Gazing across the table where she would be served and enjoyed to her friends and family, all happily chatting together, getting to know one another and hopefully looking forward to her meat, Samantha looked thoughtful for a moment.

“What is it, honey?” Laura asked, suddenly worried. “Are you having second thoughts? I’m sure nobody would think any less of you if…”

“No no!” Samantha assured her in something close to panic. “I was just thinking about Amanda and Rob. I know you were planning on making the announcement at dinner but, well, I was wondering if we could do it now? So that everyone knows I’m happy about it and they don’t wonder if you’re doing it behind my back? Or over my dead body!” she added with a giggle.

“Actually, that sounds like a lovely idea.” Laura stroked her daughter’s hair. “Let me go speak to Daddy for a moment.” Samantha watched as she went down the hall and took Josh aside. She saw him glance up at her then over at the siblings, seeing that Rob seemed to have already quite hit it off with her cousin Merlin. Josh then called the brother and sister over and the four pulled into a sort or huddle, hands on each other’s shoulders.

Some girls, Samantha thought, would have felt sad looking at the scene, her parents already bonding so closely with their new children in a conversation that she was not a part of. But as she watched, all she felt was happiness. Happiness for her parents that they would have new people to share their parental love with, hopefully keeping them from missing her too much, happiness for her friends, now her siblings, that they would finally have a stable and loving home after all that they had been through and happiness in general that her family would continue and be happy long after she was eaten and digested, her remains recycled along with other food waste and organic material at the local processing plant, leaving no trace of her left other than photographs and happy, delicious memories! Leaving the others where they were, she saw Josh walking back up the hall towards her.

“Come on, turkey!” he grinned, taking hold of her under her arms and lifting her off the platter. Samantha stretched out her legs, surprised to find how stiff her knees had become from kneeling for so long, despite having the pillows to serve as cushions, and he set her down on her feet. “Let’s go tell everyone the good news!”

On the dance floor, Laura had gathered everyone together and asked that the musics be turned down. Samantha and Josh joined her and Samantha stood between her two parents, holding their hands, while Amanda stood on the other side of Josh and Rob on the other side of Laura, the adults with their arm around the children’s shoulders and the children with the red-haired brother and sister with their arm around the respective parent’s waist. All the other guests, including Amelia who, of course, already knew but was keeping quiet, gathered to listen to the important announcement.

“Thank you for your attention, everyone!” Laura smiled. “We were going to make this announcement after dinner but our sweet little turkey here made the wonderful suggestion of doing it now so that you could all see how on board with the idea she is!” Samantha grinned at the guests who all smiled indulgently back at her while her new siblings on either side looked excited but nervous. “By now I hope you’ve all met Amanda and Rob?” The siblings waved with their free hands, giving cheesy grins as if posing for a seaside photo. “Well we’re hoping many of you will be getting to know them a lot better over the coming year since, as of yesterday, we are officially their new legal guardians and, if they’re still happy with us this time next year, we will be celebrating next Christmas by officially adopting them into our family!” This was met by wild applause from all the other guests as Josh and Laura ushered their two new children forward to take centre-stage.

“Come here and give your Gram a big hug!” Laura’s mum ordered with her loving arms out-stretched and the pair went to her before making their way around their new family, receiving similar welcomes from everyone.

“So we’re cousins?” Merlin grinned as he patted Rob on the back. “That’s so cool!”

“And now, if you’ll excuse us,” Laura grinned, pulling attention back just for a few moments more. “We have a turkey to roast! Mum, Dad,” she turned to Gram and Gramps. “Do you think you can get some games going while we work? There’s prizes on the table.”

“I’m sure we can manage that!” Gram beamed, in the process of giving her new granddaughter another hug.

“You know how to work the CD player?” Josh gestured towards his sound-system.

“I’m sure the boys will help us, won’t you, lads?” Gramps winked at Rob and Merlin who happily agreed. Samantha made a quick round of the guests to deliver final hugs, although keeping things quick to avoid long and emotional goodbyes. She really did want people to think of her as their dinner, just a turkey who needed to get cooked, rather than a family member they would not be seeing again. Once she was confident she had not missed anyone out, she came back to her parents and they began to head towards the kitchen.

While Gram tried to organise everyone into a big circle for the first game, Amelia ran over and grabbed Josh’s sleeve.

“Hey!” she grinned as the trio paused and looked at her. “Need a hand in the kitchen? I’d love to help stuff the turkey! I can get right up in there with my thin arms!” Samantha giggled as her friend wiggled her fingers playfully.

“What do you think, turkey?” Josh asked Samantha with a chuckle. “You know what they say about too many cooks!”

“I think it would be great for Amelia to help out!” Samantha grinned. “As long as you don’t try getting in the oven with me!” she warned her friend teasingly. “Remember this is my big day!”

“I don’t think it’s me you have to worry about!” Amelia giggled. “I think, given half a chance, that cute little cousin of yours would be locking you in the cupboard or organising a gang to come kidnap you so she can take your place!”

“Well we’d better get me in the oven before she makes her move!” Samantha giggled. “But if you’re going to be shoving stuffing up my butt, you might want to take your gloves off first?”


To be continued...