"Louise, can you and Pastor Hal come to Thanksgiving dinner at our house this Friday? I have this really, really big turkey, and I don't want a ton of leftovers," Tracy implored her friend.

"Well, I'd love to, but we always invite a widower, Andy Vespa, each Thanksgiving. I don't want him to be by himself with his pork and beans. Of course, Steve and Vicki will be here, too," Louise replied. "Andy's always been a part of this family gathering."

"I know Andrew! I visited his wife, Della, at the VA Hospital when she dying. Bring him along," Tracy exclaimed. "Tell Steve and Vicki I expect them, too." Tracy took a finger count of her guests. "There's our family — Jimmy, me, Adam, Erin, Jacob — that's five; then Hal, Louise, Steve, Vicki, and Andrew. That makes ten. Two more would make it ni…