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JUST BEFORE NOON, MIKE ASKED Jim if he could have a minute of his time. Worried about any possibility of being discovered, he replied in broken vowels, “What’s up?”
“Mother has decided she is going to cook a Thanksgiving dinner this year. We want you and Peggy to come.”
“I thought Mother Barkley didn’t cook anymore.”
“She hasn’t in years. That’s why it’s so important that you say yes.”
“I will be more than happy to come, but Peggy already has other plans with her school. I won’t even see her until Friday night.”
“I’m sorry about that. We were so looking forward to meeting her. You will come, though?”
“Yes, sir. Pleasured to. How do I get to your house?”
“I’ll pick you up here at the post office at noon if that’s okay.”
“That’s fine with me. Can I do anything?”
“Son, you have done more than you could ever know.”
“What do you mean?”
“Your being here has caused Mother to wake up to life again. I will never be able to thank you enough.”
That night he made five more calls, and with gusto. Only two seemed to care. Strange. He had another sleepless night. What if Mr. Bob truly had no conscience? How do you hurt someone when they have lost all their emotions?
Just as Jim arrived on time in front of the post office, Mr. Barkley drove up.
“Hop in. Mother said we’ll be eating by 2:00 p.m.”
“Sounds good.”
“After dinner you and I can watch the Bulldogs kick WVA’s butt.”
He didn’t have a clue what he was talking about. He thought it might be football, but he wasn’t sure. When he was in high school, football was for the rich kids. During Jim’s stay at the boy’s home, the game of football played by the boys was jungle rules–anything goes. Therefore, football was of no interest to him, but he would never tell Mike that. The nice thing would be spending time with just the two of them. It made him feel he had a family for the first time ever.
As Mother predicted, at 2:00 p.m. she announced dinner was served by ringing a little bell. The two men approached the table.
“Oh, no you don’t,” she warned, “You boys go wash your hands before you sit down at my table.”
Mike winked at him and said, “We’d better do as she says. Sounds serious.” As they washed up, Mike again thanked him for changing their lives. Jim didn’t know what to say so he said nothing.
“Let’s go and chow down,” Mike said. “I’m hungry.”
“So am I.”
The spread on the table was fit for a king and he couldn’t believe his eyes. “How many folks are coming?”
“Just us. Why do you ask?”
“There’s enough food to feed the West Virginia National Guard!”
She laughed, “Sit down. Let me fill your plate. What do you want, light or dark?”
“Light.”
“What else, huh?”
“Are those sweet potatoes?”
“Yep, indeed! We have sweet potatoes, mashed potatoes, turkey, cranberry salad, green beans, stuffing, peas, rolls, coconut pie and pumpkin pie. You better be hungry.”
“What? No ham?” joked Jim.
“Thank you for reminding me! It’s in the oven.”
Mike responded with one of his big laughs. As usual, it was contagious. He and Mother laughed, too. It was a wonderful evening in the Barkley home, the way a dinner should be. Jim realized now just how much he had to be thankful for, for all days to come.
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