Turkey Trouble on the National Mall by Ron Roy Read Free Book Online Page B

who,” said Marshall.
    “He said
he
didn’t want to ask people to pardon their turkeys this year,” KC said. “But I’ll do it instead!”
    Marshall watched as KC made big block letters on the paper. “I have a feeling this is going to get us in trouble,” he said.
    “Don’t worry, I’ll take the blame,” KC said. “And if I go to jail, you can bring me cookies.”
    Marshall grinned. “Okay. What’s your sign going to say?” he asked.
    KC finished what she was writing, then held the poster up so Marshall could read it.
    THIS IS CLOUD, THE WHITE HOUSE TURKEY. THE PRESIDENT IS GOING TO PARDON HIM. CLOUD IS GOING TO A FARM AT MOUNT VERNON TO LIVE HAPPILY EVER AFTER.
WON’T YOU PLEASE PARDON YOUR TURKEY, TOO? BRING YOUR LIVE TURKEY TO THE PEN ON THE NATIONAL MALL BEFORE THANKSGIVING. THANK YOU!
    “KC, there is no turkey pen on the National Mall,” Marshall said.
    “Not yet,” KC said. “Now you hold the picture of Cloud, and I’ll hold the sign.”
    Marshall sighed. He stood up with the picture in front of his chest. “I feel like a turkey,” he muttered.
    KC giggled. “You look like one, too!” she told him.
    A lot of tourists read KC’s sign and lookedat her drawing of Cloud. Most just smiled and kept walking.

    “Cool turkey,” one man said.
    A jogger stopped running, read the sign, and shook his head. “No turkey on Thanksgiving? No way!” Then he kept on running.
    “No one wants to give up their turkey,” Marshall said after they’d been standing there for a half hour.
    KC didn’t say anything. She felt disappointed. She had recognized a few of the men and women who hurried past, carrying briefcases. They were senators and representatives. She’d seen them on TV and at the White House.
    “There you are!” a familiar voice said from behind KC.
    The vice president strode toward the kids, holding her cell phone to her ear. She dropped the phone into her briefcase. Then she read KC’s sign and admired thedrawing. “So you’re still trying to get people to give up their turkeys?” she asked KC.
    KC nodded. “But Marshall and I are the only two who think it’s a good idea,” she said.
    “Well, count me in,” the vice president said. “Once people hear about your idea, I think we’ll get a lot of turkeys. And I’ll try to win the president over, too. If we can convince other people, I’ll ask the president to build a pen on the National Mall!”
    A tall man in a dark suit stopped. “Hello, Vice President Kincaid,” he said. “What brings you here?”
    The vice president smiled. “Hello, Senator Scott. Have you met KC, the president’s stepdaughter? KC and her friend Marshall are asking people to consider pardoning their turkeys this year. How about it, Senator Scott?”
    The senator read KC’s sign. “Like the president does every year, right?” he asked.
    “Yes, sir,” KC said. “Wouldn’t it be wonderful to know that your turkey was living on a farm, playing with other turkeys?”
    The senator smiled. “You’re very convincing, young lady. I’ll talk to Mrs. Scott tonight. But you’ve already sold me on the idea!”
    KC and Marshall beamed. “Thank you!” they both cried.
    As soon as people began to recognize the vice president, a crowd formed around KC and Marshall. The kids tried hard to convince everyone to pardon a turkey and to bring it to the pen.
    By the time KC, Marshall, and the vice president left for the White House, hundreds of people had read KC’s sign. Many of them thought it was a terrific idea to pardon their own turkeys.
    “When can I bring my turkey to the pen?” a congresswoman asked.
    “Tomorrow afternoon,” the vice presidentsaid. Then she whispered to KC and Marshall, “If I can get a certain president to agree!”
    Later, the president listened to Mary Kincaid and the kids as they told him about meeting people on the Capitol steps.
    “Maybe you’re not too young to run for Congress,” he told KC. “Okay, I’m convinced. Let’s