Christmas Eve Feast

[abbysciuto]

Making a big feast for Christmas was, in hindsight, a really bigly huge amount of work.  How her mom had done it with nearly no assistance was forever going to impress Abby now, and she'd even had help.  She'd had lots, actually, from Bill agreeing to go ice-fishing to whoever on the hunting crew shot the caribou, not to mention the various people who'd pitched in to peel potatoes, chop veggies, and otherwise be useful.   Finally it was done, though, and she was able to run to the bathroom really fast to change out of her flour-covered clothes and into a lacy black dress that was a little more suitable for Christmas Eve dinner (and whatever services might be held).   She also found just a bit of mistletoe and tucked it into one of her bunned pigtails, which made her perpetually under the mistletoe.  Not even Tim would be mad at her about mistletoe at Christmas.  The jukebox was obligingly playing Trans-Siberian Orchestra songs and she looked around happily at the people being gradually drawn in by the smell of food.  This was what Christmas was all about, to quote Linus.

[Caribou roast with vegetables, baked fish, rice, mashed potatoes and gravy, green beans, corn, cranberry sauce, yams, biscuits, and pumpkin pie, plus fruit juice and coffee.  Eat, drink and be merry! This is timed to tonight but going up early due to Christmas schedules.  Tag in anytime you like!]