Turkey Dump

“Welcome home, Sweetie!”

A young woman runs to her childhood bedroom

Gravy bubbles on the stove while someone mashes potatoes

Caramelized ginger settles over carrots in a frying pan

Hand turkeys made from construction paper guard a pumpkin pie in the fridge

Various cow pun magnets holding them securely in place

A ghost blows in front of a window bordered with bat-shaped gel clings

He struggles to stay attached to a hook on the roof overhang

Children kick a ball that knocks snow loose from the rope of a goal net

Boots secured by drawstrings

Toques pulled tight

Mittens heavy with damp

You know the few remaining fallen leaves aren’t crunching under anyone's feet

The excess gathered tightly into pumpkin garbage bags

Managed by someone before the first snowfall could hide them

One of many false starts to Winter

The young woman sniffles at the entrance to the kitchen

Hiding her tears as she grabs a ginger ale