Billy and the Turkey
Shoot
A Thanksgiving Story
By Danny Tillman
The Thanksgiving Invite
They were all still standing at Uncle Rufus' '49 Ford… Aunt Mary began whispering to Uncle Rufus, then she turned to the master shooter,
"Mister, what are doing for Thanksgiving?"
"Well, Ma'am, I…"
"Why don't you come over and have Thanksgiving dinner with us?"
Aunt Mary did more whispering to Uncle Rufus and he nodded and said,
"And bring your family!"
"Well…that's mighty nice of you to ask, but…"
…and the long-bearded man was deep in thought for a few seconds, then came out with,
"Tell you what… Since you're so kind as to in-vite me an' my fam'ly, me an' my fam'ly'll dress and cook that turkey an' bring it over to your house on Thanksgiving Day."
Aunt Mary whispered in Uncle Rufus' ear again, Uncle Rufus nodded, and Aunt Mary said,
"And bring those helpers of yours and any friends from that gun club of yours that you want."
Aunt Mary went right back to whispering in Uncle Rufus' ear yet one more time, Uncle Rufus nodded yet once more, and Aunt Mary said,
"And we can have dinner outside just like the Pilgrims and Indians Thanksgiving!"
"Well, Ma'am, that's a right fine idee. Yes…" the long-bearded man said, "…just like the Pilgrims… and the Indians…
"…An' I tell you what, Ma'am, me and my people'll bring all the tables an' chairs, the turkey, some other meat, some fixin's, bread, deeserts, plenty enough for us'ns and plenty meat for y'all.
"Y'all jus' fix enough other kind of food and deeserts jus' for yourselfs, then we'uns kin share it all 'roun' with each other."
Uncle Rufus told the man how to get to their house. Byes-'til-Thursday were said and the mystery man turned to go, but Betty could stand the suspense no longer,
"By the way, Sir, we don't even know your name!"
"Pardon me, Ma'am for not introducing myself sooner. It's Yark, Ma'am. Albey Yark."
"Are you,…" Betty began.
"No Ma'am, yore thinkin' about Alvie Yark[1]. I'm his first cousin. T'weren't 'nough room in Tennersee for t'both of us, so I up an' moved to Florida," and he laughed.
* * *
[1] Alvin Cullum York (1887–1964), also known as Sergeant York, was an American soldier who was one of the most decorated United States Army soldiers of World War I was born in rural Tennessee.