Adventures Of Blue And Turkey 1qh2n

Adventures

of Blue and Turkey

John Wallace

Copyright © 2017 by John Wallace. 750137

ISBN: Softcover 978-1-5245-7604-2 Hardcover 978-1-5245-7605-9 EBook 978-1-5245-7603-5

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to any actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

Rev. date: 03/02/2017

Xlibris 1-888-795-4274 www.Xlibris.com

Contents

Chapter 1

Chapter 2 Blue’s Adventures

Chapter 3 The Special Farm

Chapter 4 Flying Pies?

Chapter 5 Turkey s the Farm

Chapter 6 Two Special Dogs

Chapter 7 Protective Dogs

Chapter 8 Indian Joe

Chapter 9 Gumbo Soup Run

Chapter 10 The First Race

Chapter 11 Race Cookies

Chapter 12 Trike Bike

Chapter 13 Blue and Turkey Ride Again

Chapter 14 People Gathering

Chapter 15 The Box

Chapter 16 Helping Neighbors

Chapter 17 Empty Manger

Chapter 18 Mrs. Tucker’s Trip

Chapter 19 Duckeroo

Chapter 20 Cupid Strikes Again

Chapter 21 I Do or Quack, Quack

Chapter 22 The Wedding

Chapter 23 The Race

Chapter 24 The Small Cart

Chapter 25 Plans

Chapter 26 The Picnic

Chapter 27 The Heat

This book is for all new readers, young and old, who enjoy nature and the love of animals.

Chapter 1

C ome and sit on the log. I have a story to tell you. There was a mischievous duck who grew up in the swamps of Louisiana area. This was very special duck. His name was Blue. The story goes he turned blue when he swam in the cold pond one morning. His home was under the old wooden cabin. Blue loved to waddle over to the barn and listen to the sounds of the farm engines. His mother would often scold him. “You’ll get hurt over there,” she would say. However, the smell of motor oil and the sounds of the noise of the engines would thrill him. He would sit by the hour watching people working on the engines. Blue knew when they made the right decisions to make the engines run better. One day no one was around. He took parts from three old engines and made one that would race. This was the start of him being a gear head, more about that later. When the men got home from the fields, they were surprised. They asked one another, “Who made this thing?” They were puzzled. They wondered if the engine would work. It did look different, and it had more parts than other engines. They let it sit out in the yard. That night the most unusual sounds were heard from the barn. The men came out with their shotguns, but all was quiet. After breakfast the next day, the men found a most unusual vehicle sitting in the barn. It had four tires welded to the frame. A roll bar was right behind the seat. This car was small. It would not fit a person. The men stood there surprised. Then they started to laugh and laugh. “This thing would not run,” they said.

Just then, Blue waddled over, picked up his helmet (the milking pail) and put it on his head, strapped himself in the seat, and pushed the starter button. It sputtered, it growled, it back fired, and then it roared. Blue kept his foot on the brake. The men yelled with excitement and hurried to open the doors of the barn.

He went racing around the barnyard a few times. The people were so excited that they cheered the little duck on. The farm workers loved the duck. Whenever there was free time, they loved to help the duck fix his go-kart.

Chapter 2

Blue’s Adventures

O ne very early morning Blue was restless. He tiptoed out of the barn so as not to wake up the other animals. The air was cool and crisp. Blue decided to walk around. Then he had an idea. He was going to the neighbor’s farm to look for engine parts. Owl and the other birds had told him there was a lot of junk parts next to the old barn. So off he went. He tiptoed past the cows in the pasture, waved his wing at the sleeping horses, and then down the hill, he slid in to the pond. He swam carefully so as not to disturb the gators. He sensed two water snakes close by and hurried to the other side. He climbed up the hill to the farm. He tiptoed past the cats while they were busy chasing a small mouse. Then he came around the back of the neighbor’s barn. He walked across the woodpile to junk pile. Blue found himself staring at and going through all the great parts he could use, carefully, so as not to disturb the other animals. He pulled out a carburetor, spotted a gas tank and a radiator, carefully pulled and pushed his treasures across the woodpile one by one. Blue was pacing around, wondering how he was going to get his treasures home. He spotted an old wooden child’s wagon. He pulled it out off the leaf pile and found it has one missing wheel. Blue turned the wagon over and found a way to fix it. He put the wheel in the center of the axle so he could maneuver it better. He turned it upright and put all the parts he gathered into the wagon. Blue decided to use the road to take the parts home. Carefully, he pulled the wagon past the sleeping dogs, tiptoed past sleeping Bull. Suddenly, the wheels started to squeak and squeal, and all the animals awoke with a startle and started to chase Blue. He quickly jumped on the top of the wagon and steered it down the hill. He flew over a bump or two, but the parts did not fall out. As he got close to his farm, he saw the gate to the farm open. He spotted Bull and Cow guarding the gate. With a streak of lightning, he flew through the gate. As the neighbor’s dogs got close, they suddenly spotted Bull and Cow. They quickly come to a stop before running into them. They quickly

turned and ran toward home.

Chapter 3

The Special Farm

B lue realized that he was living on a special farm. So he called a meeting of all the farm animals. They met in the old barn. It was a sight to see. Blue rang the bell to quiet the crowd. “I gathered you all to talk about the farm. You know the farm is sliding downhill. If you want to stay here, we will all need to work together,” he said. The animals all talked at once. Bull snorted, “Enough, stop talking, and let’s work together … Any questions?” Early the next morning, the farm awoke to the sound of the plows chugging along the fields. Farmer Tucker looked out the window to see one of the strangest things happening. His blue duck was proudly sitting on the plow, driving it up and down the rows. He looked toward the barn to see Cow and Bull putting hay up in the wagon. He yelled to his wife to come look at the sight. She said, “I knew there was something strange about this farm. Now do you believe me?” As they looked out the door, they saw the chicken hawks feeding the baby chickens. When the farmhands came and went out to work, they came back with even more strange stories. They saw Goat stacking wood neatly up by the house. Another hand saw two racoons pulling corn and putting it in bushels along with the workhands. All the farmhands came in that evening with one story after another; as they told Farmer Tucker, he realized that he had a special farm. All the animals were working together.

Chapter 4

Flying Pies?

O ne day Farmer Tucker was in town. His wife baked some deep-dish cherry pies and placed them in the window to cool. While she was busy doing other chores, a pie disappeared, dish and all. She came back to check on the pies, then found that one was missing. She was fuming. Later that day, she came back to the window and found the empty pie pan returned with a rock holding some paper money down. She picked up the rock to find a $10 bill! Surprised, she went out to talk to the farmhands to work out the mystery. Everyone denied knowing anything about the pies. When she came back to the kitchen, she found the second pie was gone. Later that evening, the pan returned along with a rock. In the center of the dish underneath the rock was another $10 bill! When Farmer Tucker returned, she told her husband, “This farm is strange!” Then she told him the whole story. He was puzzled but kept this thought to himself. The next afternoon Mrs. Tucker got a phone call from a nearby neighbor. “Thank you for the wonderful pies! How did you train that turkey to carry them? I saw the turkey pulling the wagon down the street.” Mrs. Tucker covered up by saying, “It is an experiment my husband is doing.” Meanwhile, she had no idea what was going on.

Chapter 5

Turkey s the Farm

A ll the animals had heard about this turkey, and the stories they had heard about him made them wonder about him. Owl said he heard about him stealing things. They were surprised when they had heard about the missing-pie stories. Horse told the animals the truth. “He is not a bad bird. He had no place to live. His farm got burned down.” Blue decided, “Let’s give him a try for two weeks. If he is good, he will stay.” Bull snorted, “One false goof up and he is out.” They decided to let Owl go find him; meanwhile, Farmer Tucker put some corn out to encourage him to return. Owl flew around and found him in a nearby woods. “Come with me.” He hooted. “You can stay with me on my farm.” Turkey was scared because he did not want to become dinner. After much coaxing, Turkey reluctantly followed him to the farm. Truth was, Turkey was tired, lonely, and hungry. Turkey was surprised to see all the corn on the ground. Bull told Turkey what the rules would be. Rabbit hopped up and asked Turkey about the pies. Turkey said, “I am tired and want to belong some place.” All the animals liked his answer and cheered him into the family. Farmer Tucker watched from the door as he saw all this happening and smiled. The next morning Mrs. Tucker was baking again. As she worked, she wondered how she would get all her baked goods to the bake sale. While she continued to

cook, Blue and Turkey already had a plan. Turkey dragged the little wagon back to the window. Mrs. Tucker looked out to see Blue and Turkey eagerly waiting for the baked goods. Out came the first load of pies, and placed them on the wagon, with strict instructions to not hit too many bumps going up the road. She shook her head and said, “I am talking to the animals. I must be out of my mind.” Just then, they quacked and gobbled as they went up the road. In a short time, they were back with the money under a rock in the wagon. The second load was cookies. They sold them and were back in no time. Next come the rhubarb and pecan pies. There was more money than she expected under the rock this time. She was surprised! At the end of the day, she cleaned up the dishes and counted the money. She had donated a large amount to the bake sale. She found that she had enough money to pay the mortgage for a month! She treated Blue and Turkey to warm piece of peach pie. The phone rang off the hook for about two hours. People were thanking her for all the wonderful baked goods and asking her how they trained the animals. She just giggled. So this was the beginning of Turkey’s new adventures.

Chapter 6

Two Special Dogs

W hile Mrs. Tucker was cooking up a storm, Farmer Tucker was going on his adventures. He had heard a story about two special dogs in a nearby town. They were known in town. They were known to protect people. However, recently, stories were told about them attacking people. Farmer Tucker sensed they were special dogs. He went to investigate the stories and took Turkey with him. Farmer Tucker found the farm where the dogs were staying. He asked about the dogs and found out that the man would soon put them down. The owner laughed when he heard Farmer Tucker wanted the dogs. “You can have them, but they are your responsibility when they leave this farm. If they kill anything, it is not on my hands,” he said. He showed them where the dogs were chained in the center of the barn. Farmer Tucker quietly put them in the back of the truck, shook hands with the man, and left. He could hear the man laughing as he went down the road. A few miles down the road, Turkey nudged Farmer Tucker to pull over, so they both went to the back of the truck and unchained the dogs and fed them. “Farmer Tucker knows your special qualities. When you get to the farm, you are free to roam, but Bull will tell you the rules, “ Turkey said. The dogs seemed to relax and followed Farmer Tucker and Turkey to the cab. Down the road they went. Farmer Tucker seemed to notice the dogs relax and fell asleep shortly after that.

When they arrived at the farm, Farmer Tucker opened the door, and the animals jumped out. Mrs. Tucker saw the dogs and thought about having to feed two more mouths. Turkey led the dogs over to Bull. The other animals slowly ed in. Bull

reminded the dogs that they could stay only if they used their special talents to keep the farm going. The dogs seemed to relax at once and became part of the farm family.

Chapter 7

Protective Dogs

S hortly after the dogs arrived, Farmer Tucker awoke to an awful racket and clatter one night. In the midst of the noise, he heard the dogs barking and the big animals growling. Farmer Tucker grabbed his shotgun while the farmhands came running with pipes and tools. Turning the light on in the barn, he found two strange men backed against the back of the barn. The farmhands dragged the strange men out to the center of the barn. After questioning them, Farmer Tucker found that the men had been hired to steal the blue duck and turkey. He told the men not to come back to the farm again. He turned his back and let the dogs chase them off the farm. You could hear them yelling way up the road as the dogs chased them. Farmer Tucker made a check of all the animals. None of them were hurt, and Blue and Turkey were only scared. He patted the dogs and went off to call the sheriff. He told the sheriff the whole story and about the man who hired them to do the job. The sheriff asked if the animals were okay. Before night was over, the sheriff had rounded up the strangers and kicked them out of town; and the ring leader (an established person in town) had been strongly encouraged to close his business and leave town immediately.

Chapter 8

Indian Joe

T he news spread fast by early morning. Shortly after the first delivery of baked goods, everyone in town had heard the story. Having breakfast at the local diner, a trucker named Indian Joe sat and listened to the story. He finished a piece of the pie and asked directions to the Tucker Farm. The trucker carefully followed the directions down the dirt road to the farm. When he reached the farm, he jumped out of his truck and walked up to the house and knocked on the door. Farmer Tucker came out, and Indian Joe introduced himself. The two men sat on the porch for hours. Indian Joe told stories about his ancestors; they knew there were animals with special gifts that lived in the area for generations. He was excited to find the farm and where it was located. Farmer Tucker knew the Indians honored and respected animals, especially ones with special gifts. As the two men talked, they developed a special bond between them that still exists today. Indian Joe was invited for dinner, and the men continued to talk till the wee hours of the night. Indian Joe went to sleep in his truck that night. He woke up early the next morning. He found himself hurrying to get dressed. He went out and helped with the early morning chores. He stood quietly as he watched Blue and Turkey fill the wagon with the first load of baked goods. Indian Joe went off to clean the barn and stack the hay. As he walked toward the field, he turned in time to see Blue and Turkey put the money under the rock in the window sill. He went off to help in the fields and was excited to see the animals and the farmhands work together. The birds were sowing the seeds, and the machines were covering them up. He saw the animals helping cut wood and stack it up. After lunch, he sat under the tree to rest. As he lay there, he found the dogs curled up, one on each side of him. He woke up to the dogs gently nudging him toward the barn. He followed behind Blue and Turkey. There in the barn was a small stall he had not cleaned. He found a race car ready to go. He went over to

inspect it and wondered who could drive it. Just then, Blue jumped in and sat proudly looking at him. Indian Joe sat on the ground laughing and playing with the animals.

Chapter 9

Gumbo Soup Run

O ne day Turkey and Blue were playing in the yard when the wind blew by them and the smell of gumbo drifted past their beaks. They went and peeked into the window and saw a couple of pots simmering on the back of the stove. Blue and Turkey looked at each other, and off they went. Blue went for the wagon. Turkey was in the window in a flash. Turkey and Blue, together, put the pot in the wagon and were off in a second. Mrs. Tucker came into the kitchen to stir the gumbo. “Not again,” she moaned. “How did the two of them get that pot without me knowing it?” Meanwhile, Blue and Turkey walked through town pulling the wagon. The smell was so good people came out from all over the town. “Hold on, Blue, let me get my bowl,” one man cried. “Wait, Turkey!” another woman yelled. “I want to pay you.” The people stood around eating, and the mayor come by. “What is going on? Why the crowd?” “Try the soup,” someone said. “It is good!” In just a short time, the pot was empty. They helped Blue and Turkey clean the pot. They put all the donations in the pot. The animals realized the pot was full of money. “Great job, Blue and Turkey! Next time, bring some more,” someone said. They brought the pot home and put it on the table. Mrs. Tucker came into the kitchen just as Blue and Turkey left the room.

“My pot is back!” she said. Just then, the phone rang. It was the mayor calling. “That was the best gumbo I have had in a long time, just like my grandmother used to make. What is your secret ingredient?” Mrs. Tucker chatted with him for a while and later went to the table to clean the pot. When she opened it, to her surprise, the pot was clean, and it was full of money! Later that night, she told Farmer Tucker the about the story of the missing soup. He said, “I wondered what was up next when I saw Blue and Turkey fly out of the yard with a pot in their wagon.” They both laughed together.

Chapter 10

The First Race

T he next night Farmer Tucker told Indian Joe about a local race that would be happening on the weekend. “I feel Blue has a good chance to win. He is a good driver, but I do not have any way to get the race car there.” Indian Joe offered to take his race car in his truck. Farmer Tucker continued to talk about his fears of Blue being pushed around at the track. Indian Joe nodded and understood. He told Farmer Tucker not to worry. “I will help keep everybody safe. Blue needs a chance to prove himself. Have him tune the engine and have it ready to run.” As they continued to talk, the moon rose over the trees and the frogs were croaking in the pond. The next morning Farmer Tucker gathered the animals together. “There is going to be a local race this weekend. If feel it is time for Blue and Turkey to race,” he said. What an excitement arose from all the animals! Farmer Tucker went on to say, “Now, Blue and Turkey, I want you two to spend the next few days tuning up the car and practice racing to get ready for the weekend.” As the weekend came closer, Blue and Turkey hurried through their morning pie runs. They oiled everything and changed the parts at least twice! The farmhands helped set up a track around the farm so they could practice racing. Blue and Turkey took turns flying around the yard in the car. Dust was flying everywhere. As they continued practicing over the next few days, their speed improved. The night before the race, Farmer Tucker called everyone together. Farmer Tucker said, “You really improved with handling the car. Now understand some drivers will not be happy to know they are racing next to two farm animals. They

may try to run over you. Be very careful on the track. Indian Joe and I are coming along with the two dogs too.” Just then, Indian Joe stepped off the porch and said, “Here is something that makes you two official now.” He gave them two racing helmets. The whole yard went up in a cheer!

Before the sun was up the next morning, Blue and Turkey were pushing the car toward the house. Indian Joe and the farmhands loaded the car into the truck. Mrs. Tucker made everyone eat, people and animals alike. Soon they were off to the race track. The excitement was high as they rode toward town. When they got to the track, they found a quiet spot to unload. “One of you stay close to the truck, and one of you keep a sharp eye on Blue and Turkey,” Farmer Tucker instructed. They seemed to understand and took their positions immediately. Farmer Tucker and Indian Joe went to Blue’s car in the race. The man at the table said, “Who is racing the car?” Farmer Tucker said, “Blue and Turkey.” The man at the table started to howl. “No animals can race,” he said. “Show me in the rule books where it says that,” Indian Joe insisted. Finally, the man agreed to the car. “Good luck!” he said. Indian Joe and Farmer Tucker pushed the car to the line. “What is this toy doing here?” one driver jeered. “He will get run over.” Several drivers were not happy to see Blue’s car. “I will take care of that car the first chance I get,” another racer mumbled. As the race grew closer to the starting time, Indian Joe looked over the fans and saw some of “his people” scattered throughout the bleachers. There will be no trouble, he thought. “Gentlemen, start your engines!” the official yelled. Turkey was all set in the car. “Be careful!” Farmer Tucker warned Turkey. Suddenly, the flag was dropped. The air was full of noise and dust. Turkey was in the middle of the pack. Around the track he went. Some drivers tried run him

off the road; somehow Turkey stayed on. When he came in for gas, Blue jumped in and was off in a flash. Again and again, he circled. Drivers tried to push him off the track, but he held his position. As the race came to a close, the white flag came out. Blue held his ground. He tucked in behind one car and held on. Before he knew it, the checkered flag was out! People were on their feet shouting and cheering all over the track. Blue pulled his race car up to a cheering Turkey, Farmer Tucker, and Indian Joe. Blue was also excited! The officials came over to them with a third-place trophy! As they loaded everything up and headed toward home, Farmer Tucker said, “You two did a good job! Now you need more practice.” When they got home, Mrs. Tucker had set up a feast for the whole farm! Food was everywhere. Music lasted till late that night. “Good night, Blue and Turkey,” Farmer Tucker said. “There will be another race soon.” Off to the barn Blue and Turkey went, dreaming of future races.

Chapter 11

Race Cookies

B lue and Turkey continued practice racing around the farm; each time there were new obstacles and challenges to maneuver around. Their speed and accuracy continued to improve. The next race was a week away. There seemed to be excitement on the farm. All were excited for the next race. Mrs. Tucker was in the kitchen inventing a recipe, “race cookies.” This time she called all the farmhands and animals around to taste them. Everyone seemed excited and enjoyed them. Shortly after the batch cooled, Blue and Turkey were off toward town with them. Mrs. Tucker shook her head and giggled. “There they go again.” As they arrived in town, the people came up to see what they were selling. Everyone liked the cookies and understood what they stood for. This began a new trend. Mrs. Tucker continued to receive many calls thanking her for her baked goods. She just giggled. Farmer Tucker again encouraged Blue and Turkey to spend time tuning the car and getting it ready for the race. The morning of the race, Mrs. Tucker again made breakfast for all the hands and animals. Soon after, the car was loaded onto the truck; again, the dogs, Blue, Turkey, Indian Joe, and Farmer Tucker were headed toward the next town. When they arrived, they pulled the truck to one side by itself. Indian Joe and Farmer Tucker went off to . The officials again gave them a hard time. Finally, they agreed to enter the papers. The officials were thinking they will never win, they will be discouraged by the first lap.

When the men came back, the car was ready to run. They warned duck and Turkey to be careful with the drivers. “These guys look mean,” Farmer Tucker whispered. Blue started the race first. In a flash, the race was off and running! This time, with Blue’s driving experience, he felt more comfortable in the pack. Around and around they went. You could hardly see them through the dust and smoke. Blue was able to maneuver around the cars. Soon it was time for new tires and gas. They changed drivers, and Turkey was off in a flash. Again, he went through the traffic. This time Turkey saw a break and pushed the car on. As Turkey came around, he saw the white flag. He pushed it harder and kept his eyes ahead of him. Try as he could, he was not able to the leader. The crowd was on their feet, cheering him off. Just then, the checkered flag came out. There was a roar from the crowd and a puff of smoke and a loud backfire from the car. When the smoke settled, the car was in pieces. The crowd came out of the stands and surrounded the car. Turkey was picked up and carried away from the car. Farmer Tucker, Indian Joe, and Blue stood shaking their heads. After a quick check from the medical staff, there was roar from the crowd! Turkey was shaken but okay! Before anyone knew, the officials came over with a second-place trophy and presented it to Blue and Turkey! Even the first-place winner was there cheering them on! “I can’t believe I was almost beaten by a turkey. He was a clever driver,” said the winner. As they rode home, there were mixed feelings in the truck. They were winners, but the car was in pieces. Everyone gathered around the truck when they pulled into the yard. Blue and Turkey held up the trophy; everyone cheered! “This trophy is to be placed on the fireplace,” Mrs. Tucker declared. Then they saw the car. When it was dragged out of the back of the truck, there was a hush over the group. All were grateful that Turkey was not hurt! The following morning Blue and Turkey were looking all over the pieces of the

car. Farmer Tucker and Indian Joe stood by watching; they knew the car was done. Blue and Turkey went off on their morning bakery run. The townspeople had heard about the race and the accident. They congratulated the animals on a good race and said, “We are happy you all were not hurt!” The people felt and understood the animals’ sadness. After the animals returned to the farm, Mrs. Tucker started to receive phone calls. People were asking how they could help. The farm went on running, but it seemed lifeless. All was quiet.

Chapter 12

Trike Bike

A short time later, when Blue and Turkey were selling morning pies, a local mechanic called them over and said, “Take some parts back with you to rebuild.” Blue and Turkey seemed to be excited again. As the days followed, the other townspeople heard about this and started doing the same. One youngster gave them his wagon just for car parts. The farm soon started to come back to life again. Blue and Turkey spent their off hours welding and building their next vehicle. Farmer Tucker and Indian Joe watched on with concern. Meanwhile, the townspeople had had donation jars put out. Several races ed that Blue and Turkey did not compete in. Indian Joe brought the mechanic out for a visit. While the big animals were watching over him, Blue and Turkey were excited to see him. They showed him their project. The mechanic said, “You have a fair engine but only parts for a trike. Build it that way and work harder on the engine to make it more powerful. What you have done is good so far.” The mechanic came often to help build and teach the animals more skills. Meanwhile, the townspeople have been saving money and working with the mechanic to buy another race car. They agreed to not tell Farmer Tucker and Indian Joe just yet. Blue and Turkey finished their trike and brought it out of the barn to show everyone. Everyone was surprised when they heard the engine turn over. It was quite loud! All the people and animals were yelling, “We are back again!”

Chapter 13

Blue and Turkey Ride Again

B lue and Turkey were really anxious to try out the trike. Next morning, they hooked up the wagon and loaded the baked goods. This time Mrs. Tucker made her “race cookies” to sell. Turkey sat in the wagon, and Blue drove the wagon toward the town. The Tuckers shook their heads. “If that load of baked goods makes it to town, we all will be surprised!” The townspeople came out of their houses, looked out their windows and doors as they heard the roar of the trike coming into town. Everybody gathered around to see the trike and buy the food. There was a cheer from the crowd when they saw the “race cookies.” Within a short time, the food was sold. There seemed to be more money than before. Blue unhooked the wagon and raced the trike through town. The engine was louder and stronger than before. Before the animals returned to the farm, the town officials talked it over with the mechanic and decided that the trike would be the official lead car in the next race. Mrs. Tucker was surprised that Blue and Turkey were back so soon; meanwhile, they quietly put the pans in the window. No sooner than they returned when the phone started to ring. The people raved over the cookies. Farmer Tucker was called to the phone. The mayor wanted to see him right away. Farmer Tucker was worried the town was in shambles. Blue and Turkey saw Farmer Tucker drive off in his truck toward the town. Bull came over to Blue. “What did you do?” snorted Bull. “Nothing, we sold the food and raced around town,” he quacked. A short time later, Farmer Tucker was back. He agreed with the town’s idea but kept it a secret till the race day. On the day of the race, Farmer Tucker and Indian Joe encouraged Blue and

Turkey to go with them and bring the trike. The trike was loaded again like old times along with Farmer Tucker, Indian Joe, the dogs, Blue, and Turkey. This time they parked right in front. “Pull the trike out,” Farmer Tucker said. “Ride around and check out all the cars.” The drivers waved at them, and they made their lap. When they returned, an official was standing with Farmer Tucker. He put a checkered flag on it to become the lead car. Blue and Turkey went wild with excitement! In no time, they were in front, and the other drivers lined up behind them. “Gentlemen, start your engines!” the officials yelled. With a wave of the flag, the race was on. Blue and Turkey lapped the track with pride and watched the race with excitement. “Blue has racing in his blood,” Farmer Tucker said. This went off without a hitch. At the end of the race, Blue was helping put the trike away when the officials came over to him. “As an official, I present you this envelope. You are entitled to some money.” Blue and Turkey were just as excited as if they had run the race. When they returned that night, the farm had race dinner for them. “The checkered flag is going on the fire place next to the trophy,” Mrs. Tucker said. And the money went to help keep the farm going. There was music, food, and laughter till early the next morning.

Chapter 14

People Gathering

A few weeks later, Blue and Turkey felt excitement in town. There were posters and banners put up all over. “Something special is coming soon in town,” the people told them. Blue talked with Bull when he was home, and Bull knew what was going on but told Turkey, “It is a people gathering.” Blue saw Mrs. Tucker baking some different foods. Farmer Tucker and Indian Joe kept Blue and Turkey distracted as the day of the gathering was getting closer. The day came. When the morning chores were finished, Farmer Tucker announced, “Come, let’s all go to town for a ride.” There were several different vehicles from the farm that went. Even Bull and Horse went along. People lined up in the streets. Soon the parade started. Everyone moved to a good spot to see. Blue was sitting on Bull; Turkey was sitting on Horse. Soon the noise started; there were bands, marching people, floats, and more. They ed by slowly; everyone was excited. At last, there was a flatbed that ed with a tarp covering an object surrounded by checkered flags. “What is that?” Turkey said. “Let’s get a closer look.” Just then, the mayor stood up and told the people to come closer. “We are having a special parade for two of the community who helped put the spirit back into this town … Farmer Tucker, bring Blue and Turkey up here … This town would like to present Blue and Turkey with a gift … Blue and Turkey, this town officially backs you and your racing efforts. This day is officially your

day!” He leaned over and put a ribbon with a key around their necks. Then they turned around and uncovered the object. There was a race car with their names in red and blue on a white background. Blue and Turkey went wild! They were so excited they quacked and gobbled all around! The whole town was excited too! “Let’s celebrate!” they said. Out came food, music, and dancing. All over, they partied. Blue and Turkey pulled Farmer Tucker and Indian Joe closer to the car to see everything. “Get in,” Farmer Tucker said, and then he asked, “How so the seats fit?” Everything fit them just right. Later on, the mayor came by and told Farmer Tucker and Indian Joe that there would be a race tonight. Everyone was excited. As more and more people gathered in town that night, there was “real excitement” in the air. People gathered over at the track. Some of the same drivers who had pushed Blue and Turkey around before were back again. To their surprise, they understood that Blue and Turkey meant business this time. Farmer Tucker and Indian Joe quietly warned the animals these guys are rough. “ all your practice times and tricks that you learned. This new car is faster. Now be careful,” he warned them. Blue and Turkey got ready to race. Turkey drove first. Everyone was excited to see them back in the races again. Even the drivers cheered them on. “Gentlemen, start your engines!” cried the announcer. With a wave of the flag, the race was on. As the smoke cleared, Turkey was in the middle of the pack. Turkey realized that the engine had more power than the old one. Around and around they raced. Turkey slowly crept to the front of the pack. The drivers were back to their old tricks, trying to push him off the track. Turkey held his place. When the yellow flag came out, Turkey slid in for gas. Blue jumped in, and Turkey told him that this car had a lot more power and to be alert! In a flash, Blue was off. Like Turkey, Blue crept into the pack, and in a

flash, he was up with the leaders. As the cars came around to the final lap, the crowd was on their feet cheering hard. Finally, the race was down to the top three cars in front. Blue held his ground as the white came out. He pushed on the gas and eased past the cars by only one car length. With a wave of the checkered flag, he flew by. As he came to a stop, the officials gave him the checkered flag. He slowly went around the track waving it! Everyone was cheering around him. The officials gave him the trophy and firstplace winnings. Even the experienced racers came over and congratulated them on the race. As they were standing around, Blue put the money on the ground. He divided it into two piles, pushing one half toward Farmer Tucker and the other half apart. Taking his foot, Blue and Turkey looked at each other and nodded. Blue wrote, “For poor families.” Farmer Tucker and Indian Joe were amazed and nodded in agreement. “You sure?” they said. With that said, Turkey underlined the words again. For now, Farmer Tucker put the money into two separate pockets. The partying continued even when they got back to the farm. Everyone was proud of Blue and Turkey!

Chapter 15

The Box

E arly the next morning, when the farm was still quiet, something was moving in the shadows. Racoon was carrying an old shiny box to the barn. He awoke the Bull and showed it to him. “Can Blue and Turkey use this?” asked Racoon. Bull snorted and knew just what to do with it. As the farm awoke, he showed it to Blue and Turkey. They took it to Indian Joe. Blue took his foot and drew a design on the ground and pointed to the box. Indian Joe said, “My people can do that.” At the same time, Turkey held a wing up to his beak to keep this a secret. A few days later, Indian Joe showed the box to Blue and Turkey. Both squealed with excitement! The box was shiny with a rainbow design in beads on top. Blue and Turkey waited till evening and took Farmer Tucker to the barn. All the animals were gathered around. “What is up?” he said. They showed him the box. Blue wrote on the ground, “For poor families.” Farmer Tucker took the money from his pocket and put it in the box, along with some other money that had come from baked goods. “From now on, we will put half of the money in this box and half will go to run the farm,” he said. All the animals nodded in agreement.

“I will keep this on the fire place,” Farmer Tucker replied. He was very proud of all his animals.

Chapter 16

Helping Neighbors

O ne morning, while on their morning bakery run, Blue and Turkey were listening to the townspeople talking about a family whose barn had burned down the night before. They went back and told the news to Mrs. Tucker. Turkey drew a rainbow design on the ground. Mrs. Tucker agreed. She started to cook extra food. Later that day, all the farmhands, the Tuckers, Blue, and Turkey loaded up the farm wagon and went to help their neighbors. Indian Joe also asked his tribe to come and help. Within the day, there sat a new barn in place of the old burned-out one. The people were grateful. They knew their town was special. Blue and Turkey continued to race in local races. While they made a name for themselves, they used the money in the rainbow box to quietly help the poor and needy in the community. This helped the town grow together into a closer community.

Chapter 17

Empty Manger

A s winter was coming on, the racing came to a close. Blue and Turkey repaired the car and put it in storage. They also helped the farmhands put the crops in and the farm machines away. For several mornings, they heard some pretty music playing in the town as they were on their runs. They went back and asked Mrs. Tucker about it. She explained that Christmas was coming and told them the story about Jesus. As she told the story, all the animals came close and listened, even the large animals. “You know,” she said, “it would be fun to do a live nativity scene.” All the animals agreed. Later that day, Owl flew to the next farm and explained what they were going to do. As Mrs. Tucker was talking to them, she said, “I am going to bake some special cookies. Do you think this town is ready for them?” She winked. “Maybe I could try them out on the farm workers first.” A little while later, there were some wonderful smells coming from the kitchen. All the animals gathered close to the window. Blue and Turkey had already dragged the wagon close to the window. Goat took her bell off and laid it in the wagon. Mrs. Tucker looked over to see all the animals watching her. “They will be ready soon, boys and girls,” she said. As the first batch came out, before it could cool, she was ing them out. Everyone agreed this was a special treat. In a short time, the wagon was carefully loaded. They put side boards on the wagon for an extra load. Blue and

Turkey were off. As they got close to town, Turkey put the bell on to be heard. Even before they got to the restaurant, people started to gather. “What is up, Blue?” someone said. Blue pointed to the sign that said, “Christmas cookies.” The smell was wonderful. The people were buying them as fast as they could them out. A woman bent over and put extra money in the jar. She said, “Take this tray to the children’s home right away, but do not say where it came from.” Blue nodded, and he was off. As they got to the door and knocked, the house staff opened the door, and Blue and Turkey gave them the cookies. “This is for the children?” the woman asked. Blue and Turkey nodded and were off. Before Mrs. Tucker was able to clean the kitchen, the phone started to ring. “Those cookies were wonderful!” the staff from the children’s home said and thanked Mrs. Tucker for the tray of cookies. Mrs. Tucker was pleased but puzzled. When Blue and Turkey got home and put the pans on the table, Mrs. Tucker asked, “Who all did you sell the cookies to, and who took the last tray?” They gestured that the last tray was given to the children’s home. “You did well,” she said proudly. Mrs. Tucker was shocked when she counted the money. She put some money into the rainbow box and told Farmer Tucker the whole story later. That night, when all was supposed to be asleep, Blue and Turkey told Bull about the manger scene story. Before dawn, many of the animals and the neighbors’ farm animals followed Blue and Turkey to town. As they got to town, they went straight to the little manger and took their places.

As the people came to work that morning, they were surprised to see the manger scene alive and full of animals. One of the townspeople called the Tucker’s farm and their neighbors. “Hey, have you counted your animals on your farm this morning?” they said. Farmer Tucker poked his nose out and noticed that the farm was quiet. “Where are all the animals?” he asked. Farmer Tucker, his wife, Indian Joe, some hands, and their neighbors all went to town to see what was up. They were surprised to see the crowd of people gathered at the manger. As they got closer, they noticed there was a hush around the crowd. Then he saw the magic of the small manger scene come alive. There in front of him, he saw the animals respectfully gazing at the manger. They all felt the joy of the special season. Someone gently laid their baby in the manger and stood and became part of the manger. Then the people realized, “Let’s dress up and them.” Before the day was over, the whole town took turns being a part of the manger scene. News spread quickly through the neighboring towns. They wanted to come by and see. Someone asked, “How did this get started?” “The Tucker Farm started the idea.” This has become a yearly tradition that still exists to this day. While the people helped out with the manger scene, some of the women decided to make the town’s first annual Christmas dinner. All were invited. Blue went to Mrs. Tucker and drew a picture of the rainbow on the ground. She nodded and agreed. The food preparations started on Christmas Eve, and by Christmas morning, the hall was decorated, and smells of food filled it. Turkey pulled Farmer Tucker to one side and pointed to the children’s home. “Sure, the children are coming. They will be our guests,” he said. Before long, there was music playing and sing-alongs, and sounds of laughter

filled the air. People from far and wide ed in. Blue saw some of his competitors the party. They came up to him and said, “We want to help you.” Blue pointed to Farmer Tucker. He told them how they could help. As it came time for dinner, the town’s preacher said a prayer, and then the celebration started. The people ate, talked, sang, and had fun till the wee hours of the next morning.

Chapter 18

Mrs. Tucker’s Trip

A s winter rolled by, Mrs. Tucker hooked Horse to the wagon and rode off to the beauty shop. When she was there, she heard an unusual story. Later, Horse told Blue and Turkey the story. In another part of the state, there was a duck called Duckeroo who was known to frequent local bars, dancing and flirting with female ducks to find the one he wanted to marry. As everyone laughed about the story, Mrs. Tucker started to wonder about it. She found herself talking out loud to Horse about it on the way home. A few days later, she heard another part of the story. It seemed that the duck was lonely and only knew to look for females in all the wrong places. Mrs. Tucker decided that she wanted to find the duck. She told Farmer Tucker the story. Farmer Tucker knew she was up to something when she took Blue and Turkey with her to go to the next town. It seemed that they rode for miles. All three were thinking about the strange duck and what excitement he would bring to the farm. Before long, they were in this strange town, driving along and wondering how they would find him.. Mrs. Tucker knew no one would believe her if she asked any questions. When they filled up for gas, Turkey spotted a duck leaning against a post, drinking soda pop! He asked him what his name was. “My name is Duckeroo.” “We have been looking for you.” Turkey brought him back to Mrs. Tucker. She smiled and invited him to stay at the farm. She said, “This is special farm. Bull will tell you the rules when we get there.” As they started back, Mrs. Tucker turned the radio on, and suddenly, Duckeroo

started to sing and sway in the truck. What a sight to see—Mrs. Tucker, two ducks, and a turkey singing along as they were driving along the road. When they pulled into the yard, everyone came running to the truck to find out what was going on. The closer they got to the truck, the louder the singing was. Suddenly, everyone started to laugh. Mrs. Tucker jumped out and said, “I have not felt this lively in years.” As the animals came out, Mrs. Tucker introduced Duckeroo to the farm. Bull snorted and said, “Here we go again.” Bull told him the rules. It seemed that he was raised in the slums of the city. He learned to sing, dance, and deejay to survive. One morning Blue and Turkey took him with them on a run. When the people saw him, they wanted to know what his name was. “Duckeroo,” he said. Everyone was surprised to hear the story was true. The music was playing in the restaurant while they were talking. Duckeroo started to sing; the townspeople knew he too was special.

Chapter 19

Duckeroo

D uckeroo seemed to fit right in. The local people heard the Tucker Farm was having a weekly hoedown on the farm. Many people came to in on the fun. There, they found Duckeroo deejaying and singing with all the music. Everyone ed in. A few weeks later, there was a social at the school, and he was invited to deejay. The whole town turned out, and everyone enjoyed it. It was decided that this would be a regular event. Duckeroo realized that he could have fun doing what he liked without being in the bars.

Chapter 20

Cupid Strikes Again

A s spring rolled in that year, the farm started to come alive. All turned out to start preparing the land. Love was in the air. It seemed Cupid got a bite on just about all the animals. The most unusual animals were dating that year. You could see Skunk hunting for a mate, Racoon was on the prowl, as well as a number of the big animals. Duckeroo was back looking for a mate. One misty early morning, Duckeroo happened to be around the barn, and there was the prettiest filly that he had ever seen. He started to sing and quack. He sang and quacked most of the day. The whole farm knew he had found his mate. Turkey said, “Who needs a rooster to wake us up? We have Duckeroo. He took that job over for us.” Mrs. Tucker giggled as she saw the fireworks coming. “He will finally settle down.” She laughed. However, Mrs. Tucker did not see it that way at first. So continued his mating rituals. Farmer Tucker asked Blue and Turkey, “When is it your turn?” Blue quacked and walked off. Turkey shook his head no. Bull said, “I wish Duckeroo would settle down. She will catch him.” Mrs. Tucker said, “I’ll will give him a week. She will catch him.” The courting continued for quite a while. The whole farm decided to throw a party. Mrs. Tucker said, “I never thought I would be throwing a party for the animals.”

She baked from morning to evening. Duckeroo’s mate was in the kitchen helping pour and measure ingredients. No men or male animals were allowed in the kitchen. Even the nearby tribe came and helped cook and do farm duties. By the time all the cooking was done, there was enough food to feed the whole area for weeks.

Chapter 21

I Do or Quack, Quack

F armer Tucker felt funny asking the preacher, “Would you marry one of my ducks?” “Blue is tying the knot?” cried the preacher. “No, no, not him. Duckeroo is finally settling down,” he said. The preacher laughed and said, “Sure, it is about time.” So as planned, it continued. Blue and Turkey came to town one morning with their baked goods and a large flier. “Come to Duckeroo’s wedding on Saturday at the Tucker Farm. Everything starts at noon.” The people roared and roared as they read it. “What do you do at a duck wedding?” they asked. “The flier says there will be music, dancing food, and fun for all.” “Sure, let’s go and them after all they have done for the town.” Some of the townswomen gathered and were talking. “Should we bring corn for the ducks?” “Sure, let’s shape it into a small wedding cake.” Using kernels and ears of corn, they shaped it into a small wedding cake. A day before the wedding, they showed it to Blue and Turkey. “Do you think Duckeroo will like it?” they asked.

Blue quacked and quacked and flapped his wings with excitement. They warned him, “You must keep this quiet until the wedding.” Blue nodded in agreement.

Chapter 22

The Wedding

W ell, bright and early on Saturday morning, the farm was up and moving. The tent and tables for the food were set up. The band was setting up. Farmer Tucker told Blue to check on Duckeroo and his mate. They finally found them swimming in the pond. The animals helped clean them up for the wedding and calmed Duckeroo down. The preacher and some people started to arrive early. The women brought the cake for Mrs. Tucker to see. She was excited. “I have just the place for it,” she said with joy and put it in a special place near the food. Before long, the events unfolded. The people and the animals all gathered close to hear the preacher. Even Bull came to check things out. Duckeroo and his mate came up to the preacher as the music started to play. His mate looked pretty as she wore a ring of flowers that the birds had made her. The preacher cleared his throat and started. He gave a short ceremony and his blessing to the ducks. Not knowing how to do an animal wedding, he was impressed to see all the townspeople and animals turn out. He looked down and strongly said to Duckeroo, “If I bless this union, you must take care of her.” Duckeroo nodded and quacked loudly for all to hear! The preacher then gave his final blessing. Immediately, the music started, and Duckeroo and his mate could be heard quacking loudly over the top of the music. The newlyweds were led to wedding table.

A lot of the women said, “This cake is for you two!” Immediately, they started eating it. Everyone laughed and sat down to eat. The smell of barbeque, vegetables, and all their favorite foods filled the air. After a while, Duckeroo started to sing and dance with the crowd. “Guess we have not lost our DJ,” the people said. The party continued until the wee hours of the morning. The next day many people came to help clean up. Someone told Farmer Tucker, “You really know how to throw a wedding party.” Blue and Turkey came and sat by Farmer Tucker. “You boys really make this farm special,” he said. Blue and Turkey leaned against Farmer Tucker and relaxed.

Chapter 23

The Race

I ndian Joe came up to Blue and said, “There is a race this weekend at a local track. Are you two ready?” Blue and Turkey nodded in agreement. After morning chores, you could hear them tuning the engine, getting it ready; and every evening, they were practice racing in the backfields. “Seems they have learned some new tricks,” Farmer Tucker said with a chuckle as he watched them race. Race morning came, and Mrs. Tucker had breakfast ready for everyone. You could hear her call Blue and Turkey to come and eat. “You boys need your strength for the race,” she said with authority. Soon after, the car was loaded, and everyone jumped in. This time Indian Joe pulled the truck up in the pit areas. “No more backseat parking,” he said. Farmer Tucker gave the dogs strict instructions to watch over the area and keep trouble away. The dogs took their places while the men went to sign up for the race. This season, the officials said, “You bring the drivers over to sign up.” So they waved at the animals to come over. You could see them proudly walk over with the dogs beside them. The officials said, “Are you boys ready to race this season?” Both animals nodded in agreement. “Sign here then,” they said. To their amazement, Blue took the pen in his beak and signed his name. Turkey

did the same. The surprised officials wished them well. “You will be number six to start,” they said. You could see the drivers wave at Blue and Turkey as they were getting ready to race. Once again, the race was on. You could see them right near the front of the pack. Within a short time, they were up with the leaders. Finally, the race came down to the white flag. They started to pull ahead, and the crowd was on their feet, cheering loudly. As the checkered flag came out, Blue’s car was a half-a-car lead ahead of the second-place leader. Blue waved his wing as he drove a victory lap. The stands emptied; everyone came running! The officials gave them the cup and prize money. Everyone was congratulating them. On the way home, you hear Farmer Tucker say with pride, “Boys, you are off to a good start this year. I am very proud of the two of you!” When they got back to the farm, everyone came out to hear the news. “Well, boys,” Mrs. Tucker said, “this trophy is going on the mantel!” Just then, Blue drew a picture of a rainbow in the dirt. Farmer Tucker and Mrs. Tucker brought the rainbow box outside. Blue and Turkey nodded to each other and drew a picture of money sign in the dirt with a line through the middle of the sign; for half of the money to go into the box and half goes to the Tuckers. Farmer Tucker said, “Thanks as you two make this farm special.”

Chapter 24

The Small Cart

E arly the next morning, Blue brought Farmer Tucker out to the barn to look at the race car. The hood was up. Blue pointed to the radiator. “I don’t see anything wrong, Blue,” he said. Again, Blue pointed to the radiator and to the ground. On a closer look, Farmer Tucker saw a pinhole in the radiator and the fluid on the ground. “Hummm,” he said, “this must have happened during the race. You must have picked up a stone. That is hard to find. The hole is so small. It leaked overnight. I will write a note for the mechanic, and he will order the part when you go to town.” Two weeks later, the part came in. You could see Blue and Turkey with their race hats on. As they were selling baked goods in town, the townspeople said, “We are proud of you two. You run a good race.” They both waved in agreement. After their morning chores, Blue and Turkey spent a lot of time at the children’s home. One morning Farmer Tucker asked Blue, “What are you doing with your spare time?” Blue wrote “kids” on the ground. “Okay,” he said, “but stay safe.” Blue and Turkey would knock on the door, and the housekeeper would invite them in. The kids loved to play with them. Turkey found a boy with a “bad leg” and could not walk well. They gathered all the scrap parts from around town and showed the kids how to build a cart for the boy. The housekeeper was amazed to

see all the children helping and learning how to build a cart. She called Farmer Tucker, and he came to visit and saw them finishing the cart. “So that’s what you boys have been up to.” He smiled. The little boy was so excited when the boys put him in it. He moved the cart with his hands. He could drive and keep up with the other children now. “Thank you! the housekeeper said. Before they left, Blue waddled over and gave the boy his race hat. When they got home, Farmer Tucker told his wife what the animals had been up to. Nothing would do Mrs. Tucker planned a special party for the kids at the farm. The animals were very excited! They both sat down with Blue and Turkey and thanked them for doing a very special thing. The picnic will be next weekend. Blue and Turkey pointed to the truck. Farmer Tucker said, “You boys want us to bring them out in the truck?” Blue quacked and quacked. He laughed and said, “I will take that as a yes!”

Chapter 25

Plans

W hile Mrs. Tucker was preparing for the picnic. Blue convinced all the animals to have a day of games and fun and activities. Later, Turkey brought Farmer Tucker and Indian Joe out to the barn. Blue and Turkey drew pictures on the ground to explain the activities that the animals wanted to do. Indian Joe and Farmer Tucker were also excited and invented some games for the kids to do too. He said, “We will end the night with a big fire and tell stories.” All the animals and everyone seemed in agreement. Farmer Tucker went into the kitchen and told his wife that the animals are into to it again. “They have been talking to me.” She just giggled.

Chapter 26

The Picnic

O ver the next few days, word spread that the Tuckers were having a picnic for the kids at the children’s home. “Did ya hear that Blue made a cart for one of the kids who was lame? Seems that the boy is getting around good now,” someone said. Some of the race drivers said, “Seems Blue does a lot of work for others. Let’s help by getting a bus for the home. What they have now barely runs.” The drivers were ing the hat at the next race. Meanwhile, someone was out looking for a bus. As Saturday rolled around, tables were set up; the animals were busy preparing for the various games: sack racing, egg toss, horseback riding, and others. As the time came close to get the kids, Blue and Turkey could be seen nudging Farmer Tucker and Indian Joe toward the truck. “You boys aren’t excited, are you?” Indian Joe asked. They quickly piled into the truck to go pick up the children. “Tell Mrs. Tucker we will be back soon,” he said to one of the farmhands. When they got to the children’s home, the kids were excited and waiting. “The children have been up and the chores done since the crack of dawn,” the house’s mother said. Everyone was loaded in the back of the truck. Even the cart got loaded. “Yes, there is room for the cart too,” Farmer Tucker said. Blue and Turkey rode with the kids in the back. You could hear them laughing

and singing coming up the road. When they pulled in, everything was all set. The townspeople and workers made sure everything ran smooth. Mrs. Tucker enjoyed watching the kids playing and having fun. Everyone watched as Horse knelt and the older kids put the lame boy on Horse. Blue jumped up and sat behind him. Everyone cheered as Horse slowly led the boy around almost as on cue. Horse started to trot a little faster. The boy was laughing and having fun. Mrs. Tucker said, “I do not believe it! We truly have a special farm.” As the afternoon unfolded, the Indians took some of the kids to the pond for fishing. The dogs went along to watch for safety. Some of the women took the girls under the shade trees and taught them some crafts. Blue watched as the lame boy practiced riding his cart all over the yard. Some cars could be seen driving up the road. A couple of the race drivers jumped out and told Farmer Tucker what was up. Indian Joe went to get the house mother. One driver told her, “We have a surprise for you and the children.” Someone rang the bell, and everyone gathered. “Blue has been helping you out a lot, seems he has taught us to share too,” the driver said. Just then, the school bus pulled up. It was painted blue, and everyone cheered with excitement! You could see Blue giving the driver high fives. The house mother said, “How did you know our bus was on its last legs?” “Blue told us,” they said. Just then, Mrs. Tucker yelled, “Suppertime!” Everyone gathered to eat.

A short time later, the men started a bonfire. As it grew, everyone gathered around. Almost as if on cue, everyone took turns telling stories. All the animals gathered around too. Some of the kids were lying on Bull and Cow. The small children were lying by Horse. The girls were sitting by the dogs. Blue and Turkey had the lame boy sitting beside them. Everyone seemed to know that this was a special farm.

Chapter 27

The Heat

S pring ed, and the crops were in. Summer turned hot, and there was no end to the heat. All regular activities slowed down until the heat broke. Even races were cancelled. Everyone tried to stay cool. It had not rained in a long time. One hot summer day, the animals were spread out under the trees. Farmer Tucker came over to Blue and Turkey. “Boys, we have a problem,” he said. “Our water supply is real low. We’re moving everyone and the animals to the lakes starting tonight. I want you two to round up all the small animals and we’ll put them in the truck. The big animals can walk behind the truck to the lake. I want some of the animals to help gather food and supplies.” Blue and Turkey looked into Farmer Tucker’s eyes and realized he was serious. Off they went to gather the animals. Before long, things were coming together. The small animals were gathered under the trees, and the others were gathering supplies. By late evening, everyone was ready to move up to the lakes. It was a sight to see. The trucks moved out, and the animals walked slowly behind. It took a while, but they finally made it to the lakes. The way it happened, the animals stayed at the lower lake and people stayed at the upper lake. Each farm took a spot around the lake. Farmer Tucker told Bull, Blue, Turkey, and the dogs to keep an eye on everything. “I do not want trouble.” As the animals settled down, the dogs took the first watch. It was much cooler by the lakes, and everyone seemed more comfortable. The first night, the animals took turns keeping watch. You could hear the coyotes

in the distance, but all seemed safe. As morning broke, Farmer Tucker and Indian Joe came and checked on the animals. Each farm took turns taking their animals to the water. The day was quiet and slow. As evening came on, the animals were fed and were quiet. Indian Joe came down with some of his tribe. He told Bull and Turkey to relax. They would watch over the area. This pattern continued for several days. No one noticed that Eagle and several birds kept flying over the area. Then one of the birds brought back a leaf and showed it to Indian Joe. He showed it to the elders of his tribe. They confirmed what the leaf meant. They told the birds to continue to keep looking for the same leaf. The Indian tribe told no one about the leaf until more was known. The birds kept gathering more information each day. Indian Joe came by one day and saw Eagle and Owl drawing line in the dirt. He sat and watched as they continued. The lines seemed to be an angle with three Xs in different places. He asked, “What goes by the Xs?” Eagle carefully drew a simple windmill and pointed to each X. Indian Joe nodded as he understood. “Where does the water flow go into?” he asked. Owl drew a circle at the other end. Indian Joe again nodded. “Are you ready to tell the people yet?” he asked. Blue nodded. “I will get Farmer Tucker first,” Indian Joe said. Then Indian Joe came back with Farmer Tucker. All his animals gathered close around him. “What is up?” he asked. Eagle and Owl carefully drew the same lines again. Farmer Tucker nodded and replied, “This might work, boys. What a great idea!

This might save the town. Can I get the town leaders and show them now?” Blue and Turkey nodded in agreement. In no time, the town leaders gathered. Indian Joe and Farmer Tucker explained that the birds have designed a simple plan to save the town. The mayor asked, “How will we hold the water once it reaches town?” Eagle drew a large circle at the end of the pipe. One town leader said, “Eagle is right. X is where there is a large dried-up well in the town square.” Everyone seemed to get excited and talked at once. The mayor got order and said, “Let’s start this plan right away, but only work at dusk, when it is cool.” The people were excited, and plans were made. This would bring the town back to life. Several local people took turns working on the pipeline and windmills each evening. No one noticed the birds flying over the area again. Finally, Eagle and Bull agreed to show Indian Joe the next plans. He watched Owl draw an oddshaped square in the dirt, with a box to one side and several Xs in the square. Turkey and Blue nudged Indian Joe toward the truck. “Okay, I am up for a ride,” he said as he drove down the road. He asked, “This the farm you drew, right?” Blue nodded when they arrived at the farm. He understood that the box was the house. Turkey took him right over to one of the plants and drew a circle around it with one of his claws. Meanwhile, Eagle did the same with the other plants. Indian Joe knelt and felt the leaf and knew it was living because it had deep roots. Blue showed him some of the other plants on the land. Indian Joe was excited. He knew the farm would survive. “Are there plants on other farms?” he asked.

The animals flapped their wings with excitement. Indian Joe realized that the animals were very special. “This will save the whole town,” he said as he drove back to the lake. “Is it time to tell the people?” he asked. Blue quacked in agreement. “First, let’s tell Farmer Tucker.” Shortly after they got back, Indian Joe found Farmer Tucker and went to the lower lake. The animals, again, gathered around him. “What is up? Is everything okay?” he asked. “Your animals are very special. Listen to what they tell you. This is important,” Indian Joe said. He nodded, and Eagle drew the same design he had drawn earlier, including the Xs where the plants grew. When he finished, Owl gave a leaf from one of the plants to Farmer Tucker. “What is this?” Farmer Tucker asked. “They brought this to my elders a few days ago. This plant only grows where there is water. The animals took me to your farm where the plants were located.” Farmer Tucker seemed excited but puzzled. Farmer Tucker went and gathered the town leaders again. “If everyone is working on the pipeline? How can we dig for water?” someone asked. The men decided to ask the Indian tribe if they would help. “What about the other farmers?” the mayor asked. Eagle came up and looked straight at Farmer Tucker and nodded. Farmer Tucker told the leaders that there were more plants on other farms. That evening the farmers gathered around the animals. Indian Joe and Farmer Tucker explained that the plants only grow where there is water. The Indian

elders spoke up and told about the history of the plants having deep roots and only growing where there is a lot of water. The town elders decided to help the struggling farmers first. The Indian tribe helped each farm dig for water. Everyone watched as Eagle showed Farmer Tucker where each plant was located. The whole town became closer together. When the town well filled up, they continued to work together until everyone had water.