by Timothy Jung (6th)

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 13TH, 1963

I wish getting to the mainland was easy. Apparently not. I’m trying my best, but some of us are feeling depressed. Some of us are suggesting to just stay on the islands, instead of taking so much time trying to get to the mainland. Sometimes I even feel like staying. 

But then Turkish Baron shouts out loud, “We aren’t losers who’ll be lazy. We have a chance. On these islands, there are predators. We will go extinct, and the efforts of our elders will be for nothing. We have something to fight for. Survival. From now on, we’re together, trying our best to survive. Some of us will never live to old age, maybe none of us, but it’s something to fight for, and I’m not just going to stay here doing nothing at all to be stalked by some sort of squirrel!” Cheers erupt from the crowd. 

Turkish Baron continues, “We may or may not get to the mainland, but if there is a chance, even if there isn’t, we’ll try.”

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 14TH, 1963

We all woke up in the morning to start flying again. Ever since I stopped eating turkey food, I’ve been able to fly on my own. We fly all through the morning, then we take a break. 

“Gravy, get me some more corn seeds for me would you?” cries out Clark. Gravy, more names. Gravy quickly comes over with chopped up corn seeds, and lays them in a pile in front of us. I quickly look up to see a very well looking french turkey. 

“Monsieur Clark, your freshly chopped corn seed.” 

Clark bows and says, “Thank you, Monsieur Gravy.” I stare in awe, fascinated.

“Gravy, you said was your name?” I ask, and he quickly nods. “Well then, Monsieur Gravy, may I please have a batch of corn seeds as well?” He looks up. 

“Normal or chopped?” Soon enough, I’m done eating my lovely seeds, and I go over to Clark. 

“When are we going?” I ask, wanting to go to America. Clark eyes me.

“Just because we are now being hunted doesn’t mean that we should rush,” he says. “That reminds me, you need to meet Bigfoot, he’s our protector and fighter, along with Drillz.” Bigfoot. 

Something made me feel uneasy around him. I decided to stay away from him. After a quick snack, we continue flying. All of a sudden, we go through clouds, and in the distance is a massive piece of land, bigger than anything I’ve ever seen.

It takes us a couple minutes to get our feet back on land, but when our feet hit the ground, we’re in America. I can smell freedom in the air, I can hear it too! The moping of Flappy, the happiness of Clark, and the loud footsteps of Bigfoot. But those aren’t Bigfoot’s steps.

No wonder Flappy was still moping. When we all turned around, there was a humongous human that was looking down on us. He had an evil grin on his face. Drillz stepped in front of the crowd, then launched an attack at the human. 

“Go! Leave!” he shouted, not looking back. 

“No!” I cried, but by then Clark had already taken me by the wing to drag me away. All of a sudden, another human came out of the bushes. This time, instead of Drillz, Bigfoot launches himself. 

I’m horrified. Completely, utterly, horrified. I’m speechless, as Clark drags me along. And I felt uneasy around him. Now, I owe him a life. 

Not only that, but there were an additional 5 turkeys that were either caught or fighting other than Bigfoot and Drillz. Later, when the humans leave, not sure of where we are, we try to find the bodies. None remain. The humans took them all. 

Afterwards, Flappy finally talks. 

But it breaks my heart when his first words are, “I thought America was gonna be safe.” But what makes me even more sad is the fact that I also thought that America was going to be safe. 

I count once more. 36 turkeys remain, and 14 of them are holding memorial pebbles. Clark comes over to me, panting, and asks, 

“Have a name?” 

“My head is too full right now,” I tell him, and I just want to step away from all of this. 2 of my friends are gone, forever lost to the humans. We decided that we’ll honor all of the turkeys who have passed by staying here for a few days. 

It’s only been a week since I got on the boat, and I’m already thinking of heading back to the islands. It’s too much for me. I don’t have any particular gifts. 

Clark has wisdom, Bigfoot had strength, Drillz had power, Gravy has cooking, Turkish Baron has flight, even Flappy has youth. And me? I don’t have a skill. I mean, unless you count not sacrificing yourself or not dying as a skill, but other than that? I’m just a turkey trying to survive, along with a small group that couldn’t be more helpful to a newcomer like me. I wish I could contribute.