Thanksgiving morning in Maplewood was usually quiet, save for the rustle of leaves and the occasional gobble from Gobblesworth, the town’s prized turkey. Every year, Gobblesworth took center stage in the Turkey Parade before being honored at the mayor’s Thanksgiving feast. This year, the parade was set to be bigger than ever, with townsfolk excited for the grand feast.
But as the sun rose, so did trouble.
The Crime Scene
Barkley was enjoying his morning biscuit when his owner, Lucy, burst into the room, phone in hand.
“Oh no, Barkley! Gobblesworth is gone!” she gasped.
Barkley’s ears perked up. Gobblesworth missing? On Thanksgiving morning? This was no accident. Barkley grabbed his detective hat and magnifying glass and gave Lucy a determined bark. The game was afoot.
The Investigation Begins
The crime scene was the town square, where Gobblesworth had been housed in a special pen overnight. Mayor Thompson was pacing nervously, and the pen’s gate hung ajar. A few scattered feathers and a trail of breadcrumbs led away from the pen. Barkley sniffed at the trail, his sensitive nose catching a mix of scents: breadcrumbs, feathers, and... maple syrup?
“Find Gobblesworth and my missing turkey, Tom, please Barkley!” Mayor Thompson pleaded.
Barkley wagged his tail and followed the clues. His first stop: Maplewood Bakery.
A Suspicious Pastry Chef
At the bakery, Barkley found Chef Gillespie covered in flour, frantically kneading dough.
“What now?” Gillespie grumbled as Barkley barked at him.
Cornelius the crow swooped in from a nearby tree, cawing loudly. “Maple syrup, maple syrup!”
Barkley growled softly and pointed his paw at Gillespie’s syrup-smudged apron. The chef sighed.
“Fine, I took a little syrup from the square last night, but I didn’t take the turkey! Gobblesworth’s feathers give me allergies!”
Satisfied that Gillespie wasn’t their culprit, Barkley pressed on, Cornelius riding on his back for a better view.
The trail of breadcrumbs led Barkley and Cornelius to the park, where they found a raccoon rummaging through a trash can. Barkley barked sharply, startling the raccoon, who dropped what he was holding—a turkey feather.
“Alright, alright!” the raccoon chittered. “I might’ve seen Gobblesworth, but I didn’t take him! A guy like me prefers leftovers. The turkey went that way!” He pointed toward the woods with a tiny paw.
Into the Woods
The woods were quiet, except for the crunch of leaves under Barkley’s paws. The trail led to a clearing where a small cabin stood. Inside, Barkley could hear voices.
Peeking through the window, he saw Mrs. Featherstone, the mayor’s elderly neighbor, cooing softly at Gobblesworth, who looked like a pampered pet. There was also another turkey taking it all in.
“Oh, you poor dears,” she said. “I couldn’t let them eat you! You deserve better than that.”
The Resolution
Barkley barked sharply, startling Mrs. Featherstone. She opened the door, clutching Gobblesworth protectively.
“Oh, Barkley, you found us!” she exclaimed.
Barkley barked again, wagging his tail as Cornelius cawed sternly. Mrs. Featherstone sighed.
“I just couldn’t let them be the centerpiece. They are such a sweet birds!”
After some convincing (and a promise from the mayor to replace Gobblesworth and the other turkey who we found out belonged to the Mayor with a cornucopia centerpiece), Mrs. Featherstone agreed to return the turkeys.
Thanksgiving Saved
Back in the square, Gobblesworth and Tom returned to the town, and the parade went on as planned. The mayor kept his promise, and the feast featured vegetarian options alongside the traditional dishes.
As the sun set, Barkley sat by the fire, a bowl of turkey scraps at his paws, and Cornelius perched nearby with a piece of pumpkin pie. Another case solved, and another Thanksgiving saved.
Until next time when we see what adventures good ole Detective Barkley is up to.
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