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Even worse, he couldn t talk.
But Timmy didn t feel sorry for Tommy, because Tommy was
just like one of the family. Mama Jane called him Timmy s
adopted brother. Tommy even went out with Timmy every morn-
ing to watch Daddy Mike milk Maybelle the Moo Cow, and
Daddy Mike would surprise them both with squirts of milk in
their faces.
Ha ha! Daddy Mike would laugh. Look alive, there!
Then Timmy would laugh too, and Tommy would do the best
he could.
And even though Mama Jane had said that Timmy didn t have
to share his room with Tommy, Timmy was glad to do it anyway.
At night after they went to bed, he and Tommy whispered secrets
that they promised never to tell anyone else secrets about all the
adventures they d had together.
50
TIMMY AND TOMMY S THANKSGIVING SECRET 51
And oh! What adventures!
They fought pirates on the banks of Muddy Pond . . .
They chased buTalo across Grassy Meadow . . .
They explored deserts that looked just like Rocky Pasture . . .
And best of all, they scaled the dizzying heights of Towering
Grain Silo.
That is, Timmy did. Tommy always refused to climb the shaky
ladder. So Timmy would go up alone, and when he reached the
very tip-top, he would look down and shout, Tommy is a
chicken! Tommy is a chicken!
At this, Tommy would always look very indignant, and some-
times he would even stalk oT in a huT. A chicken, indeed! What
an insult!
But by bedtime, all would be forgiven, and Timmy would lie
awake in bed and whisper secrets across the room to where
Tommy slept on a pallet on the Xoor. And although Tommy could-
n t talk the way normal people did, sometimes he would jabber
nonsense in response to Timmy s whispers. At least, Daddy Mike
said that it was nonsense, but Timmy knew better. After all,
Tommy s jabbering sounded just like Mrs. Krunholtz at Sunday
Church when she rolled around on the Xoor and spoke in tongues.
And no one ever said that Mrs. Krunholtz was jabbering nonsense.
One November morning while it was still dark, Timmy woke
up to the sounds of the kitchen door banging shut and Daddy
Mike s boots clomping into the barnyard. Timmy was surprised.
Daddy Mike got up early every morning to milk Maybelle, but
never this early. Timmy didn t know what to make of it.
Come on, Tommy! Timmy cried, throwing oT his blankets
and grabbing his pint-sized coveralls from the bedpost. Let s go
see what Daddy Mike s doing! Maybe we can help!
Tommy jabbered in agreement, and together they hurried
downstairs, almost tumbling over one another in their excitement.
When they reached the kitchen, they found that Mama Jane was
up and about, too. She was putting a big pot of water on the stove.
Oh good, Mama Jane said when she saw Timmy and Tommy.
I m glad you two are bright-eyed and bushy-tailed! There s a lot
to do today!
52 WITPUNK
Why? Timmy asked. What s today?
Well, my goodness, child! Mama Jane said. It s Thanks-
giving! Now, run out and help Daddy Mike. The sun s coming up,
and my whole family will be here before you can say Jack
Robinson so hop to it!
Timmy and Tommy hopped outside, and then Timmy saw
Daddy Mike, along with Buster and Scotty the Farm Dogs, stand-
ing in the barnyard beside the old oak stump that Timmy and
Tommy used as the deck of their battleship. So Timmy dashed out
to the stump with Tommy hurrying close behind.
Why, there you are! Daddy Mike exclaimed when he saw
Timmy and Tommy. I thought you were going to sleep the day
away! And with that, he grabbed Tommy by the feet and
slammed him onto the stump.
Daddy Mike! Timmy cried. Is Tommy in trouble?
In a manner of speaking, Daddy Mike said. Then he picked
up a hatchet that had been hidden on the far side of the stump, and
with one quick stroke, he chopped oT Tommy s head. Tommy s
head Xew away and tumbled to the dirt, and Tommy s blood
spurted from his neck onto Daddy Mike s hand.
Then Buster and Scotty the Farm Dogs began making quite a
ruckus. They were Wghting over Tommy s head.
Timmy, take Tommy s head and put it in the trash barrel down
by the barn, said Daddy Mike. If Buster or Scotty got hold of
it, they could start choking, and then I d have to get the gun.
So Timmy picked up Tommy s head and went down to the barn
with Buster and Scotty nipping at his heels.
Tommy? Timmy said to Tommy s head. What did you do to
get in trouble?
But Tommy s head didn t even jabber. It just gazed up at
Timmy with one glassy black eye.
Timmy! Daddy Mike cried then. Come look at this!
Daddy Mike sounded excited, so Timmy dropped Tommy s
head into the trash barrel and ran back to the old oak stump as fast
as he could. When he got there, he saw Tommy staggering toward
the house, leaving a squiggly trail of blood behind him. Before
long, though, Tommy Xopped over and lay there twitching.
TIMMY AND TOMMY S THANKSGIVING SECRET 53
Did you ever see the like? Daddy Mike asked.
But Timmy didn t have a chance to answer, because Buster and
Scotty the Farm Dogs came running back from the trash barrel,
snarling and biting at each other all the way.
Quick, Timmy! Daddy Mike said. Pick up Tommy and take
him to Mama Jane while I have a talk with Buster and Scotty!
So Timmy went to Tommy and tried to pick him up while
Daddy Mike had a talk with Buster and Scotty. But Tommy was
big and heavy, so Timmy had to grab him by the feet the way
Daddy Mike had done, and then drag him to the house.
This was hard work, but Timmy Wnally got Tommy into the
kitchen, where Mama Jane was waiting. Her big pot of water was
boiling now.
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