‘A First Thanksgiving’
“Mom,” Kacie said as she gazed out the kitchen window, “will Dad be back in time for Thanksgiving?”
“Yes, he’ll be here.”
“But who will share with us now the Rays have moved? Oh, Mom, I see a little girl is in their driveway. Do you think our new neighbors have moved in? I’ll ask her.”
And Kacie ran out the back door, around the house and through the hole in the hedge by the driveway.
“Hi,” she said with a big smile “Are you one of the new neighbors we’ve been expecting?”
The dark haired girl nodded. “We’re waiting for the moving van with our furniture,” she said softly.
“My name is Kacie. I’m in the third grade. Our school is right around the corner and a bunch of us walk to school together. You can join us Monday if you want to.”
“Thanks. My name is Chahna and I’m in the third grade too.” She sounded scared to Kacie.
“I’ve never heard the name Chahna before.”
“It’s from India. I’m not an American Indian.” She spoke as if that might disappoint Kacie.
Then the furniture van pulled into the front curb and Chahna ran inside. And Kacie raced back to tell Mom.
“Their furniture van has arrived,” Kacie said. “And the girl’s name is Chahna and she’s from India and speaks English perfectly. She has long black hair and dark eyes. But I’m not sure she’s happy to be here, so could we invite them to have Thanksgiving with us? To make Chahna feel welcome?”
“Of course we can.”
On Monday morning, Chahna walked to school with the group. And Mrs. Webster introduced her to the class.
“All right,” Mrs. Webster said then. “I’ve selected three of your Thanksgiving essays. We’ll start with Holly.”
Holly stood and read from her paper: “The English colonists came to America to have freedom to worship as they pleased. They tried living in Holland first, but on Sept. 6, 1620, they set sail for America on a ship named the Mayflower.”
“Tyler?” Mrs. Webster prompted.
Holly sat down and Tyler continued: “The long voyage was cold and damp and many Mayflower passengers got sick before land was sighted on Nov. 10. They settled at Plymouth because it offered a good harbor and fishing.”
“Kacie, it’s your turn,” Mrs. Webster said.
And Kacie read: “ The Pilgrims’ biggest fear was an attack by the local Indians, but those same Native Americans turned out to be very friendly and helpful. And they attended the First Thanksgiving in 1621 and brought some of the food like venison and wild turkey and nuts. Today, people gather with family and friends, and even strangers, each Thanksgiving to be thankful and share food. Our national Thanksgiving Day, held on the fourth Thursday each November, was proclaimed by President Abraham Lincoln in 1863.”
Kacie smiled and sat down.
And on Thursday, Chahna and her mom and dad, and Kacie and her mom and dad, celebrated Thanksgiving together. And Chahna, when it was her turn, bowed her head and said she was thankful to have Kacie for her friend, at her very own First Thanksgiving, in her new country.
And Kacie said she was thankful to have three Indians — from India — for her special Thanksgiving guests.
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