My favorite Thanksgiving story doesn’t involve Pilgrims, Indians or the Mayflower. It takes place in the Depression, so there are elements of struggling, but nothing like the experience of the Puritans. Truman Capote’s short story “The Thanksgiving Visitor” tells about one Thanksgiving in rural Alabama in 1933.
Seven year old Truman lives with four elderly cousins due to a custody battle between his parents. Miss Sook, his cousin in her sixties, is his best friend, “as she was a child herself (and many people thought her less than that . . .), she understood children, and understood me absolutely. Perhaps it was strange for a young boy to have as his best friend an aging spinster, but neither of us had an ordinary outlook or background, and so it was inevitable, in our separate loneliness, that we should come to share a friendship apart.”
Truman’s enemy was Odd Henderson, a twelve year old boy still in second grade who tortured Truman every day because he was a “sissy.” For example, Odd tackled Truman and rubbed prickly cockleburs in his scalp. Odd is a member of a proud down and out family. His mother struggles to care for nine children while his father is in jail. Miss Sook, a woman too uncomfortable to attend church but who reads her Bible daily, puts “love your enemy” into practice by inviting Odd to Thanksgiving dinner. Her experience in the Henderson house when she extends the invitation gives the reader an alternative view into Odd’s life.
Truman is sure Odd will not arrive on Thanksgiving Day, but of course Odd does, and he impresses the family gathering with his singing. Truman is so upset that his day is ruined by Odd’s successful presence that he hides in a closet. From this vantage point he sees Odd steal Miss Sook’s beloved cameo. At the moment everyone is seated at the table, Truman announces that “someone here is a thief” and exposes Odd. While Miss Sook tries to cover for Odd, the Judas admits he stole the cameo. Truman’s sense of betrayal by Miss Sook and her description of Truman’s actions are unforgettable in the love they have for each other and the kindness that Miss Sook extends to everyone.
Mr. Capote captures the simplicity of caring for your family and neighbors with such sweetness that I read this story every year, reading it feels like cuddling up with a soft blanket while drinking hot chocolate. This year I hope to read it to my family as we drive five hours to our holiday destination.
Tags: recommended reading
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It’s a great story. During the holidays, we read short stories to each other. My favorite is O’Henry’s “The Gift of the Magi”. If “The Thanksgiving Story” is the story that I am thinking of (does the story involve the making of fruit-cakes?), this is the one that my wife reads to us.
Happy thanksgiving to all!
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The fruitcake story includes the same characters and is called “A Christmas Memory,” I love that story also.
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Fruit Cakes are the specialty of my grandmother, she bakes lots of fruit cakes.-:-
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