By: Melanie Blackman and Tracy Juliet

Once upon a time in 1620, there was a little girl named Sue.

She lived in a little town called Plymouth which is in abig country named England. One day Sues mothercame into her bedroom and woke her up.

Her mother told her it was time to leave for America, soshe quickly got dressed and rushed out the door. Withher luggage in her right hand and her blanket in theleft, they walked towards a huge ship.

There were lots of people getting on the ship. As Sue entered the ship,she noticed a word at the front of the ship. It says M-ay-fl-ow-er.Mayflower. She heard people talking and whispering amongstthemselves. As Sue listened closer, she heard that the trip may bedangerous and that the Indians may attack them. She even heard themsaying that there might be storms and pirates! Sue got scared and beganto wonder why they are leaving?

While quietly sitting next to her mother, she thought that nowwould be the best time to ask her. Her mother said that theKing of England wanted everyone to follow his religion. Buteveryone on the ship wanted their own. They would secretlymeet and pray together but the King sent soldiers to arrestthem. After many arrest, they decided to leave England. Suesmother told her that they are called Pilgrims.

The pilgrims left their homes and their friends inEngland. They hoped for a better life in America.

Soon it was nighttime and Sue began to feel sleepy. Shethought of sleeping in a nice warm bed but when her mothertook her to the first floor of the ship she was surprised.

There were about 102 people. Some were trying tofind a place to lay their blankets while others weresleeping. It was cold and stuffy.

She wanted to use the toilet but there were notoilets. She wanted to wash her hands but there wasno water. Sad and tired, Sue quickly fell asleep onher blanket.

Suddenly, she was awakened by a huge jolt. Everyone andeverything began sliding to the left and then to the right. Hermother grabbed her and told her that it is a storm and soon itwould be over. As Sue was about to get up, in came somewater gushing down the first floor. Their clothes became wetand they felt even colder.

After hours of rough seas and strong winds, the stormstopped and the sun shined again! Everyone went tothe top of the ship to get the warmth of the sun and drytheir clothes. They had pickled beef, cheese and drybread for breakfast, lunch and dinner. They ate thesame meal every day. Nine weeks went by and Suebecame tired of the same food and of sailing.

One day, a man ran to the first floor yelling he sawland. Everyone ran to the top of the ship. They were allhappy to see land. It is America! Sue was excited to seeher new home.

Sue slowly walked with the other pilgrims onshore. Shenoticed some people wearing feathers on their headhiding in the bushes.

They began looking for a place to build theirhomes. The pilgrims found a spot and named itNew Plymouth.

Sue helped her parents by bringing branches and sticks to build theirhouse. They must build their house before leaving the ship. But the coldwinter weather slowed them down. It took weeks to finish their house.

Sue heard the pilgrims calling the people with featherson their head, Indians. She saw them from afar as theysat around campfires and sang songs. The weathercontinued to get cold and icy. Everyone tried to keepwarm by hugging each other.

Many pilgrims got sick and many of them died. Suewas very sad. She prayed that it would soon be overand they would all be happy once again. Only half ofthe Pilgrims survived the winter.

The Indians came closer and closer. Then one day an Indian walked intotheir village. Sue ran and hid because she was scared. Suddenly, sheheard the Indian speaking in English. She was surprised. He said hisname is Samoset. The pilgrims greeted him with gifts and they wanted tobe friends. Sue quietly came out of her hiding spot because she wanted tobe friends too.

The next day, Samoset returned to the village with anotherIndian named Squanto. Squanto decided to live with thepilgrims and he showed them how to plant corn and huntfor food. Sue heard the pilgrims and Indians making plansfor the Indian King to visit their village. Sue was excitedbecause they all became friends.

The next day, the Indian King visited. They all talked and laughed.Sue even laughed at their silly jokes. Before leaving, the Indian Kingand the Pilgrims signed a Treaty. Sues mother told her that it was apromise to each other that they would be friends. In April, theMayflower sailed back to England. They all loved America anddecided to stay.

In the summer, Sue helped her parents and the other Pilgrimsplant many crops. They all worked very hard. By fall it wastime to harvest their crops. They thought that it would be niceto give thanks for all that they have grown. So they decidedto have a thanksgiving feast. The pilgrims invited the Indians.

On the day of the feast, the Indian King brought ninetyIndians. Sue watched the Pilgrims become concernedabout having enough food for the Indians. She thenheard the Indian King sending out his men to hunt fordeer. They caught five deer and the Pilgrims wererelieved that there would be enough food for everyone.

The Pilgrims said a prayer of thanks before beginning theirmeal. They ate bird, deer meat, fish, goose, lobster, turkey,corn bread, berries, onions, and pumpkins. Thethanksgiving feast lasted for three days.

Sue and her friends sang and danced with theIndians. She became friends with an Indian girlnamed Aiyanna. They played games togetherwhile the adults ran races. They all had awonderful time.

From then on every year the Pilgrims celebratedThanksgiving. The town of New Plymouth grew largerand larger as more people came from England.

Sue and her Indian friend Aiyanna grew older. Theyremained good friends.

Many years passed. In 1863 Abraham Lincoln, thepresident of the United States of America madeThanksgiving Day a national holiday.

The End

Greene, G. (2002). The very first thanksgiving day. New York ,NY: Simon & Schuster Childrens Publishing Division. Melmed, L. (2001). This first thanksgiving day: a counting story. New York, NY: HarperCollins Publishers Hayward, L. (1990). The first thanksgiving. New York, NY: Scholastic Inc. McGovern, A. (1973). The pilgrims first thanksgiving. New York, NY: Scholastic Inc. Dougherty, B. (2008). The littlest pilgrim. New York, NY: Scholastic Inc.