A MENAGERIE OF WAYWARD BIRDS III

NOVEMBER 24, 1954

Dr. Flanagan had to go to Washington D.C. to take part in a very important surgery. Since it was to take place the day before Thanksgiving he took his family along with the Gilligan's so they could have Thanksgiving there.

While Dr. Flanagan was at the hospital they all rented tandem bicycles and rode through West Potomac Park. They were riding along the Speedway when Will thought he spotted something in between the cherry trees.

"Hey what's that over there?" He shouted and everyone stopped.

They looked to where Will was pointing to and two large white turkeys appeared. Everyone froze as Will approached them and starting patting them.

"It always amazes me how animals are drawn to Will!" Mona Flanagan replied as Finley moved next to her.

"We have to bring them somewhere so they won't become you-know-what!" Will replied as he was joined by Bridget and Danny.

"Oh um maybe we can try to find a petting zoo nearby!" Ellen replied looking at Mona.

"Okay let's put them in the baskets!" Mona replied gesturing to the baskets at the back of the bikes.

"Okay you two be real quiet so no one will find you!" Will whispered as he covered the turkeys with blankets. Then everyone climbed back onto their bikes and continues riding through the park.

They were almost out of the park when two waving kids caught their attention. One looked to be a 13 year old boy in black overalls and a 10 year old in a green gingham dress.

"Hi I'm Gordon Summers and this is my cousin Mary Ann!" Gordon began. "This may sound strange but we are looking for two white turkeys."

"You see a month ago they made the news because they were white," began Mary Ann. "My uncle got a call from the White House to bring them to Washington. Once we got here though we didn't want to part with them so we let them go in this park. But we just found out that the President was going to pardon them!"

"What does that mean?" Danny asked as everyone raised their eyebrows.

"It means that they aren't going to be Thanksgiving dinner!" Gordon replied.

"Will you help us look for them?" Mary Ann asked pleadingly.

"We'll do you one better!" Will replied and walked over to the baskets and raised the blankets. "We have them right here!"

"Winkle and Twinkle you're okay!" Mary Ann exclaimed as the turkeys hopped out of the baskets and went over to Mary Ann who hugged them.

"We were planning on bringing them to a petting zoo!" Will replied. "Would you all like a ride back!"

"Yes that would be great thanks!" Gordon replied.

They put the turkeys back in the baskets then Mary Ann sat in between Ellen and Mona while Gordon sat in between Fatso and Farrell and rode to a nearby motel where Gordon and Mary Ann put Winkle and Twinkle back in their trailer.

"Thank you so much for your help!" Mary Ann replied. "President Eisenhower will pardon them during the Greyson's Thanksgiving Day Parade make sure you watch it."

"We will!" Will replied.

"So long I hope we'll see each other again!" Ellen replied as they got back on their bikes.

Gordon and Mary Ann waved and watched as they rode off.

A/N: There are wild turkeys and domesticated turkeys. Wild turkeys are smaller with long legs they are agile fliers but usually fly close to the ground.

Domesticated turkeys are bigger and are unable to fly because of their weight.

The presentation of the turkey started with President Truman and the first to issue a pardon was Reagan and the tradition was started by H. W. Bush.

The breed of turkey that usually receives the presidential pardon is called the Broad Breasted White. Unfortunately due to being overweight they gave short lives.

A/N: Please check out my story DOPPELGÄNGERS EXPOSED.

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