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A Thanksgiving Story:
The Real Beginning

In the year 1617, on a day in late November, Matty and Filbert Baloney talked about having some neighbors over for dinner. When Matty asked what should she fix, she replied, "How about soup?"

Filbert replied, "No, I would have to make more bowls and spoons!"

"Well, how's flap jacks sound?"

"No, I'd have to go and tap a tree and I don't have time"

"How about baked mostacciolli?"

"We had that last Tuesday!"

Just then, a noise came from the nearby brush. "Gobble, Gobble, Gobble, Gobble, Gobble, Gobble, Gobble, Gobble, Gobble, Gobble, Gobble, Gobble, Gobble, Gobble, Gobble, Gobble, Gobble, Gobble, Gobble...

Matty and Filbert were getting pretty annoyed when Filbert yelled out, "BE QUIET YOU OLD TURKEY OR YOU'LL BE DINNER!!"

After several minutes, Matty and Filbert looked at each other and they both looked in the direction of the turkey and looked at each other again.

Filbert ran into the house, grabed his musket and shot old Mr. Turkey and they had him for dinner. After dinner, Filbert, sitting by the fireplace picking his teeth said, "Matty, you know what I was a thinkin'? I could get another turkey and we could have our friends over. I think they'd like a turkey!"

"You know Filbert," Matty replied," That's the best idea you've had since you burned my teeth in the fire two yarws ago! They were abotherin' me so much!"

Deciding they should make it a very special day for everyone, Matty and Filbert decided to invite not only a few neighbors over, but some Indians who helped him cut down a few trees years ago. Filbert made his way through the woods to the Hanobollachili Indian Tribe and they were all glad to see him.

He first spoke to the Chief of the Tribe. His name was Bruce and when he got the go ahead, he invited to the rest of the Tribe. There were 23 of them. Four of them were great entertainers in their own right. They were known during those times as 'The Singing Indians'. They sang some fun sing alongs around the fire that sometimes brought much rain that put out the fire.

Then Filbert made his way back through the woods visiting his neighbors along the way. He invited Ginny, her hubby Beauford and their 3 kids; a big burly asian man who lived alone, Nat Cho and his dog Poohbear; Frank and his wife Dolly Furter; and lastly he invited his old friend Phil Grimm telling him that it was a special day and insisted he be there and to bring his 2 children, Nina and Pinta and his wife Santa Maria. Filbert didn't know it but it was Phil Grimm's birthday and Phil thought Filbert was throwing a party for him.

When Filbert arrived home late in the afternoon, Matty asked him if he remembered to ask everyone to bring a special dish so she wouldn't have to do all the cooking. He said he forgot so she made him go back to everyone to tell them to bring a dish. He did and stumbled in the door at 2AM in the morning grumbling.

The next morning, Filbert had to go out into the forrest and chop down a tree to make a picnic table, some plates, forks and spoons and a stage for the Singing Indians of the Hanobollachili Indian Tribe. As he was chopping away, Matty ran up to him and said, "Filbert! It's Phil Grims Birthday next Thursday! Did you forget?"

"Oh my! Yes I did!' exclaimed Filbert. "What are we going to do?"

Matty, always known for having a good head on her shoulders replied, "Well, it will be a great party for the Phil Grimm's and Phil will be surprised!"

Here it is! The big day and both Filbert and Matty were up early preparing so everyone would have a great time.

The Phil Grimm's were the first to arrive. Then, the singing entertainers, The Four Indians, with the rest of the Hanobollachili Tribe showed up with corn. Later on, Ginny, her husband Beauford and their 3 kids arrived with some sweet pies and pickled eggs. Frank and his wife Dolly Furter brought the baked beans. And of course, there's Nat Cho, the big burly asian man who is always late. He brought edilble flowers.

Filbert, Phil Grim and Beauford went out in to woods and found two fat turkey's. They took aim and got them both. After cleaning them, they took them back to the house and roasted them over the fire. When it was time to eat, Filbert and Matty made Phil Grimm, Master of Ceremonys. His opening prayer was:

On this day we gather together,
To break bread today of fair weather,
Inviting me, Phil Grimm, my Birthday it is,
To celebrate with friends and all these kids.
So let's eat these birds and food so great,
Before I cry and it gets late! Amen.

The first Thanksgiving dinner included nuts, berries, and other fruits and vegetables; picked eggs; roasted and popped corn; baken beans and gravies; of course the two turkeys; edible flowers and an array of fine desserts!

After dinner, The Four Indians entertained everyone on the stage Filbert made. They sang songs like, 'I Left My Mocassin In San Franks Disco'; 'New Haven, New Haven'; 'If I had an Arrow, I'd Arrow in the Morning'; 'When The Moon Hits You're Eye Like A Big Husk Of Corn'; and a favorite sing along of the times, 'Tee Pee Sweet Tee Pee'. Bruce, Chief of the Tribe actually got up and did a dance which started a 15 minute downpour and everyone had to run for cover.

As everyone was leaving, they all took something home with them from the first Thanksgiving. The Hanobollachili Tribe took the stage; Beauford and Ginny took a few chairs; the Phil Grimms got the picnic table and benches because it was Phil Grimm's Birthday; Dolly and Frank Furter took some candles; and Nat Cho took his time leaving.

All in all, it was a very fine beginning to the first Thanksgiving! The next day, Filbert mentioned to Matty that he was glad she came up with the idea of inviting the Phil Grimm's and the Indians over for a Thanksgiving dinner.

Not the end but the beginning
of an American tradition.

Happy Thanksgiving!!