Breaking Brooklyn Read Online Free PDF Page A

recess.
    What could the prize possibly be, a pair of
skates, a baseball glove, what? When I got to the principal’s
office I was handed a giant cage with a live turkey
inside.
    “ GOBBLE! GOBBLE!
GOBBLE!”
    The principal walked up to me with a huge
smile on his face and said, “Jack! This is your prize. Take it home
with you! It’s yours!”
    “ GOBBLE! GOBBLE!
GOBBLE!”
    I could barely hear him over the turkey. The
cage looked like a space ship that was piloted by a fat, feathery
alien with a bright red gobbler dangling from his chin. I am sure
my jaw hung open. Why couldn’t I have won something normal, like
movie tickets or a gift certificate?
    Trying to walk with the cage was impossible.
Principal Hilgenberg tried to jump in and help when he realized I
was falling. Turkey, cage, and disappointment all fell on top of
me.
    Struggling and with no help from my friends I
managed to carry the turkey, clucking and gobbling, all the way
home. The cage hit my ankles every step of the way. By the time I
got to our townhome, my arms hurt like I’d been doing push-ups all
day.
    Wrestling the kitchen door open, I brought the
turkey inside. I set the cage down in the middle of the kitchen. I
took a few breaths, then I studied the beast in front of me. His
brown and white feathers were majestic like body armor. On his neck
were a trail red moles that led to two large red ones that
resembled a ..... set of very unhealthy testicals.
    Figuring there was only one place for such a
pet, I opened the basement door and dragged the cage down the
stairs. Every step brought another scrape to my ankles, while the
gyrating motion made my new friend more anxious. Once I reached the
bottom step, I rested. Taking a moment to catch my breath, I
admired my new buddy. When I noticed the turkey looking at me, I
didn’t move a muscle in an effort to not scare him. His head cocked
to the side as his raven-like eyes connected with mine. This only
lasted a second. That’s when I decided that feeding my new friend
might be the nice thing to do.
    Not knowing what turkeys eat, I went upstairs
and rummaged through the cupboards. Cornmeal should work, I
guessed. Taking it down stairs along with a bowl of water I made
the peace offering.
    My plan was to watch my friend all afternoon,
just to figure out what a turkey does. What I quickly discovered is
that turkeys don’t do that much. Really, what can you do with a
turkey in a cage? Bored, I headed upstairs to my room.
    Hours later, my grandfather came home. Who
knows when my mom finally dragged her ass in? I fell asleep
thinking everything was okay. That is, until six o’clock in the
morning, when it sounded like a fire alarm went off. A loud cackle
rang throughout the house. GOBBB-GBOB-GOBBLE! Then that noise was
followed by another loud cackle, GOBBB-GBOB-GOBBLE!
    Popping out of bed, I ran down the stairs,
meeting my grandfather in the kitchen. Grandpa Bob glared at me
with bloodshot eyes that were half-open. Standing in white boxers
and a dull gray tank top, he flailed his arms and yelled cuss
words. In came my mother. She was not happy either. Then we heard
the sound again.
    “ GOBBB-GBOB-GOBBLE!!”
    “ GOBBB-GBOB-GOBBLE!!”
    ” I know it’s close and when I find
it I going to wring its neck!” Grandpa shouted.
    When I saw him looking toward the basement
door I panicked, feeling my eyes pop right out of my head. I did
the only thing I could think of… I stepped in front of the door,
but my grandfather pushed me aside. Flinging it open, he started
down the steps.
    That’s when the loudest cackling sound nearly
ruptured my eardrums GOBB – GOBB-GOBBLE! Grandpa Bob’s cussing
could be heard in the next county.
    “ What in the hell? Where in
the…what in God’s name…?”
    My mother joined in his tirade as they tried
to figure out why there was a turkey in their basement. Suddenly,
my new friend was quiet. It was like someone hit the snooze button
on the turkey alarm clock.
    I ran down the