Thanksgiving at Emma’s House

Scene 1: Emma’s kitchen, Thursday morning. The smell of turkey fills the air; Grace helps set the table.

Scene 1

GRACE: Everything smells amazing, Emma! You’ve really outdone yourself this year.

EMMA: Thanks, Grace. I just hope the turkey finishes cooking on time.

GRACE: Don’t worry, it looks perfect. Daniel said he’s bringing a dessert, right?

EMMA: Yes, he’s bringing pumpkin pie. It’s his first Thanksgiving, so I told him to try baking something traditional.

The doorbell rings. Emma wipes her hands and goes to open the door.

EMMA: Daniel! Come in. Happy Thanksgiving!

DANIEL: (smiling) Happy Thanksgiving! I hope I said that right. Here’s the pie—I made it myself.

GRACE: Wow! It looks beautiful. You’re a natural.

Scene 2

Around the dining table. Turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, vegetables, and cranberry sauce cover the table.

DANIEL: I’ve heard about Thanksgiving for years, but this is my first time celebrating it.

EMMA: Then welcome to your first American holiday feast! It’s all about food, friends, and being thankful.

GRACE: And overeating! Don’t forget that part.

DANIEL: (laughs) I’ll try my best. So, what are you most thankful for this year?

EMMA: Hmm… I’m thankful for good health and for having everyone together again.

GRACE: I’m thankful for this delicious food—and for not having to do the dishes!

DANIEL: I’m thankful to have friends who invite me to share this tradition. Back home, we have harvest festivals too, but this feels so warm and special.

EMMA: That’s wonderful. What do you usually eat at your harvest festival?

DANIEL: We cook rice dishes, vegetables, and sweet cakes. Everyone brings something to share, just like this.

Scene 3

After dinner. They relax in the living room; the fireplace crackles softly.

GRACE: I can’t move! I ate too much.

EMMA: (laughs) That means it was a good meal.

DANIEL: I loved the turkey and stuffing, but the cranberry sauce was new to me. It’s sweet and sour at the same time!

GRACE: That’s the best part. You’ll get used to the strange combinations.

EMMA: Next year, you can host Thanksgiving, Daniel.

DANIEL: (grinning) I’ll try—if you promise to help me with the turkey.

EMMA: Deal. The secret is to start early and not panic.

GRACE: And to keep the dessert table full!

They clink their glasses of apple cider together.

ALL: Happy Thanksgiving!

— THE END —

Vocabulary List

Feast /fiːst/ (n.) a large, special meal with a lot of food. Example: They enjoyed a Thanksgiving feast together.
Stuffing /ˈstʌfɪŋ/ (n.) a seasoned bread mixture cooked inside or with the turkey. Example: The stuffing was full of herbs and vegetables.
Cranberry sauce /ˈkrænberi sɔːs/ (n.) a sweet and sour sauce made from cranberries, often eaten with turkey. Example: Daniel tried cranberry sauce for the first time.
Pumpkin pie /ˈpʌmpkɪn paɪ/ (n.) a traditional Thanksgiving dessert made with pumpkin. Example: He baked a pumpkin pie for the dinner.
Tradition /trəˈdɪʃn/ (n.) a custom or belief that is passed down over time. Example: Inviting friends for Thanksgiving is their family tradition.
Harvest /ˈhɑːrvɪst/ (n.) the time when crops are collected from the fields. Example: His home country celebrates a big harvest festival.
Invite /ɪnˈvaɪt/ (v.) to ask someone to come to an event. Example: Emma invited Daniel to her home.
Overeat /ˌoʊvərˈiːt/ (v.) to eat too much food. Example: It’s easy to overeat at big holiday meals.
Grateful /ˈɡreɪtfl/ (adj.) feeling thankful for something. Example: Daniel felt grateful to share the holiday.
Apple cider /ˈæpl ˈsaɪdər/ (n.) a drink made from pressed apples, often served warm in autumn. Example: They toasted with glasses of apple cider.

Characters:

Vocabulary List