Dinner With Friends

by

John J. Dunphy

(Originally published in Cantos, 2015 edition)

Every Thanksgiving the women from my church

volunteered to serve dinner at a soup kitchen.

I ladled gravy on the turkey, dressing, and mashed potatoes.

I never enjoyed it.

The people (we were instructed to call them “guests”)

were coarse and vulgar. The smell of the food was also overpowered

by their B.O.

I left the church three years ago

when I lost my job and could no longer tithe.

This year I’m at that same soup kitchen,

standing in line for a free Thanksgiving dinner.

The church women remember me.

Some of the other guests are angry because

I’m getting such extra-large helpings.

John J. Dunphy is the author of a number of works, including Abolitionism and the Civil War in Southwestern Illinois and Unsung Heroes of the Dachau Trials: The Investigative Work of the U.S. Army 7708 War Crimes Group, 1945–1947.