NIGHTMARE IN NOVEMBER
Thanksgiving from a Turkey's Point of View
By Elizabeta

I have a BAD problem. My name is Tom Turkey and I am a beautiful turkey with iridescent black feathers that shine a beautiful shade of green when the sunlight reflects off of them. I have shiny red wattles with a hint of blue in them. I have pretty yellow legs and feet with long, clear claws. I'm really smart. I'm a talking turkey! No, my good looks and intelligence isn't the problem. It's the fact that I am a TURKEY. I like being a turkey and all, but THANKSGIVING (gulp) is coming the day after tomorrow. Yes, the Nightmare in November.
I live on Farmer Brown's farm with three turkey hens whose names are Victoria, Lyla Lynn and Harry. Why doesn't Farmer Brown just eat one of the hens or buy a turkey from the supermarket? you may be asking. Well, I'll tell you. Farmer Brown wants a big gobbler (male turkey) for Thanksgiving, one he's raised himself.
And I'm the big gobbler. So that's why my life is in danger. I can't fly away because there's wire on the top of the pen that I'm in.
Oh noooooooooo...... Farmer Brown is walking over to the pen and he's got an ax in his hand!!!
Got to think of something..... got to think of something...... I've got an idea!!
"Farmer Brown, you don't want to eat me. I'm too smart. I can talk like a person!" I tell Farmer Brown.
"Well, that's something you don't see every day. A turkey that talks! Of course, a turkey will all most do anything around Thanksgiving," He says.
"I can do a lot of things," I say. "I can hop on one foot while the other foot is playing the piano, do arm motions for five dances at the same time with my wings and while all that is going on, I'm wistling and singing Dixie and drinking a glass of water at the same time. Oh and I'll also play the tune of Dixie with my tail feathers while I'm doing all the other stuff. I'm very talented. Want to see?"
"Uh......well......no. But I guess you better do it when you're alive. It'd be scary to see a turky dinner jump out of its plate and all that stuff."
"Well, you better be scared. If you eat me for dinner, I'll give you the worst haeartburn you've ever had. And when your stumach stops hurting, I'll haunt you forever!"
"Hmmm.....ghost turky. I don't think it would taste very good. It might vanish in my stomach."
"I'm not joking!!"
"So are you going to let me live?" I ask.
"We'll see. If you're still alive at midnight, you're safe."
Time passes on. The day turns into night.
Only a minute to midnight.
10-9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1. . . . .
"YES!" I cheer. It isn't Thanksgiving anymore. I'm safe! Farmer Brown kept his side of the bargain.
" Thanksgiving is going to be safe for me for now on, " I tell Farmer Brown.
"Christmas," he says, "Christmas. I didn't say anything about you being safe at Christmas. Won't you stay for. . . . .dinner?" he says as he licks his lips.
"EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEKKKKKKKKKKKK!!! LET ME OUTA HERE!!! I'M FLYING TO KENTUCKY!!"
"Kentucky?" asks Farmer Brown. "I thought birds flew south for the winter. Why Kentucky?"
"Haven't you ever heard of 'Kentucky Fried CHICKEN'? They don't eat turkey there!"
And with that, I spread my wings and fly out the open pen.
And THAT'S why you see more turkies around KFC during Thanksgiving and Christmas...........

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