Why is Melinda's mother stressed out in 'Giving Thanks'?

• A. She is planning a vacation
• B. She has set unrealistic goals for Black Friday sales and still tries to cook Thanksgiving dinner
• C. She lost her job
• D. She is hosting relatives

Answer: (B)

The main idea here is the clash between big, high-pressure work and a household duty. Melinda’s mother is stressed because she’s trying to push ambitious Black Friday sales targets while also juggling the demanding task of cooking Thanksgiving dinner. That double burden—meeting unrealistic sales goals while preparing a feast—creates the overwhelm she feels. The other possibilities don’t fit as neatly: planning a vacation isn’t connected to the Thanksgiving setting, losing a job would change the stakes, and while hosting relatives can be stressful, the scene emphasizes the struggle of balancing the sales push with cooking duties, which is the core source of the tension.