yard. Then Yark began finding the members of his party and relaying instructions.
Soon, the Rod, Gun, Etc. Club male members were busy unloading tables and chairs from the trucks and placing them on the green grass lawn. All the wives got together and discussed food logistics. All the local children began talking and playing and making the guest children feel at home.
Little Bob Thorn rose, being one of the youngest of the newly arrived guests, joined in the playing with the other younguns, while Bill Pisachube, X Brands, Tom Tondalayo and John Lincourt, were old enough to lend a hand in helping the grown men. It was 9:00 A.M. and Albey had just walked away from his final check of the chow wagons, and had finished talking to the ones who were in charge of the cooking going on therein. The hosts would, at about 1:30, begin bringing the food out to the serving table.
[1] Our brother David, fifteen months younger than ne, would have likely been there too but as a baby.