Friday Five and Blue Eyes 8
The Blond Duck’s Top Five Thanksgiving Feast Features….
1) Smoked Turkey
2) Pecan Pie
3) Cranberry Sauce
4) Stuffing
5) Mashed potatoes
and now, for more Blue Eyes!
Twelve Years Ago
“It’s not just the dead she can see.” Her grandmother’s voice was triumphant, low. Layla lay curled in her arms, hiding her face against her father’s disapproving stare.
“Then what was she screaming about?” He ran his fingers through what little hair he had left.
“Some call them spirits, some call them angels, some messengers from the other side.” Her grandmother’s hand ran up and down her back, rubbing away the image of the man she had seen at the edge of her bed. She closed her eyes, inhaling her grandmother’s cinnamon sugar scent, like a pumpkin candle in the middle of July. ”Others call them demons. It depends on the spirit, much as it depends on people.”
“I don’t want this for her.” Her father’s voice made Layla shudder. ”And I’ll do whatever it takes.”
Her grandmother’s arms tightened, steel fingers digging into Layla’s shoulder blades. ”You’re not going to take her to him.”
“You bet I am.”
Her grandmother jerked up, catching Layla’s flailing legs and clutching the squirming child to her chest. ”You’ll never touch her,” she hissed, backing away. Layla peeked one eye open and closed it, her father’s furious face seared in her mind. ”I’ll never let him have her. Or you!”
“What are you going to do?” Her father shouted, laughing as her grandmother bolted down the hall, Layla jostling against her collarbone. Panic wiped away the comforting pumpkin, perspiration from the wrinkled skin blotting onto Layla’s cheek. ”Hide her in the desert with you? I’m her father, dang it! You can’t steal her away! She’s already lost her mother! She can’t lose her father too!”
“You send her to them and she’ll lose more than that!” Her grandmother burst onto the porch, slamming the door behind them. ”She’ll lose her soul.”
The last time she saw her father’s face was through the back seat of her grandmother’s jeep, a furious speck that faded into the shadows of dawn.
That was before the curse hit.
“You remembered, didn’t you?”
Layla swallowed her gasp, jerking upright in her seat. She shook the ghosts’ icy fingers off her arm. ”Did you do that?”
“I didn’t do anything. I just helped you remember what was there. It would take too much time…”
“To let me remember naturally? Thanks.” Layla barked a bitter laugh. ”So let me guess? My father finally showed up to take me to this guy of his. Why now? Why not when I went blind?”
“Your grandmother hid you well.” The ghost winced as the plane shut down, bouncing along the runaway.
Layla snorted. ”She hid me with my aunt. That should have been one of the first places for him to look.”
“If she had been your real aunt, yes.”
Biscuit growled as Layla’s voice rose to a shriek. ”REAL aunt?”
“Miss, please.” The flight attendant’s nasal voice slashed through her, nearly drowned out by the screech of the engines. ”We’re pulling into the terminal now. If you can just wait a few moments…”
“Bite me.” Layla felt around, closing her fingers around the pocket of the seat in front of her and using the cheap leather fold to pull her up. Jostling between the sheets, she glared at the ghost. ”Who’s meeting me here?”
“We can check the registry for you, but I’m afraid you must sit until the plane comes to a complete stop…” The flight attendant gasped as the ghost walked through her. Layla smirked as the shadow shuddered.
“Who do you think?” The ghost extended a hand and Layla took it, closing the cold air around her fingers. Ignoring the protests of the flight attendant, she stumbled to the front exit, bouncing between cheap leather seats. ”I’m blind, I get to get off first!” she snapped as shadows dodged toward her. With a hiss, the door opened and Layla spilled out into the terminal, the ghost leading her up the long hall.
“I’m serious. Is my grandmother meeting us?”
“Not exactly.” The ghost lead her into a valley of walking shadows, a tight Biscuit pressed to her side.
“When will you give me a straight answer?” Layla demanded.
“Layla?” Her shoulders tensed, her fingers curling around Biscuit’s leash. ”Layla, is that you?”
All she could do was curse, refusing to meet the stupid ghosts’ smirk.
“Let me guess. Aunt Cornelia?”
Stay tuned, Invisible Friends! Next week is Thanksgiving week at the Pond!
November 18th, 2011 at 1:21 am
That’s it! If this is on your Thanksgiving table this year I’m on my way!
November 18th, 2011 at 2:56 am
Stuffing, yum yum!! Great read…wish you a wonderful weekend doll! x
November 18th, 2011 at 3:44 am
Wow! Looks fantastic! Was that from last year? (I’m assuming you haven’t cooked your turkey and mashed potatoes this year). Just that fabulous pecan pie, or any apple or pumpkin?
November 18th, 2011 at 5:09 am
I’ll be over for some pecan pie on Thursday. K thanks!
November 18th, 2011 at 5:11 am
I don’t think I’ve ever tasted a smoked turkey. I think my family would be up in arms if I served one!
But pie? Ah yes…..every year!
November 18th, 2011 at 5:34 am
gosh! how yummy
November 18th, 2011 at 5:41 am
Hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving! I like a pretty traditional Thanksgiving meal too.
November 18th, 2011 at 6:16 am
Smoked turkey is the best! Now I want pecan pie
November 18th, 2011 at 6:26 am
Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday; yet somehow I dislike most of the food involved with it. Weird, I know. Maybe I just haven’t experienced an amazing Thanksgiving feast yet. :/
November 18th, 2011 at 6:39 am
Those all look do yummy!!!! Now, my mouth is watering.
November 18th, 2011 at 6:45 am
YUMMY! I’m ready to eat Thanksgiving right now!
November 18th, 2011 at 6:49 am
Oh, I’m so hungry now. And am ready to eat a big Tday meal!
November 18th, 2011 at 7:05 am
Yummy post, darling!
Love pecan pie!
xoxox,
CC
November 18th, 2011 at 7:29 am
A smoked turkey is a definite must on Thanksgiving! That is what Mr. A will be doing all day on Wednesday. I can’t wait.
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November 18th, 2011 at 7:31 am
Smoked turkey is my favorite turkey, but we aren’t having it this year.
November 18th, 2011 at 8:13 am
This story is getting so good!
November 18th, 2011 at 8:18 am
The meal looks great except for the smoked turkey, I like to roast mine (in a bag, nice and moist)
November 18th, 2011 at 8:23 am
Mmm smoked turkey sounds divine! Have a lovely weekend dear (and who could it be?!)
xoxo,
Chic ‘n Cheap Living
November 18th, 2011 at 8:25 am
I think I’m heading to Texas this year for Thanksgiving. That dinner looks delicious, and this story just keeps getting better.
November 18th, 2011 at 8:56 am
Your favorites are some of mine too. Although, I’ll trade the pecan pie for pumpkin mousse!
Your story is awesome, btw. I wish I could read more though!!
November 18th, 2011 at 9:08 am
Mmm that food, yum!
November 18th, 2011 at 9:26 am
Oh, I so miss Thanksgiving! Yes, i could do it at home even though its not a British holiday, but Mr P hates turkey, so there’s no point.
*kisses* HH
November 18th, 2011 at 9:50 am
Your photos have my mouth watering, and your story wants me to read more! Aunt Cornelia? This is getting interesting!
November 18th, 2011 at 10:10 am
i’m not sure there’s anything better than a perfectly cooked turkey.
November 18th, 2011 at 12:41 pm
I could probably eat that entire bowl of mashed potatoes! Who is that ghost?
November 18th, 2011 at 12:56 pm
Your meal looks divine! I think that i am not even having thanksgiving dinner this year… its such a shame! xo
November 18th, 2011 at 2:39 pm
“I’m blind. I get to get off first.” Sometimes you just have to take advantage of whatever you can. Nice story!
November 18th, 2011 at 8:38 pm
Yum, pie! We’ve already had our Thanksgiving here, so I’ll have to wait until the holidays for more turkey.
November 18th, 2011 at 8:57 pm
Aunt Cornelia; is that Layla real aunt? Interesting story! Love the picture, they are making me hungry
November 18th, 2011 at 9:40 pm
Fine dishes and fine story!
Happy weekend!
November 18th, 2011 at 11:07 pm
Every. Single. Time. I come here and here you are flaunting that delicious food in my face! Ugh! Thanksgiving can’t come sooner! *drooooooooling*
November 19th, 2011 at 1:13 am
Smoked turkey! Yum!!! I can’t wait for Thanksgiving. I hope your is fantastic!!!
*Erin
November 19th, 2011 at 2:34 am
I agree although I’ll swap your Pecan for my Pumpkin and Apple. I make a pretty good pecan pie, but I’m new to that game because it’s a southern thing… I made my first one last year! I also make really good Chocolate Chess Pie!
November 20th, 2011 at 2:52 am
Yum! I love cranberry sauce! Absolutely love it!
November 20th, 2011 at 2:35 pm
Perhaps we’ll come over your place for a good meal. lol xo
November 20th, 2011 at 8:07 pm
I have seen lots of pecan pies today on different blogs. I think I only had it once or twice (didn’t really like sweets when I was younger), but now I really want to try some again…
November 21st, 2011 at 1:01 am
those 5 photos have me ready for thanksgiving! yum
November 21st, 2011 at 8:20 am
What happened to the guardian angel? HMMMMMM?
November 21st, 2011 at 11:31 pm
All of these festive foods look so amazing, superb & mighty tasty too!
MMMMMMMMM,….!!!
A lovely & fab story as always!
Happy thanksgiving to you & your family! Enjoy!