Don't Be Such a Turkey! Read online

  “I was really glad when Sarah showed up,” Katie continued. “She saved me. I mean it’s so crowded here. I would have never found my mom and dad on my own.”

  “Wow! You’re a real hero,” the news reporter said to Sarah.

  Suddenly, Sarah found her voice again. “Well, I’m a New Yorker, and she’s not,” she said proudly. “So I knew I had to help her. We New Yorkers are very helpful people.”

  The news reporter smiled into the camera. “And there you have it, folks. A message to all of you who are thinking about visiting New York. Come! New Yorkers are here to help.”

  Katie started to giggle. It didn’t seem like Sarah would be happy with more tourists in New York. But at least she didn’t look embarrassed anymore. In fact, she was smiling for the cameras. Sarah was right. She had just become one of the stars of the parade.

  Thanks to Katie, of course.

  Chapter 18

  “Could you please pass the mashed potatoes, Aunt Alison?” Katie asked.

  Katie’s aunt passed the huge bowl of Uncle Charlie’s special mashed potatoes down to the other end of the table where Katie was sitting. Katie plopped a big spoonful onto her plate and dug in. “Your tofurkey was delicious,” Katie told her aunt. “It was so nice of you to have it for me.”

  “Wow. Am I full,” Katie’s mom said.

  “I think I’m going to pop a button on these pants if I eat another bite,” Uncle Charlie added.

  “I bet that’s why the Pilgrims called their big meals groaning tables,” Katie said. “Because after a while, everyone gets so full, they start groaning.”

  “I wouldn’t doubt it,” Katie’s dad agreed.

  “I know one person who’s finally stopped groaning,” Emily said. “Sarah. She called me after the parade, and I’ve never heard her so happy. She said she’s going to be on three news shows tonight.”

  “I still don’t understand how you got lost, Katie,” Aunt Alison said. “We were standing right in front of the building. It was like you blew right past us.”

  Katie tried hard not to laugh. That was exactly what it was like. But she could never tell her aunt that. Instead she said, “Well I’m glad I got back in time to see the rest of the parade. Especially the big sleigh carrying Santa.”

  “That means Christmas can’t be far off,” Uncle Charlie said. “Are you guys planning a vacation for Christmas?”

  “Oh no,” Katie’s dad said. “We’re spending that holiday in Cherrydale.”

  Katie smiled. She was glad her dad had said that. Christmas was definitely the kind of holiday you wanted to spend at home.

  Still, this Thanksgiving had turned out a lot better than she’d ever expected. The parade had been really exciting to watch. Her cousin Emily had given her some really cool clothes. And Thanksgiving dinner was delicious.

  Best of all, Katie was surrounded by her family. They were all laughing, joking, and having a really good time.

  Just then, Katie felt a cold wind blowing on the back of her neck. Oh no! Could the magic wind be back? Right now? In the middle of Thanksgiving dinner?

  “Charlie, can you shut that window?” Aunt Alison called from across the table. “It’s getting chilly in here.”

  Phew. It was just an ordinary, late November wind. The kind of wind that doesn’t switcheroo you.

  That meant Katie could stay Katie. At least for now. And that was definitely something to be thankful for.

  Eat Like They Did at the First Thanksgiving!

  Katie and her friends had a lot of fun during their visit to the Good Morrow Village. One of the best things about the field trip was that the kids could eat just like the Wampanoags and the Pilgrims did.

  One of Katie’s favorite dishes at the groaning board was called stewed pompion. It’s a dish made with pumpkins or squash that’s easy to make and delicious to eat. Here’s a modern stewed pompion recipe you can try at home.

  This recipe makes four servings.

  You will need:

  2 medium acorn squash (about 2 ½ pounds),

  peeled and cut into squares

  1 cup 1% low fat milk

  3 tablespoons butter

  3 teaspoons cider vinegar

  2 teaspoons ground ginger

  ½ teaspoon salt

  Here’s what you do:

  1. Ask an adult to help you peel, cut, and boil the acorn squash in a large pot of water, until the squash is soft.

  2. Have an adult drain the boiled squash.

  3. Mash the squash.

  4. Add the butter, vinegar, ginger, and salt.

  5. Stir until everything is completely mixed.

  6. Serve warm.

  Kevin’s favorite dish was one the Wampanoags liked to make. It’s called succotash. The succotash in the village didn’t have any tomatoes, but it sure was tasty. Here’s a modern succotash recipe that you are sure to love making—and eating!

  This recipe makes four servings.

  You will need:

  3 tablespoons butter

  ½ cup chopped red pepper

  2 cups frozen or canned corn, drained

  2 cups frozen lima beans

  ¼ cup water

  ¼ teaspoon salt

  ¼ teaspoon pepper

  Here’s what you do:

  1. Ask an adult to help you heat one tablespoon of butter in a saucepan.

  2. Work with an adult to chop the red pepper and cook it in the melted butter until tender. This should take about one minute.

  3. Stir in the corn, lima beans, and water.

  4. Simmer the mixture for three minutes.

  5. Stir in the remaining two tablespoons of butter and season with salt and pepper.

  6. Serve warm.

  About the Author

  Nancy Krulik is the author of more than 150 books for children and young adults, including three New York Times best sellers. She lives in New York City with her husband, composer Daniel Burwasser, their children, Amanda and Ian, and Pepper, a chocolate and white spaniel mix. When she’s not busy writing the Katie Kazoo, Switcheroo series, Nancy loves swimming, reading, and going to the movies.

  About the Illustrators

  John & Wendy have illustrated all of the Katie Kazoo books, but when they’re not busy drawing Katie and her friends, they like to paint, take photographs, travel, and play music in their rock ’n’ roll band. They live and work in Brooklyn, New York.