Mario, who cheated Christmas

Hello! My name is Mario and this is my incredible story. "Why", you ask"is it incredible," Because I am a turkey and I am seven years old. Takes some believing, doesn't it, when you consider that most turkeys have a very short life span; We are much in demand for Christmas and Thanksgiving!

My life started as an egg. Dozens of us were on a journey, all carefully crated and packed in a van. We were being driven with precaution along a bumpy road.

Bored with the journey, feeling closed in in my egg shell, anxious for some excitement, wanting to see what was happening around me, I began to crack my shell. At this point we reached our destination. The driver opened the van doors to unload his cargo. He saw me, almost hatched, a turkey!

It was my lucky day as he was a kind man. He decided to save my life. A bit of a problem as he lived in a small apartment in the heart of town. Not a really suitable place to bring up a turkey. Full grown we are quite a size!

With his boss's permission he kept me for a few days. He then set about finding me a suitable home. A phone call to friend who had many animals and plenty of room solved the problem. I was on the move again. When I arrived I was dumbfounded. A long spacious run with several shady trees awaited me, and I had a little house. Built of timber, it had a tiled roof.

The news of my arrival spread throughout the neighbourhood like wild fire. I have many visitors. My favourites are the children. I always put on a show for them. My repetoire as a self-taught performing turkey has no bounds. The children show their appreciation by bringing me treats. In case you are passing, buns are my favourite.

Motorists who pass on the road alongside my pen have taken to tooting when they see me. I respond every time.

I have lived in this lap of turkey luxury for years now; the neighbourhood's star attraction and a rather unusual pet.

Copyright Jacqueline Hastings 2009