Narrator (3:25)

This is the Eagle who Saved Thanksgiving by Susannah McLoughlin. Ember the eagle was flying over the valleys towards Sleepy Forest when she saw something terrible. She had just been thinking about what a marvellous day lay ahead. It was Thanksgiving and she and her family were hosting. Koko and his koala family were coming around and they were bringing some incredibly special guests. Their cousin Cappy and her best friend Titan, who had come all the way from Peru to experience Thanksgiving in Sleepy Forest. Ember had been looking forward to it for months and dinner would be served in an hour, but it seemed disaster had struck there. Hundreds of meters below in a valley not far from the forest, was the Thanksgiving train. The train came by every year to deliver all the foods and treats that everybody in the forest needed for their thanksg traditions. It would bring yams and pumpkin pies, jars of cranberry jelly and potatoes for mashing everything they needed. The train should have arrived this morning whilst Ember was out for her morning flight. Her mum should have been mashing the tatties right now and pouring the jelly into a bowl and baking the marshmallows so they went gooey and crispy exactly how Ember liked. But instead the train was there in the middle of the valley, stock still puffing strange colored smoke into the air. Ember swooped down and flew towards the train. Moments later she landed in the driver's compartment where Twizzles the turkey, was sitting with his beak buried in his wings. Twizzles, Ember said. What's wrong? The turkey started and turned to look at Ember in surprise. Ember, he said. I'm so glad to see you. It's a disaster. The train has broken down. I've called the mechanics but no one's picking up. It's Thanksgiving. They're all off work. Everything everyone needs is here in the train. But I can't get into Sleepy Forest. The train won't budge. Ember looked into the next carriage, which was stuffed full of big bags, each with a label on saying which household it was to go to. There's a taxi on the way to take me home, twizzle said. But it won't get here for ages and by the time I drive all the way to Sleepy Forest, then around it, delivering the food. It will all be spoiled. Ember put a wing around the turkey and told him to take some deep breaths. Not to worry, Twizzles, she said. We'll work it out. She looked at the bags. They didn't look too heavy, and she had a huge wingspan. Being an eagle, she could surely take them. Only Cappy and Tito would be arriving in an hour, and there were so many bags to deliver. She'd never be finished in time. She'd miss the whole dinner. Ember thought for a minute before nodding resolutely. It didn't matter, she decided. It was better she helped others have their Thanksgiving feast and she missed out then, she being happy and everyone else being hungry. I'll take it, she said. One by one I'll deliver the bags. If it takes me all day, I'll do it. Twizzles jumped to his feet and threw his wings around Ember. Thank you, Ember, he said. I wish I could deliver it myself, he said. But you know turkeys can't fly. Ember squeezed Twizzles back. Not to worry, Twizzles, she said. You've done a stellar job getting the supplies this far. You get yourself home, back to your family and your own feast. Twizzles grinned gratefully this Thanksgiving. I'm thankful for you, Ember, he said. Ember passed through to the next carriage where all the supplies were waiting. She decided it wouldn't be fair to pick who got their supplies first, so she closed her eyes and picked one. She looked at the label. It said the Eagle Family Few. She thought that meant not only the eagles would get their feast, but the koalas and their special visitors, too. Ember held the sack in her beak and pushed off the ground, flying out of the train and up, up into the sky. She soared through the clouds, flapping her wings extra hard and sailing extra far on the wind currents until she saw the roof of her family's treehouse poking up through the forest canopy. She landed on the balcony with a thud and her mum came flapping through the door. Oh, Ember, she called. It's a disaster. The train didn't come and no one has their orders. Ember stopped at her mum and told her it was okay. Ember was fixing it. She explained the whole thing. I'll fix it, she said. But it means. It means I'll miss dinner. But it'll be worth it to make everyone happy. Ember's mum put her wings around her daughter and told her she was proud of her. This Thanksgiving, she said, I'm grateful to have a wonderful daughter like you. Ember flew up into the air and back toward the valley. When she landed on the train, Twizzles was gone. He'd be on the way back to his family, and Ember smiled at the thought.

Host (10:18)

The next bag she picked was for Snaffles.

Narrator (10:21)

It was light, so she peeked in and found that all there was in the bag was a huge chocolate bar and a special pair of socks patterned with all the foods associated with the holiday. Ember chuckled. Lovely, silly old Snaffles. She delivered the goodies to his home.

Host (10:40)

In the tree hollow.

Narrator (10:41)

Then back to the train she went. The next batch was for Hector and Sunny. It contained a barrel and on the barrel was written one word. Gravy. Ember took the barrel and flew it all the way over Sleepy Forest to the human village where she dropped it on the doorstep and pressed the doorbell with her beak. As she took to the sky, she saw Hector at the window, waggling his paw at her. Next was a delivery for Betty Badger and her little Badgers. Her bag was full of pumpkins to make her famous pumpkin pies. Betty would bake them on Thanksgiving morning and deliver them around Sleepy Forest so everyone would have the perfect dessert. Ember smiled as she dropped the pumpkins at the bakery. She was grateful to have such wonderful neighbours. By the time Ember had dropped off the last parcel and was flying home, her wings were tired and the sky was turning dark. The first stars had begun to light up in the sky. The feast would be long finished by now. She just hoped someone had saved her a slice of pumpkin pie. The lights were off in the house. She supposed everyone was taking a post feast nap. Capi and Tito would have gone home with Koko and Kira and their family, she was sure of it. But oh well, she guessed she'd see them next year. Ember tried not to feel sad as she touched down on the deck. The moment her wings came to a stop, all the lights in the house switched on. There was a whizzing sound and then a bang and then another and the whole sky lit up with with fireworks. There on the other side of the patio doors stood all her friends. Koko, Kira, Cappy, Tito, her Eagle family, the Koalas, even Koko's grandma and granddad. And there on the table was a perfect feast. Completely untouched and piping hot. They had waited for her. Welcome home, Ember. Her friends chorused. This year we're thankful for you. The eagle who saved Thanksgiving, Sam. Sa.