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A neighbor of the Clarkes', Mrs. George, kept turkeys. Sometimes when she let her turkeys out, they would wander into the Clarkes' yard. The kids liked to make sport of a good turkey chase. George, about twelve, and martha, about nine, grabbed some bean pole garden stakes lying nearby and took out after the turkeys. Clyde was about four or five and he just tagged along watching the others.
The kids ran and ran, strikinh at the turkeys when they came close. One stake landed a direct blow and a large turkey fell over.
The kids looked from one to the other with fright because they knew Ma would just skin them alive for killing one of Mrs. George's turkeys. Martha and George decided to take quick action. There was a creek flowing across their farm, so they grabbed the turkey and Clyde and ran toward the creek. Theysearched up and down the creek bank to find a good hiding place for their dead turkey so that Ma would never know until they came to a little indention in the creek bed and stuffed the turkey in. Next, they covered him with a couple of tree branches. Now they felt safe from Ma's wrath with one possible exception - Clyde. Since he was only four or five, George and Martha knew he couldn't be trusted to keep quiet about it.
George and Martha took Clyde aside and told him that if he ever told anyone what had happened tha the policeman would come and take him away and he'd neveer see Ma again because of his part in the turkey killing
That night, as usual, all the family got ready for church except Ma. For some reason Ma had dediced not to go and thought she'd just keep Clyde home with her.
When all the rest were gone, Clyde began whining around, hanging on to Ma's skirt everywhere she went. Finally she stopped and sat down. She said, 'Clyde, waht;s the matter with you? You've been hanging on my dress tail all evening." Clyde whimpered, "I'm afraid the policeman is coming to take me away and I'll never see you again."
A little later when George and Martha returned from church, they found Ma waiting at the door. Not onlyhad they harmed someone els'e property, but more importantly they had tormented their baby brother with guilt and fear. Ma said he was a nervous wreck and couldn't go to sleep. They knew Clyde had told. They tried to deny it at first, but Ma would have none of that.
She told the kids if they had told her earlier, they could have at least eaten the turkey, but now all they could do was pay Mrs. george. She lit the coal oil lamp and told the kids to take her to find the turkey. Ma made George look all along the creek but he couldn't find it. Ma told him to nevermind searching anymore that night, but come morning, they would find it and pay Mrs. george.
Early next morning, top everyone's amazement, the dead turkey was gobbling around the front yard. He had only been knocked unconscious by the turkey-chasers. Boy, were they relieved!!