Once upon a time, there was a turkey named Purkey who loved to dance. While the other turkeys ate and gobbled, she froliced around the barnyard.

“How silly you are Purkey! Gooble. Gobble.” They teased her, but she didn’t care. Purkey kept on dancing. It made her happy.

Soon the leaves turned vivid colors and fell off the trees. The wind blew with coolness. Purkey didn’t care because she was too busy dancing. Then one day the farmer walked into the barnyard with something in his hand. Purkey couldn’t tell what it was and she didn’t care.

“Gooble! Gooble!” The other turkeys cried as they ran past her. Purkey didn’t even wonder why they were running. She spread her wings and stretched her leg out, wondering what should be her next dance step. Then it was too late. The farmers hand wrapped around Purkey’s throat.

“Oh no! Purkey’s goose is cooked,” the other turkeys gobbled.

Cooked? That’s when Purkey realized it was Thanksgiving. Whatever she was going to do, she had better do it quick. Purkey began to twist and move around as in doing her favorite dance.

“What in the world is wrong with this turkey?” The farmer let go of her neck and stepped back.

“Feet don’t fail me now!” Purkey thought.

As soon as her feet hit the dirt, she began to dance. She hopped and skipped while bobbing her head around.

The farmer watched with his mouth open wide. He reached up and scratched his head.

Purkey knew she had his attention, so she had to give the best performance ever.

She swooshed her wings high in the air while shaking her tail feathers. Next, she kicked her legs up as high she could. Finally, she shimmied from her head to her toes. She looked like a dog shaking off water.

“HaHaHa.” The farmer laughed so hard tears ran down his face. “I haven’t laughed like that in years. Thank you Purkey for making my day.” This time, he carefully picked Purkey up and carried her back to his home where he showed Purkey to his wife.

“Dance for the Mrs.,” he told Purkey.

Purkey did just that. She hopped, flapped, strutted, and shook with everything she had. She even lost some tail feathers.

“How wonderful!” Mrs. Farmer exclaimed.

That Thanksgiving, the farmer’s family ate pizza while Purkey danced for them.

So, Purkey discovered that in more ways than one, it pays to always be on your toes. Even though she wasn’t the main course for the farmer’s Thanksgiving meal, she was the main attraction. She danced in her beautiful pink tutu the farmer’s wife made especially for her. And they all danced happily ever after.