It's a cliche but they really had
forgotten to turn the oven on and our happy hour lasted much longer
than planned. My sister had brought a college friend from Nebraska so
she wouldn't be alone on Thanksgiving. My brother latched on to her
midwestern roots and went deep into a story about tasseling corn.
Children in corn country apparently pull the hair, which is really
the flower, off the top. It prevents the corn from breeding and makes
the ears grow bigger (or something like that).
The story had no particular point.
Nebraska girl who, in fact, had never tasseled corn, tried to be
polite.
Then Dad interjected. "I've just
always wondered how they get them spinning in opposite directions."
Mom rose from her chair, pointed her
index fingers straight out from her breasts, and began spinning them
in opposite directions. "Wheeeeee," she sang.
The turkey was ready soon after.