Thanks Giving

After leaving a list for Johnny to work his way through, I returned to the kitchen for a  coffee.Taking it through to the lounge, I sat down on the couch, messed with the remote and switched on the television. The t.v. burst Into life with a report of 'Thanks Giving'. Thanks giving was just around the corner. Oh shucks! Mom and dad would be expecting me at our usual family gathering.
 Jorja Fox, the newsreader went on to say, 'The feast popularly known as the ''First Thanksgiving Day Feast'' was held as a gesture of thanks to Almighty God. First celebrated in the year 1621. After the United States gained independence, Congress recommended one yearly day of thanksgiving for the whole nation to celebrate. Thanksgiving Day is a time of festivity, family meals and reunions in America. Carved turkeys, pumpkin pie, corns, cranberry sauce are the traditional dishes adorning the dinner tables in almost every house,'...a picture of an overflowing table of the relevant food flashed up on the screen, It certainly was a time for feasting. Jorja Fox continued,'Thanksgiving Day epitomizes the holiday mood of people. It is a time for gifting your family and friends. The day is a time to show your gratitude and respect to your elders, friends, your siblings and also your colleagues. Popular gifts include thanksgiving flowers, jewellery, baked cookie hampers, chocolate gift baskets, candy-wreaths, wine '...I turned the television down low.
 I imagined a big spread layed out around the center piece of Autumnal flowers. There sat mom, gazing at dad as he carved into the turkey. My brother Bodie, sister-in-law Kayley, and sister Dionne...she's twenty nine, four years older than I am they would be sitting around the table too.
 What!...Didn't I tell you about my sister ?

Dionne

 Well Dionne travels a lot around the globe she's employed as a 'Stock Buyer', sourcing out fabrics of linen, silk, cotton, tweeds and anything out of the ordinary to buy. They are then shipped back to Seattle and made into top end designer clothes for the company which she works for...'Kali Fashions'. Last I heard she was in Hong Kong, looking at the local silks, all made by local people in the home  environment, a chance for ordinary families to grab some of the action money wise...a policy in part, but none the less endorsed by the company director.
 But back to Thanks Giving...I already knew I wouldn't be joining the family this year. I had to come up with a feasible excuse without upsetting mom and it may be wise to put it off till as long as possible.

Smokie checks out pepper

 What was I to do with Pepper ? Should I go ahead and buy the mare ? In the end Jolene said I could have her for $350, so I put her in the field and Smokie went over to keep her company. It turned out that Pepper was not as old as first thought. The vet came out to give her the once over and told me she was barely three years old. I gave Johnny the job of training her to be an enjoyable ride.

Drifter  rearing

 Sofia was getting on well with Kate and Lady. They had arranged to go for a ride on the beach together. Kate would be riding Drifter. He was a one , that Drifter. I was still riding him in the manege, and he was still rearing and throwing me off. I don't think he liked me, or he was having a laugh, at my expense.
 Sofia drove up and parked her car. Kate was in the passenger side. She jumped out and came over to me. "Hi Kyle," she said as she gave me a hug.  
 "Is that a new lip gloss you're wearing ?" I inquired."It suits you, um, nice color."
 Kate game me a broad smile. "Maybe you can try it on...later." 

Enjoying the beach

 And with that she went off in the direction of the stables calling out for Sofia to follow her. They appeared a few minutes later with Lady and Drifter saddled up. They mounted and went off down the 
drive waving to me.  "Have a safe ride." I shouted after them. 
  I went and watched Johnny lunging Pepper for the next ten minutes or so before my cell phone rang out in my pocket. It was Joe.
 "Hi Joe, what can I do for you....Yeah....Yeah....Okay....That will be fine....Yeah...No problem." I ended the call.  Johnny had finished with Pepper and had unclasped the lunge line and loosed her off.
 "Think we could manage another horse ?" I shouted over to Johnny.
 Johnny wiped his brow with his shirt sleeve, shook his head and said, "I shall have to have another days work then mister McCormack and may be even some help. We're getting mighty busy."
 "Okay, fair enough, lets get a beer from the refrigerator and talk about it, sort an extra day out."
 "And may be some help." Johnny muttered.