Free Great Turkey Heist by Gertrude Chandler Warner

the people around and had hidden from them.
    Henry, Jessie, Violet, and Benny climbed into Grandfather’s car. “Are you children sure that you do not mind having Thanksgiving at the restaurant? It will be hard work. You will be serving people and cleaning up plates. You will not be able to relax at home on the holiday.”
    “We’re sure, Grandfather,” Jessie said. “Mrs. McGregor makes wonderful meals for us every night. We want to make sure that people who don’t have as much as we do can have a good Thanksgiving meal.”
    Just then there was a loud growl in the car. Even Grandfather was startled.
    Benny’s face turned red. “My stomach can’t help it!” he cried. “Everyone keeps talking about food!”
    “I have a nice warm stew in the slow- cooker,” Mrs. McGregor said. “And I baked a fresh loaf of wheat bread this morning. We can eat as soon as we get home.”
    Jessie was the only one not thinking about food. She kept her hand in her pocket. She was holding something, and she wanted to show it to her sister and brothers.

CHAPTER 10
Two Confessions
    Benny dipped a thick slice of fresh bread into his stew. He was still holding the football that the coach had given to him after the game.
    “Benny,” Grandfather said. “Why don’t you go put your football in your room?”
    “I need to carry the football everywhere, Grandfather,” Benny said. “I have to practice so I can be on the team when I am in high school.”
    “I thought you liked the band,” Violet said.
    “I did!” Benny scooped a potato chunk into his mouth. “I liked both. I am going to play football, and then I will play in the band at halftime. I want to play the drums.”
    Everyone talked about how much fun the football game had been. It was exciting that Greenfield High had won the championship. After dinner, the children helped Mrs. McGregor in the kitchen. She was baking pumpkin pies to donate for the free Thanksgiving dinner at Green Fields restaurant. Soon, the whole table was filled with delicious pies.
    “We’ll let them cool,” Mrs. McGregor said. “I will put them in boxes later. All except for this one.”
    “Is there something wrong with that one?” asked Benny.
    Mrs. McGregor shook her head. “No, but I made one pie too many. Do you have any ideas what we could do with it?”
    “Eat it!” Benny cried. “Did you make that pie for us?”
    Mrs. McGregor cut four large slices of pie. “I sure did,” she said.
    Jessie poured glasses of cold milk. The children sat in the warm kitchen to eat the pumpkin pie.
    “We will have to leave early tomorrow morning,” Jessie said. “It will take a long time to empty all those bags and put all the food on the shelves.”
    “Grandfather will drop us off at the food pantry,” Henry said. “He is going into town to take Mrs. McGregor’s pies to Green Fields restaurant.”
    Violet poured herself another glass of milk. “Did you know that Grandfather and Mr. Carroll and Colette have offered to drive people to the Thanksgiving dinner?”
    Benny licked a dab of whipped cream from his fork. “But why don’t they drive themselves?” he asked.
    “Some are not healthy enough to drive,” Henry said. “And some people don’t have cars.”
    “Grandfather said that some of our neighbors have already volunteered to drive others to the food pantry once it opens,” Jessie said.
    “There are a lot of thoughtful people in Greenfield,” Violet said. “But I hope they can find the food pantry. I wish it was not in such a hidden spot.”
    Suddenly, Jessie remembered what she had in her pocket. She pulled it out and set it on the table.
    “What’s that?” asked Benny.
    “I found it in the trunk of Mr. Grayson’s car today,” Jessie said.
    Henry and Violet looked surprised. It was a curled piece of twine. It looked very much like the twine Mr. Carroll had used to tie down Violet’s turkey sign.
    “We will need to work fast at the food pantry tomorrow,” Jessie said.