Jack buried his face in his hands.
"I don't believe it," he said. "I just burned up thePilgrims' turkey!"15"Stay calm," said Annie. "I'll get Priscilla.
No, don't tell Priscilla," moaned Jack.
"We have to tell Priscilla" said Annie. She hurriedout of the house.
Jack lifted his head and stared at the burned turkey.
"Oh, man," he whispered unhappily. The pilgrimshad worked so hard to get their food. They had hadsuch a terrible winter especially Priscilla. And now hehad ruined their first Thanksgiving!
The door opened. Annie pulled Priscilla over to thehearth.
"See!" said Annie. "The the fire! It burned up!""I did it," Jack confessed.
Priscilla just stared at the burned turkey in the wet,messy hearth. Then she looked at Jack. He lookedaway from her.
"Ah, Jack," Priscilla said softly. "Thou looks sad."He nodded.
"I ruined everything," he mumbled.
"No, thou did not," said Priscilla She reached outher hand. "Come."Priscilla led Jack and Annie out into the brightautumn light.
"Look," she said.
Jack saw Pilgrim women and kids walking to thetables. They all carried wooden platters piled withfood.
"In the other houses, there was cooking also," saidPriscilla.
Jack saw roasted ducks, turkeys, and deer meat. Hesaw baked fish, lobsters, eels, clams, and oysters.
He saw pumpkins, beans and corn, dried plums,berries and roasted nuts, steamy pots of soups andpuddings, and loaves of baked breads.
"We had a very good harvest this fall," saidPriscilla. "We stored many vegetables. We salted ourfish and cured our meat. And today, our Wampanoagneighbors brought back five deer from the forest forour feast." Jack was relieved to see all the food.
Priscilla knelt down and looked him in the"See, thou did not ruin anything, Jack," she said.
"Thou and Annie have helped me a lot this day. Youhave both made me laugh. And you have both actedwith kind hearts."Jack was amazed. He thought he'd been no help atall.
"Come," said Priscilla. "Let us join the others. Artthou hungry?"Jack nodded. Seeing all the platters of food hadmade him really hungry.
16He and Annie followed Priscilla.
In the golden glow of autumn light, Jack and Anniejoined the Pilgrims and the Wampanoag at the longtables.
Priscilla gave Jack and Annie wooden plates. Shegave them big white cloth napkins. Then she servedthem plenty of food.
Before they started to eat, Governor Bradford stoodup to speak.
"Those of us who came here on the Mayflower didnot know how to live in this land," he said. "ButSquanto came to help us. And today, we give thanksfor him, and for the peace we share with his people,and for all our great blessings."Governor Bradford looked at Jack and Annie.
"Welcome to our feast," he said. "At this moment,three worlds--your world, our world, and the world,of the Wampanoag are not three. They are one. 'Tisthe magic of community.""Indeed!" said Annie. She clapped her hands andlooked at Jack. "We did it," she whispered.
Did what? thought Jack.
Governor Bradford then put his napkin over hisshoulder.
"Now!" he said. "Let us feast till our bellies arefilled!"As everyone started to eat, Annie leaned close toJack.
"We found the special magic," she whispered. "Themagic of community. Remember the rhyme?" Sherepeated Morgan's words:
"To find a special magic, When work and toil aredone, Gather all together, Turn three worlds intoone.""Oh, man," said Jack. He'd forgotten all about it.
"We can go home now," said Annie.
"No way," said Jack. "We have to eat first."Jack and Annie used their fingers to pick up theirfood. And they ate and ate and ate. Jack triedeverything on his plate--except a little bit of eel andtwo clams. Everything he did eat, he liked--even theturnips.
Food really tastes good, he thought as he chewed,when you eat it outside, on a beautiful day, with lotsof nice people. |