Fictional piece on why we hunt turkeys today!

Tom Turkey,Where It All Began !

Tom Turkey was worried about Thanksgiving.
He and all the other turkeys sat in the barn talking.
"It is time we stood up for our rights!"Tom said as he stood before his friends.

Sally turkey was Tom's girlfriend. She sat listening while occassionally batting her lashes at him.
She just loved Tom's dark feathers,and his fancy strut.

We can't sit by and watch each other being taken to the table ! Why it's just not birdlike!(Human in bird terms).

" I say we all escape and do it tonight after Farmer John goes to bed."
Tom knew all about the Holidays and did not want to loose any of his friends this year.

"How can we escape, Tom? You know Farmer John's dogs are on the loose," Sally responded.

"I know this farm like the back of my claw, and we can do it. All we have to do is lure the dogs in one direction while running in the other direction. "Tom said.
The turkeys all gobbled and scratched the barn floor as they questioned Tom's abilities.

"So tell us, Tom ...how do we do this ?" Some of them said .

"We will have to have bait !"Tom said.

"What kind of bait, a dog bone or something ?" They responded. Some of them sneered as he tried to calm them down.

"Hey , you all know that last year, Mary and Bill Turkey was taken away, and Sally saw them sitting on the Farmer's Table all glossy and cooked with stuffing in their ...well we won't go into details.Just think ,we knew them..Why Mary used to turkeysit with your babies and Bill was always there in time of need. Well , who's gonna be next ? Are you willing to take that chance?"Tom said as he drew his plan on the barn floor.
Everyone became quiet and came in close to see.

"What about the bait ,Tom, you said we needed bait?"

We are the bait , my friend. One of us must lure the dogs in one direction while the rest of us escapes."

" Who wants to be bait ?" Tom asked

"Yeah Ok... I see where this is going and I don't like it ! said one turkey as he scratched in the dirt.

" We do not want to play bait, Tom ..It just doesn't sound too healthy!" they all replied.

"I will be the bait !" Tom said ..all went quiet in the barn, even the cows stood in awe.

"What?" asked Sally

"I said I'll do it. The only thing you have to do ir run to the fence wher the broken board is and climb through.I will catch up with you after I get rid of the dogs." Tom said.

"Oh I can't bare it ,Tom.."Cried Sally

"Look, if I don't do this ,then every year we will have to watch each other going to the table. I don't want to live that way,Sally. I know you all would rather have freedom...even if there's a chance of being taken out by a farmer or Hunter. At least we may have more years of freedom this way."

Everyone agreed. The moon would be full and as soon as Farmer John went to bed they would go.


Tom looked out the barn door to see if the dogs were there. All was clear to the broken fence .

"Ok, this is what you do, go left and find the broken fence and crawl through it and try to be quiet.Once your on the other side, You will run toward the cornfields and through the path to the other side. You will find a river. Go there and wait . I will be there shortly.
If I don't show up within the hour then keep going till you find safety. The river will take you to fields and forestry. I know , I have been there!"
" How did you get there, when?" Sally asked
"I will tell you when I see you again, Sally.. It's a long story. Go now ,I love you Sally.Now run for your lives!"


All the turkeys ran as fast as they could .The dogs heard them escaping and started towards them.
"Here goes, said Tom, as he got their attention and ran the other way. Dogs were barking and Tom was running trying to find a place to hide, when Farmer Brown's light came on and out the door he came ,shotgun in hand. "Hey! What's going on out there ?"he yelled as he ran to where the dogs were.
Tom was surrounded by dogs but fortunatly he was inside a pile of limbs and compost matter. and had hidden himself well from the dogs.

Farmer John was poking his gun around in the brush trying to see what was there. Tom had found a hole behind the brush and went through it to the otherside. He could see the cornfield and fled quickly away.

Down by the river sat all the turkeys waiting. They were all excited when they saw Tom coming.

""Your safe! " cried Sally.
"Yes, my sweet, I am here . But we all must keep going through the night and find a safe place to hide before morning!" he said.
They traveled all night until they found a place they thought was safe. There before them was a whole countryside with fields and trees and shelter. No houses to be seen . This was home.

Tom and Sally married and grew old together and all the turkeys populated the entire place. And This is when the Hunters began to hunt wild turkey. The turkeys have grown to be very smart and it's hard to get on, but if once in a while one is taken , they all know it is a price they must pay for freedom.

This year while your eating your Turkey, just remember you have Tom to thank. He started it all . And be glad your eating the turkey ,why it could have been your pet instead of a dog! Hunters made it possible and Turkeys pathed the way!

Happy Thanks Giving !
Gobble Gobble