My friend told me a story about turkey

Some 40 years ago one morning I saw this big chicken like bird in the courtyard, more colorful than a rooster. It made sound different than a chicken, walked differently also. I asked my mom what it is. She told me that was a "fire chicken". I went over and played with it for a while, hugged it, and even tried to ride on it. since it was about the height of me. It was a great bird and very gentle with kid.. Eventually I went on play with other kids for the day but still thought about it and wanted to play with it again later...

By evening time the bird disappeared. I asked my mom, asked my aunt, my cousin and my grand ma grand pa, but no one seemed to be wanting to tell me. I felt stranger but easily being distracted and lead to something else.

On dinner table I saw this huge round crispy skinned brown bird that my grand pa was cutting. I ate some delicious unfamiliar meat and wanted more of it. Of course I got more of it.

Bed time I remembered the big bird and asked my grand ma and my mom again and started crying of missing the "friend". Finally my mom told me that the meat that I asked for more were the meat from the bird that I played with... My little throat instantly felt like swallowed a big potato.and my heart was filled with the feeling of lost ...But quickly the taste of the meat and the sleepiness quickly over powered my little mind and I fell into sleep..

Somehow this part of the memory still remained in my mind for so many years. Sometimes I felt I was so privileged to have a turkey some 40 years ago in China, which was an extreme rarity, some other times I still remembered the gentle colorful bird played with me and then disappeared...

Now it's almost like a ritual of my own that every year this time I'll remember this bird, I'll remember my grand parents, I'll remember my parents and my brother and all the other family members... Time for remembrance, celebration and enjoy.

Wishing all of you a Happy Thanksgiving and enjoy the time spent with your loved ones.
 
Edward