8. Three Squeezes

8 Three Squeezes Mr. Scary checked the clock again. "Okay. It's time for our last thankful item before lunch," he said. "Shirley's Snausage story was so nice. I'm wondering if anyone else has an animal you're thankful for." Sheldon's hand shot up like a rocket. "I do! I do, Mr. Scary! I have three animals I am thankful for! And guess what? I got my picture taken with every single one of them!" He quick leaned down to his Thankful Bag. And he started searching through it. He stopped to glance up. "And here's the part that you're really going to love," he said. "All of the animals are

Thanksgiving animals, Mr. Scary! All of them are turkeys!" Mr. Scary looked happy at that news. "Turkeys?" he said. "No kidding, Sheldon? That's great!" "I know it!" said Sheldon. "My uncle Vern has turkeys at his house. And he took pictures of me with the three that I love the most." Mr. Scary smiled real big. "This is perfect, Sheldon! I didn't even know that your uncle Vern was a turkey farmer." Sheldon looked puzzled. "He's not," he said. "Uncle Vern and Aunt Bunny live out in the woods." He did a pause. "They moved out there to get away from the law," he said. Mr. Scary cleared his throat real nervous. "Yes. Well, um… that's fine, Sheldon. But

that story is really none of our business," he said. Well, I think it's our business! shouted a loud voice. I think he should be arrested! All of our eyes turned to May. Her face looked shocked at us. "Don't look at me! I didn't say that! It was him!" she said. Then she quick pointed to Police Sergeant Chuck on Mr. Scary's desk. Mr. Scary rolled his eyes very annoyed. He told May to button her lips. She started to sputter. "But… but… but…" Mr. Scary snapped his fingers at her. Then he turned back to Sheldon. "Please forgive that interruption, Sheldon," he said. "I really can't wait to see your turkey pictures! I've seen wild turkeys when I've been hiking. But I've never been close enough to get a picture."

"Really?" said Sheldon. "That's odd. It's easy to get turkey pictures at Uncle Vern's. He brings them right inside his camper." Mr. Scary's face went funny. But he didn't say any words. Then, all of a sudden, Sheldon found the pictures he was looking for in his Thankful Bag. And his whole face lighted up. "I found them! Here they are! Here are the pictures of me and my three favorite turkeys at Uncle Vern's!" he said. He took them out and put them in order. "Number one is Gary Gobbles. "Number two is Harry Gobbles. "And number three is Larry Gobbles!" He smiled real big at that one. "Larry was from last year," he said. "He is the turkey I loved the most." He jumped up and held Larry's picture for all of us to see. "Look, everyone. See him? See Larry?"

We leaned in closer. Then all of our faces went funny. Plus Mr. Scary's face went funny again, too. "Oh, uh, well … this isn't what we expected, Sheldon," he said. "This isn't a picture of a wild turkey in the woods, is it?" He did a hard swallow. "This is a picture of a cooked turkey… on your plate… and you're eating it."

Sheldon nodded real happy. "Yes," he said. "I know. At Thanksgiving, we take pictures of the delicious turkeys we have loved and eaten. And this is Larry from last year." He looked curious at our teacher. "Don't you take pictures of your Thanksgiving dinners?" he asked. Mr. Scary thought a minute. "Well, yes. Now that I think about it, we do, Sheldon. We do take pictures of our Thanksgiving meals," he said. Sheldon smiled at Larry again. "Larry was my favorite," he said. "Look. See? Uncle Vern gave me the drumstick. In our family, it is an honor to get a Thanksgiving drumstick." Sheldon stood up straight and tall. "The drumstick is what a king gets," he said real proud. I thought about that.