The first phase of the Hanover clan Thanksgiving occurred not at George's apartment, but Jerry and Janey's 'country estate.' This made sense, even to George. Gerry and Janey had bought the place for a song, then continuously upgraded it over the years. Barns, sheds, additions, balconies, a larger, sunnier kitchen... the spread was nearly unrecognizable compared with the modest home they'd originally purchased. Mom and Dad Hanover, more commonly referred to as Grandma and Grandpa, were the default occupants of the single, small guest bedroom. Others would bed down in more public but equally comfortable digs. This was a house with three couches, four bathrooms, five televisions including a 59-inch behemoth in the 'media room' with surround sound speakers and reclining sectional seating. No one would feel crowded.
By nine o clock Wednesday evening, the clan had gathered with the sole exception of George, who declared a need for last minute preparations and promised to be Johnny-on-the-spot Thanksgiving day to make up for it. Grandpa retired early, claiming fatigue from the long drive west. Niles, flushed with success as an environmental management consultant, quickly holed up in Jerry's office to work on his most recent contract. Jerry moved into the master bedroom to relax and watch some tv while waiting for sleep. With the roosters safely out of the way, the hens chattered and clucked.
Or so it seemed to the roosters.
"Okay, everyone is here, I'm calling this meeting to order," Janey announced. Even wearing jeans and a plain white t-shirt, she projected confidence and power. Her hair and makeup still reflected her morning grooming for work. Shewas perched on a chair at one end of the dining room table, one leg tucked under, leaning forward on her elbows and smiling at the women gathered there.
Opposite Janey sat Grandma Hanover. A woman for whom the word 'petite' had been coined, she remained attractive in a mature way, with short, carefully styled, thoroughly silver hair and a minimum of makeup. Along the side from Janey's right sat tall, slender Leah, her pale skin livened with a light dusting of freckles, auburn hair nicely complimenting dark green eyes. Next to Leah was Marie, shorter, solidly built, with dark hair, sparkling brown eyes, a mouth shaped for easy laughter and a wry wit to make it happen. Directly across from Leah was Kay, the oldest sister, with Marie's dark coloring, Leah's slender shape, and Grandma's petite stature. And finally, next to Kay and across from Marie, sat Janey's eighteen year old daughter Heather, an interesting cross of Jerry's features, Janey's coloring, and all the confidence, energy, and insecurity of a teenage girl.
Janey scanned the women gathered there. "All the arrangements are complete, just as we've discussed," she stated. "Several of the board members and the lead leasing agent are clients of ours, so they were easy to talk to and totally sympathetic with our needs." She stopped talking and grinned widely. "There will be no guest passes available for the Hanover clan this Thanksgiving."
"Woohoo!" Heather cheered.
"Right on!" Marie affirmed.
"Yes, we RULE!" Leah declared, raising the Fist of Sisterhood high in the air.
Janey nodded, accepting their acclamations, then looked down the table to Grandma. She was still concerned. This was far, far outside anything they would have expected her to acquiesce to. Janey wanted to make sure her elderly church pianist in-law wasn't going to back out at the last moment and ruin the holiday. "Last chance to back out, Granny," she announced. "How about it? Are you gonna go for it?" All eyes turned to Grandma Hanover. She seemed uncomfortable with the attention.
"Well, I'm not sure why I let Kay and Leah talk me into this, but I don't want to be the party pooper and spoil everyone's holiday. I do think you girls are pushing it a bit farther than it needs to go. I mean, if the building says the men have to be naked, then I guess the men will have to be naked." She didn't seem terribly put out at being surrounded by naked men for Thanksgiving. "But," she added, "the building rules don't say anything about all this other stuff."
"Oh, there isn't all that much other stuff," Kay argued, trying hard to suppress her own grin.
"Not much at all, really," Marie agreed with vigorous nodding of her head.
"You know what I mean," Grandma argued right back. "But I already said I'd go along with it. I just don't want to actually DO it."
"We all agreed to leave your name out of the drawing," Janey said.
"Yes, and we all want you to know how much we appreciate that you're here with us and not hiding somewhere reading a book or something," Leah added. "It's much nicer when everyone can be here and enjoy it."
"Hummph! I don't know how much I'll enjoy it!" Grandma said with a mock-disgusted look.
"Hey, if you don't even enjoy sitting and watching this without actively participating, I'll need to check your pulse and call the undertaker!" Janey declared to universal chuckling. "So," she continued on, "we all know how it's going to work, right? We'll have two piles of names, one for women, one for men. We draw a woman's name, we draw a man's name. They're a team. No whining, right?" Everyone was silent for a moment. Then Kay cleared her throat.
"There are some problems, I think," Kay said. "For instance, what if the two names you draw are for a married couple? Is there going to be a rule that no one can draw her husband's name?"
"Yeah, and what about the fact that there are more women than men? What happens when the men's pile is empty and there are still names in the men's pile?" Heather asked. Her plump cheeks were flushed with teenaged excitement at what they were contemplating. This was the kind of party she and her girlfriends had barely dared fantasize about during slumber parties and camping trips.
"Well, I figured we'd just have to go with the names that get drawn," Janey answered. "That way there's no favorites. Everyone has an equal chance to participate."
"Yeah, except that two of us won't get to participate at all!" Marie complained. "That's hardly fair."
"How do you want to deal with it then?" Janey asked.
"Maybe we can negotiate," Leah suggested. Janey smiled. Negotiating deals to her own advantage was a Janey specialty. "And it's not really six to four here, because we already know Grandma is only going to watch."
"I'm not sure how the negotiating would work, but I'm willing to try it," Janey said. "All in favor?" Nods and general signs of assent met her eyes from all around the table. Only Heather sat still, looking slightly confused, her blue eyes focused on the table top.
"I can start the ball rolling," Leah spoke up.
"Don't you mean, 'balls?'" Marie interjected.
"I don't think those balls roll," Kay commented.
"I plan to roll some!" Janey declared to open laughter. "Okay, Leah, what did you have in mind?"
"I know Niles, and I know he's going to be uncomfortable with this," Leah said. "And I know that he can be very stubborn if his limits are being pushed. So I think it will probably work better if we give Niles to me instead of doing the random drawing with him. If it's anyone but me, I think he'll probably cut and run."
