In this fanfic its Thanksgiving and Harry always skips out on it. Everyone assumes hes not much of a Thanksgiving dog but he even misses out on the leftovers so they either throw it away or give some of it to Elsie. He reveals that its because hes afraid of turkeys and has been since he was a puppy he cant even look at a cooked one. So to get over this fear hes going back in time to the first Thanksgiving to get turkeys off the menu.. THATS RIGHT hes going back in time to the first Thanksgiving to get turkeys OFF the MENU. Jk he learns more about turkeys in the book and tries to interact with them to get over the fear
Stanley: *Waking up* Good morning guys! You know what today is?
Harry: Hmmmm.. is it national fetch day?
Stanley: Hehe no Harry we'll play that later though! Today is Thanksgiving!
Dennis: Right on! Even if I cant eat the food I do enjoy the breezy fall weather spending time with your family telling everyone how thankful you are for everything good in your life! Its simply wholesome
Elsie: I just love whenever theres leftovers! Its the one time of year I get to eat human food its delicious!
Stanley: Yeah! Mom makes the best turkeys!
Dennis: Care to join us this year Harry? You always seem to miss out
Harry: Ummmmm.. no im good dudes! You guys celebrate without me I'll be in here!
Elsie: Harry you always miss out on Thanksgiving even though you celebrate every other holiday with us.. whats wrong?
Harry: Nothing! I just.. wanna watch my figure I dont wanna gain any weight from all that food
Elsie: Since when did you care about your weight? You eat all the time!
Harry: Are you calling me fat?!
Elsie: No im just saying the food is better than the stuff from the garbage! Come on I wanna share some of the leftovers with you!
Harry: No you eat it all! But if anyone doesnt care about their figure every Thanksgiving its you-
Elsie: You did NOT just call me fat!
Dennis: Guys settle down! Theres no need for an argument! If Harry doesnt wanna celebrate then I say we just respect that
Harry: Yeah so just go downstairs dudes I'll be taking a dog nap up here..
Stanley: Well ok Harry.. come on guys *Carries Dennis' tank and leaves with Elsie* why do you think he always skips Thanksgiving?
Dennis: Im not sure Stanley.. its strange because he usually loves to celebrate special occasions with us
Stanley: Boy I'll say hes usually always very excited jumping up and down
Elsie: Its no fun without him.. its a missing piece of the family..
Stanley: You can say that again..
Dennis: Lets not worry about it he'll be back to his normal self tomorrow like every year!
Joyce: Hey Stanley, Lionel can you come over for a minute!
Stanley: Sure thing mom! *Goes to the kitchen*
Lionel: *Goes there too* Yeah mom?
Joyce: I want you boys to help your dad and I make our Thanksgiving dinner for today
Stanley: Alright! What do you want us to do?
Mark: Stanley you help your mom with the cranberry sauce and mashed potatoes and Lionel you help me with the stuffing and the pumpkin pie
Joyce: And once grandma comes over with the turkey I want both of you to help her with that
Lionel: Sounds like a plan mom and dad
Stanley: Ok! This is gonna be fun!
*After a while of preparing the food Grandma Griff comes over with the turkey*
Grandma: Hello Mark dear! I hope im not too late!
Mark: Hey mom! Dont worry you're right on time we just got done preparing the food for later!
Stanley: And I helped!
Lionel: I did too!
Grandma: Thats great boys! You're such helpful grandsons! *Pats their heads*
Stanley: Hehe thanks grandma
Lionel: And now we're gonna help you prepare for the turkey
Grandma: Lovely! Its not hard at all! You just gotta season it and bake it for a few hours!
Lionel: Cool! But im curious why did you guys have grandma get the turkey rather than go to the store like you always do
Joyce: The stores were all sold out of turkeys unfortunately.. its a hot item this time of year
Mark: But luckily your grandma found an old family recipe and wanted you boys to try it for the first time! And she had one just in store at her house
Stanley: An old family recipe! Cool! How does it taste?
Mark: I've had her recipe since I was a child and it is the best turkey recipe ever! You boys will love it
Grandma: Im sure they will darling! Now lets get to preparing and then we can watch the parade!
Stanley: Parade?
Joyce: Yeah! Every year on Thanksgiving theres a big parade in New York City full of balloon floats and dancing and music!
Stanley: We're going to New York City? Then what will we do with all the food?
Lionel: No little bro he means we watch it on tv
Stanley: Oh.. I knew that-
*They make the turkey and put it in the oven and go to the living room*
Grandma: Thank you so much for helping with all the food Animal Stanimal!
Stanley: No problem grandma!
Elsie: Grandma Griff! *Hops on her lap*
Grandma: Oh why hello Elsie! *Pets her* how have you and the other pets been?
Elsie: Great!
Dennis: Just dandy!
Grandma: Lovely! Say wheres Harry?
Stanley: Hes up in my room hes gonna skip Thanksgiving again-
Grandma: Oh dear.. why doesnt he like Thanksgiving?
Dennis: Thats what we're trying to figure out..
Grandma: I'll call him over. Harry! Here boy!
Harry: *Comes out* Hey grandma dude! Nobody told me you were coming over!
Grandma: Its great to see you Harry! Here I made you all something special! *Gets out turkey shaped cookies*
Stanley: Awesome! *Takes one*
Elsie: Yay! *Takes one too*
Harry: Ummmmm..
Stanley: Whats wrong Harry?
Harry: Nothing- ummmm I gotta go! *Runs back to his room*
Elsie: Harry come back!
Grandma: Im gonna go check on him
Stanley: Me too
*They go to his room and see Harry trembling*
Dennis: Harry? Why are you trembling?
Harry: AHHHH- oh its just you Dennis.. im not trembling though- whatever that means
Dennis: Trembling is what your body does after you see something frightening you start shaking
Stanley: But what could have scared him so badly?
Harry: Ok.. you guys wanna know why I always skip Thanksgiving..
Elsie: Your figure?
Harry: No that was a lie dudette.. im missing out all the time because.. they're everywhere this time of year-
Grandma: Whos they?
Harry: I dont wanna say it.. it sounds silly..
Elsie: Oh come now Harry we all have fears.. im scared of the dark remember?
Harry: Thats at least better than my fear..
Dennis: Well what is it Harry?
Harry: Im.. afraid of turkeys..
Stanley: You're afraid of turkeys? But they arent scary!
Harry: Yeah they are dude! I dont ever wanna see one!
Grandma: Oh you poor thing *Picks up* what caused you to be afraid of them my sweet boy..
Harry: I've been afraid since I was a puppy grandma dude! I remember how it started.. I was only a year old the day before Thanksgiving and Elsie had to go to the vet so I was all alone in the house and the tv was left on so I decided to watch it and it was on some channel called Animal Planet
*Flashback*
TV: Its that time of year again! Thanksgiving! And what animal is more iconic this time of year than the turkey!
Harry: Then it showed an image of this other dog and a turkey next to it and the dude on the tv said something like-
TV: We all know turkeys! The birds that go gobble gobble and is a fan favorite to turn into a Thanksgiving feast!
Harry: And thats when I learned that turkeys eat dogs! And they turn them into food for Thanksgiving!
Dennis: Harry.. they dont go gobble gobble as in they eat dogs thats just the sound they make
Harry: I dont believe you! You're just trying to make me not scared of them!
Dennis: Well.. precisely.. but turkeys are not dangerous! They're actually quite friendly once you domesticate them
Stanley: Thats when you keep them as pets!
Harry: Who would keep a turkey as a pet if its just gonna eat their dogs!
Dennis: Harry you're not exactly thinking logically right now..
Elsie: Then again when is he ever?
Harry: Then after seeing that I just started freaking out and I messed up everything! The kitchen was a mess and everyone got mad at me.. thats why I stay up here too.. so I dont accidentally mess up Thanksgiving again..
Stanley: But Harry that was when you were a puppy! You've grown since then you wont ruin anything!
Elsie: If anything its not as fun without my big brother around..
Harry: Big brother? But im not a cat-
Elsie: That may be but you're the closest thing to a brother I've ever had.. *Nuzzling him and purring*
Harry: Awwww.. you've never said that to me before..
Elsie: Im feeling kinda mushy today its Thanksgiving after all and what im most thankful for is having you in my life *Licks him on the cheek*
Harry: Wow ummm.. thank you little sister! *Licks her*
Elsie: Ewww! I forgot how gross dog slobber was.. but I'll allow it this time since you're my special big dog brother
Harry: *Blushing* Stop dudette your words are flattering me! I cant handle being this flustered!
Dennis: Ok you two enough cutesy stuff.. now in order for you to get over this fear and for you to enjoy Thanksgiving with us I think we need to learn more about turkeys.. *Turns to camera* do you know where we can go to look up animals?
Grandma: Why the great big book of everything of course!
Dennis: Exactly right Grandma Griff! Now lets open up the book to the page of turkeys! And- *Sees Elsie* ok fine its Thanksgiving after all.. but make it quick..
Elsie: ITSSSSSSSS THEEEEEEEE great big book of everything with everything inside! See the world around us! This book's the perfect guide!
Dennis: I'd rather this song be gobbled up and thrown away-
Harry: AHHHHHHHHHH STOP!
Dennis: Oh my bad.. poor choice of words there wasnt it?
Elsie: Harry? You gonna finish with me?
Harry: I cant! Its too scary!
Elsie: *Sigh* Ok..
Grandma: I'll help you finish Elsie!
Dennis: *Sigh* Cant exactly get mad at a sweet lady like Grandma Griff.. alright fine carry on..
Grandma and Elsie: Turkeys go gobble gobble! They're nice so dont you wobble!
Stanley: Dont worry Harry once you see them you'll get over your fear! *Opens book* turkey starts with the letter T! T! Here it is!
Harry: AHHHHH dont hurt me turkey dude! Im not tasty at all!
Dennis: Ummm Harry.. they're just pictures.. a real one isnt gonna come out of the book..
Harry: *Looks at it* They look kinda freaky..
Elsie: But they actually arent! They're actually friendly! I went to a fair once a few years ago with the family and I befriended a turkey there! They're very social birds!
Dennis: And they are quite intelligent they can learn the details of an area up to 1,000 acres in size! Which is about almost as big as Balboa Park in San Diego California! Needless to say thats a lot of land
Grandma: Wild turkeys also fly at 55 miles per hour which is as fast as an average car!
Harry: You mean we arent safe even in a car!
Dennis: Hmmm.. maybe its best if we actually go inside the book and have him meet turkeys in person
Stanley: Good idea! Come on Harry!
Harry: NO! I dont wanna get eaten!
Elsie: Dont worry you wont get eaten *Holds his paw* I promise.. I'll hold your paw while we go in the book ok?
Harry: Ummmm.. ok..
*They jump into the book*
Stanley: Where are we Dennis?
Dennis: We're in farmland! Someone's farm full of turkeys!
Elsie: Awwww they look so cute!
Grandma: They sure do.. *Pets one* and they are so gentle
Harry: What is that thing drooping down its beak!
Dennis: Thats called a wattle it helps them release excess heat on hot days since they have such massive feathers! 5-6,000 to be exact! So they dont sweat like humans do
Elsie: Yes but how are you supposed to tell if its a boy or a girl?
Dennis: There are a few ways to tell for one males heads have no feathers on them while females do have feathers on their heads and if you pick them up the males weigh more than the females
Grandma: Male turkeys are called toms while females are called hens
Harry: Hens? But I thought thats what you called lady chickens?
Elsie: Female turkeys are also called hens
Dennis: They are also part of the poultry family! *Spins around and turns to the camera* which one of these animals also belongs in the poultry family? The chicken? The cow? Or the pig?
Elsie: Hmmmm.. thats a tough one..
Stanley: I know I know! The chicken!
Dennis: Right you are Stanley and you at home! Chickens are related to turkeys as they are both poultry!
*A turkey approaches Harry*
Harry: AHHHHH DONT EAT ME DUDE! I dont taste good at all! Theres no seasoning on me!
Stanley: It wont eat you Harry I promise
Elsie: Yeah *Pets it* go on pet it!
Harry: I cant! Im too scared!
Elsie: Harry.. if you can help soothe my fear of the dark just by sleeping next to me.. you can get over your fear of turkeys
Stanley: Yeah! Remember you helped me with my fear of doing tricks for the talent show at school!
Harry: I did that?
Dennis: Yeah dont you remember a few weeks ago? You were showing him all sorts of tricks he did and helped us teach him how a seal can do many tricks! You soothed his anxiety by helping him learn about stage freight too! *Turns to the camera* Harry does have his moments hes actually quite talented he just thinks with his heart more than his brain so thats why he isnt very smart but a great emotional support dog
Harry: Ok fine you dudes are right I'll give this a try.. *Touches it* hey.. the little red thing's fun to play with!
Dennis: Yes but I wouldnt really play with it just pet its back
Harry: Alright.. *Pets* wow its soft dude! You arent gonna eat me are you?
Turkey: *Shakes head*
Grandma: See? Turkeys arent so bad!
Harry: Yeah.. I guess they arent! Hey turkey dude whats happening!
Dennis: Wonderful! Hes over his fear of turkeys!
Harry: They arent so bad after all! Thanks dudes! I dont know what I was so afraid of!
Elsie: You're welcome Harry! Now are you gonna finally spend Thanksgiving with us!
Harry: Yeah! Lets go home!
*They go home and celebrate downstairs*
Mark: There you guys are! You're just in time because dinner is served!
Joyce: Hehe I see Harry finally decided to join us this year!
Grandma: Yes he will! He was actually afraid of turkeys so thats why the poor boy didnt celebrate it with us in the past
Stanley: But now that he got over it because of the great big book of everything he can join us!
Joyce: *Petting Harry* Thats great to hear! Harry's part of the family as much as the rest of us!
Stanley: He sure is! He may be a dog but hes one of my best friends!
Harry: *Licks Stanley*
Mark: Alright everyone dig in! Im hungry for some grub!
Lionel: Some what?
Mark: Oh sorry hehe must have picked that up from uncle Stew
Joyce: Thats enough of your uncle's ranch for one vacation mister
Mark: Old force of habit as I say *Kisses Joyce* now lets eat!
*At night upstairs*
Harry: *Trying the leftovers* Hey! This is good!
Elsie: Isnt it? Glad you're here celebrating with us!
Harry: Me too! Sorry I missed out all these years..
Dennis: No worries Harry! What matters is you're here now! And you're family!
Harry: *Throws the tank into a hug*
Dennis: WOAH- *Lands in the tank* might wanna be more careful there..
Harry: Thanks little bro! I love you.. I love all you dudes!
Stanley: We love you too Harry.. *Group hug*
Harry: Guess I learned that turkey dudes arent as scary as I thought they were..
Dennis: You sure did we're proud of you!
Stanley: They also have different ways to tell them apart like females have feathers on their head while males dont
Elsie: The males also have a more visible chest beard!
Harry: And what about that gobbling noise they make?
Dennis: Its a mating call used by the male toms to attract a hen!
Stanley: It sounds like this *Tries to make a turkey noise*
Harry: Oh ok! That isnt scary!
Stanley: Im thankful for my gift of animal knowledge and the delicious food! But you know what im most thankful for Dennis?
Dennis: Whats that Stanley?
Stanley: You of course!
Dennis: *Blushing* Oh- why thank you Stanley man..
Harry: Hey what about us! Dont you love us too!
Stanley: Of course I do Harry *Pets him*
Harry: Well good night dudes! And thanks again for helping me get over my fear!
Stanley: Anytime Harry! Thats what friends are for after all!
Elsie: You help me with my fear of the dark Harry cuddling up to me every night so I thought I'd return the favor!
Harry: Thanks dudette! And sis..
Elsie: No need to thank me.. *Sleeps next to him* good night everyone!
Stanley: Good night guys
Dennis: Good night turkey boy Stanley.. and good night Elsie my sister and.. my brave brother Harry..
Harry: Hey im brave now! Thanks Dennis dude!
Dennis: Hehe no problem Harry..