Thanksgiving was almost upon us. Even though it wasn’t a celebrated holiday in West Africa’s The Gambia, we intended to make it a special day and invited two fellow Peace Corps volunteers to join us.
Our chickens were all producing eggs so we didn’t want to slaughter one of them. I decided to buy a live chicken. Buying one already slaughtered, defeathered and prepared to cook was unheard of in this rural, third-world country.
That morning, soon after I arrived at work at the Health Centre, I asked Sister Roberts if live chickens were always available at the market. I didn’t even bother asking about a turkey–I’d never seen one in The Gambia. Sister was familiar with our Thanksgiving. “You’ll want a big bird, Mariama, so you should buy a rooster. But you must leave now or they’ll all be gone. People buy birds early in the morning.”
“Leave now? But I have this work to do.”
“That work can wait. You need to get your Thanksgiving bird.”
So I left the Health Center and walked to the market. Sure enough, the few birds for sale were going fast. I found a large rooster and bought him, probably paying more than I should have. I’d forgotten to ask Sister Roberts what it would cost. It was big and I had my hands full of flapping wings before I could settle him into the crook of my arm.
Planning to put him in our chicken coop, I stopped by the hospital to tell Sister I’d purchased my bird and I’d be back as soon as I took him home and walked back again.
“Why walk all the way home and back again? Here, give him to me.”
She opened a supply closet door, put the rooster on the floor and closed the door. My mind whirled with the idea of a live chicken in a hospital closet.
Once in awhile that day we’d hear a muffled cock-a-doodle-doo coming from the closet. No one else seemed to think it was strange at all.
At the end of the day I picked up my bird and carried him home. I stroked his smooth head feathers. Already I’d grown attached to him, but I steeled myself for his pending demise. I wasn’t looking forward to that part of our Thanksgiving preparations.
I had a renewed appreciation for America’s pilgrims and how they had an even more difficult struggle for food. We added a new level of appreciation and thanksgiving.
Your stories are lovely. Thank you for sharing!
Thank you. I love the memories.
What a great Thanksgiving story, Mary! I enjoyed every word 🙂 Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours…
Thank you, Alice. Thanksgiving is always special, no matter where you are.
Hi Sweet Mary, Q and I and the Crew send loving thoughts your way and wish you and yours a wonderful Thanksgiving. Was so nice to see you over the weekend, though I wish we were in the same booth to have visited more…. We head to Arizona on Saturday for 10 days to be with my sister, step-mom and brother. Wishing Christopher was coming with us, but looking forward to getting out of dodge for a bit! bye for now.
I hope you ALL have a wonderful time. It will be nice to get away. Oh, boy! Ten days in sunny AZ.
I never get tired of these stories. What a blessing you were to these people. Happy Thanksgiving, Mary.
Thank you, Carmen. I love these memories.
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