Billy and the Turkey
Shoot
A Thanksgiving Story
By Danny Tillman
Rescue Raschelle plans wrap up! "
"And mosta all, you men listen up, and listen up real good: From ther time the Knife Lady rares back with one of them-thar Bowie Knifes, y'all got a-bout one half-a second afore y'all'd better be a-dodgin' 'cause that flyin' blade'll be whar y'all just were--that is 'llowin' you can move out t'way quick EE-nough an' not be there to get stuck in. "And if y'all cain't sidestep, duck, jump, spin, or whirl-a-gig fast EE-nough, and in t'right DIE-rection … well, that's why we're a-prayin' for help from above and trusting all to come out to rights. And if-n hit don't--well, we-uns'r' all pre-pared fer that too.
"But just now afore we-uns leave, ladies and gentlemen, I think that this-here move we-uns aer making today is the only which-way Miss Raschelle is ever gonna be able to break out and come back to any normal-type of life. "And this-here may be her last chance, 'cause I cain't see how we'd never get sech a bunch o' people as we have right here on this day again. "And on a Thanksgiving Day, too. It just seems like the time is right, is here, is now. "One last word afore we go. In this-here battle comin up, sometime during the tusslin' and bustlin' with Miz Raschette, and at a sartin time in our fight of subduing her, if-n possible, ... "I'm a-going to disappear rat quick-like. I cain't be a-tellin' y'all why just now, so don't be askin'. "Thar aer some other things goin' on here in the background that cain't be splained to y'all rat now nohow. "Later on, when things'll be settled on down, and y'all aer all back here safe and sound-like sometime later on in the day, if everthing works out all to rights, hit'll all come clear and out in the open-like sose y'all ken see the whole picture. "So when y'all look 'round and I aer not there all of a sudden-like--just carry on. Don't be a-frettin' yoreselfs none atall when hit happen. I'll be a-seein' y'all again later this afternoon. "At that p'int, when I disappear, Mr. and Mrs Pisachube'll be in charge. They be a-knowin' the PAR-tic'lars and the whys and the where-afores. Just keep a-trustin' and a-carryin' on with yore mission. "If-n y'all ken, just please try and get Miss Raschelle ready, and bring her to the Thanksgiving get-up together back har at Uncle Rufus' and Aunt Mary's house. "'Nough said 'bout all that. "Now, Uncle Rufus and Aunt Mary, by yore leave, my bunch'd like to borrow a couple of rooms sose they ken change into their Indian gear."