Chapter 23: Fourteen Place Cards

On the second of December I set the table myself, and I made it long.

It took three folding tables from the church hall and two borrowed tablecloths.

It ran from the kitchen door nearly to the front window.

I wrote the place cards in my kindergarten printing.

There were fourteen, and I had thought about every one.

I put Eli's high chair at the head, with a paper crown tied to the tray.

I put Harlan at the foot.

He read his card, turned it over to see if there was anything else on the back, and sat down without a word.

"Foot of the table," he said to my aunt, across from him.

"Don't get used to it," my aunt said. She had driven up with a pound cake and a look.

"I wasn't going to."

"Good."

He passed her the rolls.

It was the first time in my life I had seen anyone hand that woman a basket and not get a lecture.

Floyd's brother and his wife had brought both girls, who immediately went under the table.

Marlene sat to my left, in her lilac cardigan, with a brass key in her hand.

I had given it to her at the door.

"Ask before you use it," I had told her.

"I will, dear."

"You can start by asking if you can carve the ham."

"May I carve the ham?"

"Yes."

She had looked, for a moment, years younger.

Floyd sat on my right.

He had not said much all day.

He had hung the paper bunting and opened the front door for every guest who came up the walk.

When the ham was gone and the cake came out, Eli was already smeared to the elbows.

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