Turkey Monster Thanksgiving by Anne Warren Smith Read Free Book Online Page A

thanks.”
    I went back to making the sweet potatoes.
    After I dumped them into a big bowl, Dad mashed them fast. “This is what practice can do,” he said. “We are terrific cooks.”
    I tried to swallow over the lump in my throat. “But we have way too many things to worry about,” I said. “Now I wish nobody was coming.”
    He nodded. “Next year …” he said.
    “Let’s wear pajamas and watch the game on TV,” I said.
    “Sounds like heaven.” He handed me a package of orange paper napkins. “These go next to the forks.”
    At eleven-thirty, Tyler ate his lunch under the table. Then, Dad tucked him in for his nap.
    “Soon as I wake up,” Tyler told us, “I’m going to do it.”
    “Do what?” Dad asked.
    Tyler pointed across the street and shivered. “Tame him!”

Chapter 18
Big Trouble
    O NCE TYLER WAS IN bed, Dad and I followed the directions on the turkey wrapper and stuck the huge, cold thing into the oven. “Cross your fingers that it cooks in time,” Dad said.
    Then we set out plates and glasses.
    “Go easy on Tyler,” Dad said. “He’s only three, you know.”
    I suddenly remembered saying the same thing to Claire a couple of weeks ago. Had I gotten like her? Always pointing out the bad things? “I’m afraid Ms. Morgan will throw up when she sees him eat,” I said.
    “She won’t throw up,” Dad said. “He’s a pretty cute kid.”
    “He’s being brave about that turkey in the Plummers’ yard,” I said. “He says he’s going to tame it.”
    “I wonder what he means.” Dad yawned. “I’m going to shower and take a nap.” He disappeared into his bedroom.
    I made the appetizers while Dad’s shower ran. Every few minutes I flicked on the oven light. The turkey still looked stiff. As I put the appetizers on a plate, I hoped they were pretty enough. But I hardly cared any more. I shoved them into the refrigerator and went to stare at the turkey. It was browning a little.
    At two-thirty, Dad came into the kitchen to check the turkey. “It won’t be ready in time,” he said as he tried to poke a fork into it. “We could tell them to come later, but there’s no way to phone Mr. Flagstaff. He’s in that meeting.”
    Trouble filled my chest and made me want to cry. “They’ll be here in half an hour,” I wailed.
    Dad grabbed the phone book and flipped pages. “A restaurant,” he muttered. Then, he tossed the phone book into the drawer. “We’d never get a reservation now. There’s got to be cooked turkey at the store.” He jingled his car keys at me. “Get Tyler up and dressed. If our company comes, give them appetizers.”
    As he left, I put the plate of appetizers on the coffee table and ran to Tyler’s room, “Tyler?” I said.
    No answer.
    I shoved all the stuffed animals onto the floor.
    The bed was empty. Tyler was gone.

Chapter 19
Where Did the Treasures Go?
    T YLER WAS NOWHERE IN the house. I grabbed my jacket and ran out the front door. Cars lined both sides of our street. Of course! Claire’s company had come.
    Had Tyler gone to tame the turkey? He knew better than to cross the street by himself. Didn’t he?
    I suddenly remembered how he liked to hold my hand when he was scared. “Tyler,” I called. “I’m coming! I’ll help you.” Tears filled my eyes as I ran across the street. On Claire’s front lawn, something glittered at me. I picked it up. A truffle. I stuck it in my pocket.
    Just then, Claire’s front door opened. About a hundred people came out. Mr. Plummer was with them. He blew a whistle and a strange gobble sound came out of it. “Treasure hunt time,” he announced. “Gobble, gobble.”
    I hid behind the turkey.
    “What a clever idea,” a lady in a purple hat said. She came down the porch steps, looking into the gourds and squashes for treasures.
    But this would take too long. I had to find Tyler. I stood up. “My little brother is lost,” I said to the purple hat lady. “Please look for him while you look for the