Christmas Lunch

I had no idea what I was walking into yesterday.
We had a Christmas lunch for the community.  Anyone who wanted a feed and knew what was happening was welcome.  I had set up two days before.  I put out the regular tables and was told that a group was coming, and another table should go out.  I had set up enough tables and chairs for 65 or so.
Merril had spent time cooking for the event.  She was providing the glutton free food.  They were put on separate tables with a different server.  We had four other tables for the rest of the food.
The event was due to start at 11.30.  We were encouraged to be there earlier to ensure all was good to go.  There was to be singing and a brief Christmas message and then everyone eat at noon.  After main course was to be an item and then dessert.
That was the way it happened.  But people kept on coming.  Someone said to me before everyone had entered, they had counted 106.  Tables were put out everywhere.
The atmosphere was great.  It was like no other lunch we have held in that it seemed everyone was there to have a good time and talk to complete strangers.  As usual the food was unbelievably good.
The helpers were terrific.  I found it hard to believe how good.  No sooner did more people arrive, then tables and chairs appeared.  Any new set up was like the ones already there so no one felt they missed out.  My role in such events is to ensure anyone who comes is catered for with a place to be.
Boy was I busy.  Normally I sit with people and chat.  Yesterday it was impossible as I along with many others was busy the whole time serving.  There has to be some perks of the job and the lunch I had on the go was prawns on bread.  I was amazed how some people asked for particular prawns.  One guy told me how he had been to different places comparing the price of prawns.  They had been donated to us and were free.
The set up for the next day was seamless.  Personally, I cannot thank people enough.  That to me is the most fraught part.  If people fail to help it can take hours.  As usual I need not have concerned myself.  So many people got in and did stuff and we left at the usual time.
It was busy but good.  Everyone would have enjoyed the time.  We were satisfied tired, and will look back on the time fondly.