I can smell the turkey dinner already.
We are heading down the pike to another great gathering of family and friends.
But it isn't always that easy.
You are away from home and have a week to make it in time
for Thanksgiving Day. Write an adventure that will become family lore
as to the lengths you would go for family
(and a steaming turkey drumstick!)
HOME SOON
ReplyDeleteIt was a strange twist of fate. All of his luggage made it home fine. But somehow, Andrew Worton never did. How the hell he ended up in the Yukon was beyond any stretch of imagining. Clad in a short sleeved Polo shirt and light khakis, Andrew looked out of place.
And here it was, a week before Thanksgiving and no means of getting out of there until Tuesday. He had resigned himself to missing the dinner. He would not get to sample his mother's pie. Her health wasn't what it used to be and his sister was lousy with Mom's recipes.
Dad was another story. The picture of health and vitality. Golfed twice a week. Swam at the "Y". Walked the treadmill with great regularity.
Working his way to better health. But something went off course. He had worked himself into a massive heart attack. Andrew wished there was another way.
Stewart Crossing sat mid-province and had been isolated just after Andrew's flight had landed in Canada. Snows and wind whipping and the cold was stinging Worton's bare arms. The constable at the landing strip had found Andrew something more suitable, which was a blessing, he thought.
"Don't think you'll make the States by week's end", the officer informed, making Andrew more anxious to head on out. "If we can get you to Whitehorse, you can catch a flight there, but getting south looks treacherous.
Frustration had settled in and Andrew did a foolish thing. Bound and determined to get home com hell or high water, he rented some skis and headed southward.
He was making good time, considering, but his legs were tired and sore, and stray caribou mocked him with their trumpeting and snorting. In a clearing was a small village, a new destination.
Nothing spectacular. Some residences, a general store, a postal facility and a snowmobile dealership. Great luck for Andy!
The proprietor felt for the young man and traded an older machine and some gasoline for the cross country skis and the promise to pay him when he got back home. Andrew couldn't say no.
The further south he went, it seemed the snows followed him. He ran adrift a couple of times. And ran out of gas near Champagne, slightly off course. He sat in the rigging despondent and sure he'd never see his family before he met his end.
Something in the distance. A ping? A tingle? A jingle! Louder and stronger it came. A sleigh pulled by two strange horses and an old driver came alongside the dead snowtracker.
"Ho-ho" the old man said. "Looks like you should've stayed put now, doesn't it."
Andrew was in no mood, but did agree. The man offered transportation. Andrew accepted and climbed in beside the gentle soul.
"Get on, Musher! Get on, Mudder!" he yelled.
His beasts sprung into a gallop and leaped over a fence rail. The rig rose skyward gaining altitude and Andrew held tightly to the side rail.
"Breaking in the new "guys"" the old man smiled. "A little over a month and I may need backup".
Andrew stared at the driver and finally realized he had seen him before. The old man glanced a wink at Andrew.
"You know, they're not going to believe you!" smiling so lively and quick.
"Just get me home, Nick. I'll worry about that when I get a drumstick in my hand!"
Walt, what a sweet story, just in mood with the coming holidays. And the picture up there looks so inviting :-)
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