Abby Klein - Thanksgiving Turkey Trouble

by ABBY KLEIN
illustrated by
JOHN MCKINLEY
To my family:
I am thankful for you everyday
I love you!
love,
A.K. I have a problem.
A really, really, big problem.
My class is doing a play
for Thanksgiving, and
Im afraid Ill get
the worst part! Let me tell you about it. I love Thanksgiving because I love the good food, getting together with my family, and sharing memories. Once when I was little, I wanted to help my mom cook the Thanksgiving dinner. She had just started making mashed potatoes when the phone rang, so she asked me to turn on the mixer and mash them up. I didnt realize that you had to lock the mixer in place before you turned it on, so I just hit the start switch and mashed potatoes started flying everywhere! There was potato goo on the kitchen walls, on the floor, all over my face, and dripping off my hair.

What a mess! My mom didnt think it was very funny at the time, but now we look back on it and laugh. Im sure you have a special Thanksgiving memory, and youre thankful for many things. I hope you have as much fun reading Thanksgiving Turkey Trouble as I had writing it. HAPPY READING!

Listen, everyone, said our teacher, Mrs. Wushy. Thanksgiving is coming up, so Id like us all to take a minute and think about the things we are thankful for.

Im going to make a list of your suggestions. Chloes hand shot up. Oh, I know lots of things Im thankful for. Thats wonderful, Chloe. Why dont you tell us about one thing. This should be good, I whispered to my best friend, Robbie.

Yeah, Robbie whispered back. I bet shes probably going to say shes thankful for red nail polish. Chloe, were waiting, said Mrs. Wushy. Im thinking. Im thinking, said Chloe, wrinkling up her nose.

Its just so hard to choose only one thing. Max let out a huge sigh. Hey, Little Miss Priss, we havent got all day. Chloe turned and glared at Max. Its not your turn. My other good friend, Jessie, leaned over to me. My other good friend, Jessie, leaned over to me.

Is she serious? Oh, shes serious all right. Mrs. Wushy stared at Chloe for a moment and then said, Yes, well, thats nice, but I was hoping we could think of things that are a bit more personal. Oh, you mean like jewelry? Robbie shook his head. Is she for real? No, Chloe, more like things you cant buy in a store. I dont get it, said Chloe.

Of course you dont, Jessie muttered under her breath. I think I might have an idea, Mrs. Wushy. Great, Jessie. What is it? Family. Excellent. Excellent.

That is exactly the kind of thing I was looking for. I feel so lucky to have my mom and my abuela, my grandma, living with me. Mrs. Wushy wrote the word family at the top of the list. I have one, Robbie said, raising his hand. A home, a place to live.

Every time I see a homeless person on the street, I think about how lucky I am that I have a place to sleep at night. Another excellent idea, said Mrs. Wushy, adding the word home. Id like each person in the class to add something to our list. Whod like to go next? Food! yelled Max. As usual, he didnt raise his hand.

He just blurted out the answer. Thank you, Max. Food is a good suggestion, but you need to remember to raise your hand and not call out. Hey, thats not fair, Chloe whined. You said you didnt want things you can buy in a store. You can buy food in a store.

Thats true, Chloe, said Mrs. Wushy, but food is something we cant live without. Well, I cant live without my expensive dresses, so why cant they go on the list? Mrs. Wushy let out a big sigh and then called on the next person. Kids made all kinds of suggestions for the list: nature, friends, pets, and grandparents. My turn was next, and I couldnt think of anything else to say.

All of my ideas were already on the list. Freddy, how about you? said Mrs. Wushy. You havent given us a word for the list yet. Ummmm, ummmmm. Freddy, youve had a lot of time to think.

Were running out of time. Love. The word just slipped out of my mouth before I could stop it. I could hear all the kids snickering. Then Max started singing, Freddy and Jessie sitting in a tree. K-I-S-S-I-N-G.

First comes love Max, that is enough! said Mrs. Wushy, and she pointed to a chair. Go sit in that chair. You are in time-out. Then she turned back to me. I am sorry about that, Freddy.

I think what you said is beautiful. I think we are all thankful for love. I dont even want to think about what the world would be like without love. Nice one, Robbie whispered. Thanks. Mrs.

Wushy sure liked it. Thatll probably put you on her good list. OK, boys and girls. You all did a great job thinking of things you are thankful for. Now I have a special surprise for you. Oooh, I just love surprises, Chloe squealed, clapping her hands together.

Is it a present? Is there one for everybody? No, Chloe, its not a present, Mrs. Wushy answered. You could tell she was starting to get irritated. Oh, said Chloe, disappointed. We are going to do a little play for your parents about the story of Thanksgiving, and well also include some of these things we are thankful for. Yeah! A play! A play! everyone cheered.

I love plays, said Jessie. I do, too. Suzie told me this play is really fun. She got to do it when she was in Mrs. Wushys class. Cool.

Boys and girls, you will all get your parts tomorrow. Everyone started yelling, I want to be a Pilgrim! I want to be an Indian! Quiet down, everybody. I know you are all excited, but you will have to wait until tomorrow. Awwwhhhhhhh. And you do not get to choose your part. I will write down all the parts on little slips of paper, and you will pick one out of a hat.

There will be no complaining. You get what you get, and you dont get upset. I hope I get a good part, said Jessie. Me, too, I said. Me, too!

That night at dinner my mom said, I have some great news! Papa Dave and Grammy Rose are coming for Thanksgiving. Woo hoo! I yelled, jumping up and down and pumping my fist in the air.