“Is there any more cranberry sauce?” she asked Mother.
Mrs. Merrill shook her head. “I bought only a quart of berries,” she said.
“There won’t be any for Father and Uncle Dan,” said Dora.
“They never knew there was any,” said Mrs. Merrill. “They won’t miss it at all.”
“Oh, Mother!” said Lucy, “something is wrong with the gas stove.”
Mrs. Merrill hurried to the stove. Yes, the flame was turned too high and the macaroni was scorching.
“This dinner seems possessed,” she sighed as she turned down the gas and took out the macaroni.
Just then Olive came running in with a gay greeting. She kissed the little girls and Mother, too, because it was Thanksgiving. She ran up-stairs and left her coat and hat in the children’s room. Then she flew down.
“What shall I do?” she asked. “Mash these potatoes?”
“Yes,” said Mrs. Merrill. “Unless you’d rather make the gravy.”