Happy Thanksgiving! Today, I'd like to share a journal story with you titled "Thanksgiving Eve." I actually wrote a story similar to this a few years ago for ReadWave, and it was well received. Unfortunately, I looked for it last night and it seems I either forgot to save it, or accidentally purged it when I was cleaning up/out my short stories a couple of years ago. I tried to pass it off, but it wouldn't leave me, so I drafted a new version of this. I hope you enjoy it.
Have a safe and Happy Thanksgiving! I thank you for your love and support, and wish you a blessed, joyful, and awesome holiday season!
Thanksgiving Eve 11-21-18
“The daily deposit is done, Mrs. Lanier,” Penny said. “Is there anything you need help with?”
Casey looked up from her computer at the secretary shifting from one foot to another. “How does traffic look out there?” The front office window of their small loan company was off a frontage road overlooking the Interstate.
“I think they cleared up that wreck from this morning. It’s not backed up anymore, but it’s heavy.”
Casey glanced at the clock on her computer, which read three o’clock. “Do you have any more paperwork for the day?”
“No ma’am.”
“Any appointments?”
“No ma’am.”
Casey picked up her pen and tapped it against her desk. “And you’re heading out of town after work for Thanksgiving?”
“Yes ma’am. My car is packed and I’m ready to go,” Penny said.
Casey craned her neck to stare at the crawling traffic outside the front window. “Have a Happy Thanksgiving. Go see your family.”
Penny’s eyes widened. “Are you sure? Aren’t we supposed to stay open until five o’clock?”
Casey shook her head. “The CEO said we can close at four if we don’t get any walk in customers, and I doubt that will happen given the looks of things out there. Go ahead. I can hold it down for an hour. Fill out your timesheet for the full day and get on the road before it gets worse.”
“Thank you! And Happy Thanksgiving!” Penny gushed.
“Happy Thanksgiving. Safe travels. I’ll see you Monday.”
Casey sighed as Penny gathered her things and left the office. She was lucky that her family was in town and she didn’t have to travel for Thanksgiving, but she’d already had her nerves worn raw. Her parents had called three times and her in-laws texted her twice about the dishes they were bringing for Thanksgiving dinner tomorrow. Her husband had called thirty minutes ago to say the kids were restless, so he was dragging out the Christmas decorations to keep them occupied, against her wishes to wait until at least Black Friday to decorate. Now she had to go home and clean up after that on top of starting to cook her dishes for tomorrow. And her best friend called her office line over lunch freaking out over her in-laws crashing in her home and “taking over.” It was going to be long weekend, but at least she and her family were local.
They would make it. They always did, and this year would be no different. They would probably enjoy the chaos, too.
Casey shook it off and returned to her paperwork. Truthfully, the CEO said she could leave now too, but she wanted to embrace one more hour of peace before the holidays started. There was plenty of time for family fun and chaos. For now, she could wrap up her workload and go into the holidays with her mind clear of work issues, at least.
And given that traffic, she should probably take the back roads home, too. It was the long way, but it would be worth a few more minutes of peaceful preparation for the most wonderful time of the year.
Have a safe and Happy Thanksgiving! I thank you for your love and support, and wish you a blessed, joyful, and awesome holiday season!
Thanksgiving Eve 11-21-18
“The daily deposit is done, Mrs. Lanier,” Penny said. “Is there anything you need help with?”
Casey looked up from her computer at the secretary shifting from one foot to another. “How does traffic look out there?” The front office window of their small loan company was off a frontage road overlooking the Interstate.
“I think they cleared up that wreck from this morning. It’s not backed up anymore, but it’s heavy.”
Casey glanced at the clock on her computer, which read three o’clock. “Do you have any more paperwork for the day?”
“No ma’am.”
“Any appointments?”
“No ma’am.”
Casey picked up her pen and tapped it against her desk. “And you’re heading out of town after work for Thanksgiving?”
“Yes ma’am. My car is packed and I’m ready to go,” Penny said.
Casey craned her neck to stare at the crawling traffic outside the front window. “Have a Happy Thanksgiving. Go see your family.”
Penny’s eyes widened. “Are you sure? Aren’t we supposed to stay open until five o’clock?”
Casey shook her head. “The CEO said we can close at four if we don’t get any walk in customers, and I doubt that will happen given the looks of things out there. Go ahead. I can hold it down for an hour. Fill out your timesheet for the full day and get on the road before it gets worse.”
“Thank you! And Happy Thanksgiving!” Penny gushed.
“Happy Thanksgiving. Safe travels. I’ll see you Monday.”
Casey sighed as Penny gathered her things and left the office. She was lucky that her family was in town and she didn’t have to travel for Thanksgiving, but she’d already had her nerves worn raw. Her parents had called three times and her in-laws texted her twice about the dishes they were bringing for Thanksgiving dinner tomorrow. Her husband had called thirty minutes ago to say the kids were restless, so he was dragging out the Christmas decorations to keep them occupied, against her wishes to wait until at least Black Friday to decorate. Now she had to go home and clean up after that on top of starting to cook her dishes for tomorrow. And her best friend called her office line over lunch freaking out over her in-laws crashing in her home and “taking over.” It was going to be long weekend, but at least she and her family were local.
They would make it. They always did, and this year would be no different. They would probably enjoy the chaos, too.
Casey shook it off and returned to her paperwork. Truthfully, the CEO said she could leave now too, but she wanted to embrace one more hour of peace before the holidays started. There was plenty of time for family fun and chaos. For now, she could wrap up her workload and go into the holidays with her mind clear of work issues, at least.
And given that traffic, she should probably take the back roads home, too. It was the long way, but it would be worth a few more minutes of peaceful preparation for the most wonderful time of the year.
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