For Thanksgiving this year, Brooke made a huge decision and announced it at the dinner table one night before Thanksgiving, "I'm not going to eat meat anymore! I'm becoming a vegetarian."

"Well, Brooke, that is an interesting choice. If you decide that you don't want to eat turkey that is fine with me and your father."

"Really Mom, you won't cook a turkey?"

"The rest of the family loves turkey, so I will still be cooking, But you do not have to eat any."

"That's just gross, how can you cook and eat flesh?"

"When the Pilgrims landed in the New World," added her dad, "it was the Indians that saved them by sharing their food, and it happened to include turkey. It is an American tradition."

"Well, I do like the drumstick, and plus who would take my place in stuffing the bird? I do have the smallest hands."

"It's good Brooke that you are starting to question your own convictions," said Mom. "You are growing up to be a fine young girl and we're so proud of you."

So it was turkey with all the trimmings for the family that Thanksgiving and a delicious vegetarian meal for Brooke.

Teresa Allen, [Albuquerque, NM] had a novel published in April 2008. This is an adult novel, but her true passion is writing for children and from her heart. Her newly published novel is Marti Brown and the House of Face. You may visit her website at: www.teresarallen.com. Allen's blog is called, "MY Books."

© 2008 Teresa Allen. Original for CCF (Allen grants CCF  first electronic rights for one month; CCF may archive the material indefinitely and include it in an eBook anthology).