This story was written for Happy Holidays IV. Requirements
are: A story set between 1 Nov and 30 January, to include:
A gift (not necessarily material),
A holiday song,
A food associated with the holiday, and
A holiday decoration (traditional or not!)
Cranberry Sauce
By Kristin
Tuesday Sixteen year old Trixie Belden hurried up and down the aisles of the new grocery store looking for canned cranberry sauce. I don’t know why anyone likes this stuff, she thought. But Thanksgiving was coming, and amid all of the homemade delicacies Helen Belden would place on the wide oak table this Thursday, would be the sliced-straight-from-the-can cranberry sauce. Family traditions, Trixie sighed. "Jeepers!" exclaimed Trixie as the corner of a metal shopping cart brushed by her none too gently. She started to turn but somehow managed to knock over a large display of green beans, cream soups and dried onions. "Uh, Trix? Could you use a hand?" Trixie looked up into the sparkling dark eyes of Dan Mangan. "Dan! I believe this is the first time I’ve ever seen you in the grocery store. I thought Mr. Maypenny grew or caught all of his food," she teased. "I’ve been running to town for milk once in a while," Dan deadpanned, "since Mr. Maypenny doesn’t have a cow." Trixie laughed. Dan could be so funny. Jim Frayne was away at college, and that particular long and gently simmering romance seemed to have completely fizzled out. Dan had always been on the periphery of the Bob-Whites and in the last few months Trixie had been daydreaming a little too often what it would be like to spend more time with that dark haired young man…. "Trix?" said Dan. Trixie’s cheeks reddened as the dark haired young man in question finished picking up the cans she had tumbled. "Oh sorry Dan, I guess I was thinking about the list Moms gave me." What a lame excuse, Trixie thought! "Do you have any idea where I can find cranberry sauce?" Dan stepped forward and reached over Trixie’s left shoulder. "Here you go, Trix," he replied. "One can or two?" "Are you kidding?" said Trixie, "With Mart at the table, I’d better grab three! Not to mention Bobby seems to be aspiring to match my almost-twin. He’s grown two inches and gained ten pounds since school started." Trixie realized she was babbling and shut her mouth. She looked at her basket, then her shoes, then her watch, anywhere but at Dan. "Oh, I have to run! See you later, Dan." Dan watched as Trixie rushed to the cashier lanes and quickly paid for her items. Trixie sure had been acting funny lately. Dan shrugged. "’TIS THE SEASON TO BE JOLLY, FA-LA-LA-LA-LA, LA-LA-LA-LA!" shouted Bobby Belden at the top of his lungs as Trixie entered the cozy kitchen of Crabapple Farm. "Please Bobby, it’s not even Thanksgiving!" begged Trixie. "Could you at least wait until December for Christmas carols?" "Nope!" grinned Bobby cheerfully. "Oh brother!" muttered Trixie. "Did I hear my fair and feminine sibling indicate that she desires the presence of her juvenile male family members?" asked Mart Belden. "Watch it Mr. Juvenile Male," said Trixie, "I’ve got cranberry sauce and I know how to use it." "My, my, what a ferocious display of temper, my dear Beatrix!" said Trixie’s next older brother. "My dear almost-twin, it is obvious that food is your favorite part of Thanksgiving, and I just got back from the grocery store. If I don’t shop, Moms can’t cook, and then where would you be?" Trixie asked. "Make yourself useful and put away these cans. I have to call Honey!" Mart remained standing in the kitchen with a bewildered look on his face as Trixie hurried out of the room. Bobby began again, "’TIS THE SEASON TO BE JOLLY…." "Bobby, any idea what’s up with Beatrix?" asked Mart. "Probably a boy. FA-LA-LA-LA-LA, LA-LA-LA-LA!" finished Bobby. Tomboy Trixie thinking about boys? Mart shook his head in disbelief. Trixie dashed upstairs to call her best friend, Honey Wheeler. Trixie and Honey had become friends soon after Honey moved to Sleepyside and into the palatial Manor House next door to the homey Crabapple Farm where Trixie lived with her parents and three brothers. Being friends with Trixie, Honey soon had changed from a pale, thin girl to a tan and energetic teenager. "Wheeler residence," Honey answered the ringing phone. "Hi Honey!" said Trixie. "What’s up with you?" "Oh not much," Honey giggled. "Just replying to an email from Jim. He’ll be home from college late tomorrow evening. His plane connects through Detroit, of all places. If only he would let Daddy book him a first class ticket with no layovers….but you know Jim, always thrifty!" Trixie hesitated. "I haven’t heard from him lately. How is he enjoying Ball State University? I know they are supposed to have a good teacher’s college, but I don’t understand why he transferred out there after a year at SUNY. I mean, who has even heard of Muncie, Indiana?" "Only anyone who has ever watched Letterman," Honey joked. "Dave won’t stop talking about his dear alma mater! Last year he wanted the university to name the stadium after him…." "Well Honey, you know those of us who have to get up and feed the chickens can’t stay up to watch the Late Show," said Trixie. The girls laughed. "But really, Jim hasn’t even emailed me. Not that I am claiming to have some exclusive hold on him or anything, but I am definitely getting the sense that the days of fond looks are over." "Oh Trix," said Honey. She paused. "Actually, I kind of got the impression that he had been dating one particular girl there kind of regularly. Does that bother you?" "Honey," said Trixie, "I have to ‘fess up. I’m sort of relieved to hear that." "What?" said Honey. "After all these years of joking about fond looks? I mean, of course I don’t want you to be heartbroken, but…." Honey trailed off. As Trixie remained silent for a few seconds, Honey said, "All right, what’s the rest of your confession? Trixie Belden, out with it!" "Okay Honey, here goes." Trixie took a deep breath. "Lately I’ve been wondering what it would be like to go out with Dan." "Dan Mangan? Fellow Bob-White? Dark and handsome hottie?" Honey gasped. "Oh my gosh Trixie, why did I never see that? You two are perfect for each other!" "You really think so?" asked Trixie. "Well don’t start planning the bridal shower yet. I don’t think he has a clue that I am even looking at him that way, and I am practically positive that he has never considered me as more than a friend. I ran into him at the grocery store in town and after I stumbled over half my words, he looked totally clueless." "Trixie, you don’t give yourself enough credit. I bet if you drop a few hints, Dan will be knocked out by your natural beauty and come beating down the door for you," said Honey. Trixie hooted with laughter. "I’ll be right over to take a few hint-dropping lessons from you, Ms. Wheeler. You’d better get Ms. Lynch to help!" "Come on Trix," said Honey, "Dan stands no chance against our schemes." "Oh, I have total confidence in your abilities Honey, I just don’t know about mine," Trixie admitted. "But hey, I need to get off the phone before Moms comes searching for me with dust rag in hand. Talk to you later?" "You bet," answered Honey. Wednesday With a full stomach, Mart ambled down to the clubhouse intending to prepare some of the Bob-Whites’ winter sports equipment for the coming cold weather. That last sandwich he had made should really be in some sort of hall of fame, Mart thought. As he rounded a curve in the path, he saw Dan approaching on his dappled horse, Spartan. "Hey, Dan!" called Mart. "Hey, yourself," said Dan. "Don’t you ever get a break from patrolling the preserve?" asked Mart. "Ah, I get enough," replied Dan as they passed. "See ya’." "See ya’ later, Dan." Mart arrived at the club house and let himself in the door. He started to pick up a pair of snowshoes, then glanced at the long, soft, red couch. A little nap would do him good…. Thursday Trixie mopped her flushed face. "There you go, Moms, I’ve polished all the silver, set the table, and even propped up Bobby’s construction paper turkey as the centerpiece. Do you have anything else for me to do?" "Thank you, Trixie," her mother smiled at her. "You’ve been such a big help all morning. Why don’t you run along and enjoy yourself an hour while the turkey finishes baking? Mart will be in soon to hover over all the smells, and I’ll put him to work on any last minute things that I need." "Thanks, Moms, you’re the best!" exclaimed Trixie. "I’ll just take a walk and work up an appetite for all the scrumptious food we’ll be having!" "Have fun, dear," said Mrs. Belden. Trixie pulled on her red Bob-White jacket and matching knit hat. Trixie dashed out the door, across the lawn and down the path leading to the Manor House. She slowed to a walk and sniffed the crisp air, wondering if they would have snow before December. As Trixie came close to the edge of the Wheeler’s preserve, she heard the crunchy sound of hooves walking on a path covered with leaves. As the sound grew louder, Trixie realized that the only person likely to be riding a horse on Thanksgiving morning was Dan. As a dark head bobbed into view, Trixie plastered on a smile and wondered how in the world she could be so nervous seeing someone she had known for years. It’s just Dan, she whispered to herself. "Happy Thanksgiving, Dan!" Trixie called. "Thanks Trix, Happy Thanksgiving to you too," said Dan. He swung down off of Spartan and approached Trixie, reins in hand. "I was just headed down to get the newspaper. What’s up with you?" "Oh, just taking a walk before the grand Belden Thanksgiving meal," said Trixie. "Moms cut me loose since I had been helping her since dawn." Dan chuckled. "Mr. Maypenny’s brother came up from Tennessee and brought a huge pot to deep fry a whole turkey. They have been outside keeping an eye on the oil and were about to plunge the bird in when I left. They say that the whole thing will be black when it comes out, but the meat inside will be the best turkey we’ve ever had." "What a mental picture, those two dear old men and their blackened turkey," exclaimed Trixie. "Walk with me to get the newspaper, Trix?" asked Dan. "Sure, I should have enough time to get down to Glen Road and back before Moms declares that dinner is served," said Trixie. Dan tethered Spartan to a tree and the teenagers set off on foot. They walked in silence for a few moments. "Dan—" "Trixie—" Trixie flushed. "You go first, Dan." "Oh no, ladies first," said Dan with a smile. Trixie took a deep breath to calm her racing heart. "Well, I was just wondering, um, I was just thinking that maybe you might like to go see the new James Bond movie tomorrow night." Dan kept walking and was silent. Finally he said, "Do you mean all of the Bob-Whites or just us?" "Oh, do you think everyone would want to go? We could all pile into the station wagon and go to the big theater in White Plains—" Trixie stopped for a breath. "Actually, I would like it if it were just us. You and me, I mean," interrupted Dan. "Because I was going to ask you if you wanted to go see a movie." Dan and Trixie reached Mr. Maypenny’s mailbox. Dan pulled out the newspaper and they turned around to walk back up the hill. "So what do you say, Trixie? Is it a date?" asked Dan. "Date?" Trixie croaked out the word. "Um, sure. That sounds great." Dan broke into a smile. He reached out and plucked single bright yellow leaf clinging to a tree and handed it to Trixie. As they walked, the leaves crunched under their feet. "Guess you’d better get back to Crabapple Farm before Mart eats all three cans of cranberry sauce," Dan said as Spartan came into view. "Ugh," said Trixie. "I think I’ll let him have them." Dan laughed. "See you tomorrow night then? I’ll check the newspaper for show times and call you from the stable in the morning, okay?" Trixie’s heart lifted. See, that wasn’t so bad after all, she told herself. "Sure Dan, I’ll look forward to it. Dan put the newspaper in a saddlebag and mounted his horse. "Bye, Trix," he smiled and was gone. The End