Far from Home: Memories of World War II and Afterward

18. Holidays without Mama

18 Holidays without Mama 198 IT WAS nearing Thanksgiving, and I was wondering how I’d deal with it, and also with Christmas. It was the first holiday without Mama, and I’d have only my little family to cook and plan for, when I’d been doing it for a crowd, not to mention the empty place that had been Mama’s. I decided I would go on and cook a big dinner anyway. I still had folk, and I didn’t feel they’d forget me entirely. James brought home a large turkey, and I got vegetables together and baked sweet potato pies and a cake. Red and Mary helped me rake the yard and burn leaves and trash. At least Red was a help. Mary tried, and some of the little boys who lived nearby gave a hand when they passed by. I baked the turkey late that night after my babies were in bed, as the pies and cakes had been baked earlier. I sat in the kitchen and read while good smells filled the air. Next morning after breakfast James announced he was going to help Jimmy harvest a field of corn he had nearby. He was bringing some of the guys from Cross Road to help him also. I told him okay, but to be sure to come in for dinner. “Are we having company?” he asked. I didn’t know for sure, but I took for granted that some of my family would come by. They’d always seemed to enjoy the dinner Mama and I cooked down home in past years. So I cooked busily and happily through the day. I saw bird hunters going by to go hunting with Papa. That was another Thanksgiving tradition. Some of them used to eat with us too. Mama always made them welcome. I wondered if they’d miss her this year. I believed they would. These were from Greensboro, well-to-do businessmen. One was Mr. Venning, and the other one was Mr. Forbis. He owned a funeral home business. I wasn’t sure what the others did, but they all seemed nice and had sent cards and money when Mama died. After all the food was cooked and keeping warm, I combed the children’s hair and put fresh clothes on them. I wanted things to be nice. We set the table using Mama’s best tablecloth and the pretty china she’d given me the last Christmas she was able to shop. Then we sat and waited. No one came. Frank’s two little boys, Duke and Jimrod, passed by waving and said, “Hey, Aunt Mary,” on their way down home to see Billy, their little cousin from Buffalo who’d come for Thanksgiving. The dinner hour passed, and still I’d seen no one. My children’s stomachs were empty, and they were asking, “When do we eat?” I told them in a little bit. I went on the porch one more time to look. This time I saw Jimmy’s truck heading for the house with all his dusty helpers. He was coming to bring James home for dinner, but he always came in to speak and see if I had anything good to eat. When he saw the table, he asked who my company would be. “No one, it seems,” I told him. He and James both knew my feelings well. They looked at each other and then asked if I’d like to have dinner guests. I knew what they were thinking so I said, “Sure thing, tell the boys to come in and wash up.” Holidays without Mama 199 200 FAR FROM HOME Jimmy took soap, water, and towels out and the boys washed and dusted themselves as best they could and in came my Thanksgiving company. There was Lattice’s brother, Carl Henry, her cousin, Marvin, and his brother Vatin and a few more. I got busy putting food on the table, and all gathered around. It did my heart good to see that food going down, apparently enjoyed. When all had finished and got up to leave, each one came and said how much they enjoyed their dinner and thanked me; some shook hands. James and Jimmy grinned. I knew Eunice would have another meal waiting for him when he got home. I was reminded of the Bible story of the man who...