It was a chilly Thanksgiving morning in the small town of Evergreen Falls, where the snow always seemed to arrive just in time for the holiday. At the heart of the town stood the Silver Maple Inn, a cozy family-owned bed-and-breakfast famous for its roaring fireplace, delicious food, and, most notably, its unique Thanksgiving cocktail.
The cocktail was a tradition passed down for generations, known as the “Harvest Glow.” Its ingredients—cranberries, pineapples, and oranges—seemed simple, but the secret was in how they were combined. Sylvia Maple, the current innkeeper and great-granddaughter of the inn’s founder, guarded the recipe like a treasure.
Sylvia would gather the townspeople and guests every Thanksgiving in the inn’s grand hall. As the aroma of roasted turkey filled the air, she would serve the cocktail, a vibrant crimson drink that sparkled like autumn leaves in the sunlight. For those who tasted it, the cocktail wasn’t just a drink—it was a memory, a feeling of warmth and celebration.
This year, however, Sylvia faced a crisis. As she unpacked the morning’s delivery of fresh produce, she discovered the pineapples were missing.
“How can I make the Harvest Glow without pineapples?” she fretted.
The tart sweetness of the tropical fruit was essential to balance the bold cranberries and the zesty oranges.
Sylvia’s nephew, 12-year-old Max, overheard her distress. “Aunt Sylvia, can’t we just use something else? Maybe apples or pears?”
Sylvia shook her head. “No, Max. Pineapples bring the brightness that makes it special. Without them, it’s just…juice.”
Determined not to let the tradition falter, Sylvia decided to find pineapples herself. But on Thanksgiving morning, the local grocers were closed. Word spread quickly through the town, and soon Sylvia had a small army of helpers: Max, his best friend Emma, and even Old Joe, the town’s retired postman. Together, they set off on a snowy adventure to neighboring towns, searching for pineapples.
Meanwhile, back at the inn, the guests began to gather. As the hours passed and Sylvia hadn’t returned, the guests decided to take matters into their own hands. Inspired by the Harvest Glow’s spirit of togetherness, they began experimenting with different fruit combinations.
“What if we use pomegranates?” someone suggested. “Or mix in a splash of maple syrup for warmth?”
Sylvia returned just as the sun set, holding a single pineapple triumphantly over her head. But when she saw the guests laughing, mixing, and tasting their improvised drinks, her heart swelled. She realized the true magic of the Harvest Glow wasn’t just the pineapple—it was the community it brought together.
Love,
Carmen
Carmen Monica Oprea 