Why the Farmer Ate Pizza for Christmas

by Emerson Renee Ouellette

Dean the turkey was on the ranch. “It is almost Christmas, Eve,” said Dean. “I don’t want to be eaten. I need a plan!” he exclaimed.

“I got it. I can hide in the mud!” Dean spotted the mud. He ran and slid right into it like he was playing baseball. “Here I come!” he said with excitement.

Then the farmer walked right into the mud. He felt something mushy. Dean did not know what was going on so he peeked his little head out of the mud. The farmer said, “Dean, are you ready for the feast already?”

Dean ran and said, “No, I am not ready. In fact I will never be!” he squawked.

“I need a new plan.”

He fell flat on his butt and thought until he had an idea.

Dean found some rope in the farmer’s barn. He looked around a little and he spotted the mean, ugly farmer. He waited for it to be a good moment and then he ran with his stick figure turkey legs.

He yelled in Japanese, “Oh Sobe mi Korechua” and jumped on the farmer like he was a wrestler. Dean tied the farmer up with his triple doubled knot. Then he ran inside the farmer’s bathroom to look for some numbing cream. He ran back and guess what?

Gone!

Dean said, “I thought that was my best plan.” He thought and thought with his little turkey brain.

“I got it,” he said. “I know this plan will work. I need to go to the fabric store to get my materials to make a disguise.” Dean ran to the fabric store and asked the worker, “Do you have any camouflage cloth and feathers?”

The fabric store had cloth but no feathers. “I guess I have to pull a feather out of me.” Dean scampered back to the farm, went in the barn, grabbed some scissors, cut out a shirt and pants, and put it all on. Dean the turkey was now Dean the Army Ranger.

The farmer finally gave up looking for a turkey for Christmas dinner. His family ate pizza instead. Dean had happy holidays. Even though every holiday he disguised himself as an Army Ranger. He loved to see the farmer eating pizza instead of him!

Emerson was asked by her teacher to read her turkey story at an evening parent event. Here she is on stage reading about Dean the Turkey!