Here is a story written by one of my grandsons, Swaroon, when he was nine years old. That was the time when the bird flu fear was spreading all over the world. Swaroon is now 13. I wish his imagination would come true and the turkies saved for ever.

Regards.

Natarajan

A Turkey’s View of Thanksgiving

One day a farmer was trudging along in his dark, dusty barn. “It’s Thanksgivin’ time.” the farmer said to his wife.

“Which ones r’ we goin’ to eat?” the farmer’s wife asked.

“That one!” the farmer cried. He was pointing at the oldest turkey in the barn. She had some little kids and they were very fond of her. The youngest one, Turk, said, “Why are all of you sad?”

“That is because our mother is going to get eaten!” Gobble angrily said. Turk was always naïve and never knew what was going on. Gobble, the oldest child, was thinking why the other turkeys were not trying to save their mother. “Why doesn’t anyone try to stop those menaces?” Gobble asked his mother. Gobble’s mother looked very tired and weary. Her name was Mrs. Energetic because she was usually energetic.

She didn’t seem like she was going to answer, but she finally said, “Before Thanksgiving began, and any humans lived in America, turkeys were the ones that ruled. They could even read and write! When the humans came they found our ancestors and killed them for meat. Now we know not to mess with them.”

“Why can’t we read or write or do anything like humans?” Gobble asked.

“Because then the humans will put us in a circus or something. It’s easier to live like a regular barn turkey.” Mrs. Energetic answered.

“Gobble, I have an idea!” Turk blurted out, “We can make mom write a letter, because she is the only one that can write, and then give it to Feather!” Mrs. Energetic was the only one who could write because she was the oldest and she learned how to write a long time ago.

If you’re wondering, Feather was the newspaper editor’s turkey. “Mom can you write me a letter about turkeys getting Turkeyitis?”

“Why?” asked Mrs. Energetic.

“It’s for school.” Turk replied.

“Turk, there are two things wrong with your sentence. One, you don’t go to school and two, they couldn’t have tried to teach you about writing because I’m the only one who can write.”

Turk stammered, “Well uh… it’s for…”

Gobble interrupted, “We’re playing school mom.”

“Really? Okay then!”

“Yes!” Turk whispered under his breath. Mrs. Energetic handed them the letter.

“Mom, we’re going to be playing outside okay?” Turk asked.

“Okay!”

As they went outside, they called their best friend, Birdo, with their eggphone. Birdo was another bird friend of their’s who could fly. “Birdo, can you fly us to Feather’s place?” Turk asked.

“Sure!” Birdo said.

They got to Feather’s house and him if they could stay for a while. “Feather, can you do me a favor and put this in the editor’s work pile?”

“Why?” asked Feather.

“Just do it!” Birdo screamed.

“Okay, Okay!” Birdo was very angry because he was flying for over 2 miles with 2 turkeys on his back. After a few seconds, Feather came back and said not to worry.

One day, the farmer that owned the turkeys screamed. He and his wife ran away from their farm and they told their relatives about Turkeyitis. Soon everybody heard about Turkeyitis and never ate Turkey again.

Now that everybody heard about Turkeyitis and Mrs. Energetic was saved, Turk was no longer naïve and inconsiderate. He was a hero; and because of him, all the Turkeys are spared from being eaten on Thanksgiving.

Swaroon Sridhar