Roses are Red, Violets are Blue, Turkeys don't Hate Red, It's You.

I have learnt not to believe everything people say because the last time I tried to believe what people said, I got chased by a turkey!

There's this myth about turkeys and the colour red. "If you wear a red colored garment or have any red accessory on you, you'd be chased by a turkey". I believed this all my life until last year. Last year, a turkey decided to prove this myth wrong and it did it on a very bad day.

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Close to my former residential lodge( yes, former. ) , there was this man that had a poultry farm. He reared birds of all kinds. Apart from the pungent smell that we breathe in each day, his birds were very stubborn.

How would a cock be walking behind you with no fear? The worst were the turkeys, they would walk by your side and give you the "you can't do nada" look.

I've never liked turkeys, except in a pot and so I diligently avoided getting in contact with this man's turkeys. I had few red colored clothes and so I felt I was safe.

One morning, I wore one of my favourite clothes, 'a blue and white striped gowns' and headed out for lectures. Disclaimer : it wasn't the first time I wore this dress to pass the turkeys.

I put my head out of the gate first to survey the area. I saw that the turkeys were there. I looked forward and saw about two people, I looked back and saw a man approaching and so I decided to get going.

I came out, looking fresh and vibrant. The turkey did not follow me at first. When it saw that I was by a waterlog and there was no way I could jump that water log, the turkey started approaching.

At first, I thought this turkey was playing so I shrugged it off. The next moment, I noticed that the turkey took two steps for every step I made. This turkey was literally behind me and it seemed angry.

Normally, birds get repelled when you 'shuu' them away but this turkey didn't budge. I did 'shuu' till I got tired. In front of me was a water log, behind me was a turkey and by my side was a very high fence. A tear almost dropped from my eyes. I started sweating. Pondering on what to do next.

I looked at myself to check if I had anything red on but I didn't. Black sandals, blue gown, black hair, nothing unusual. I looked at my wrist watch and I was about five minutes late for my lecture.

The man behind me was my saving grace. First, he picked up stones to throw at the turkey but this turkey still didn't budge. The turkey was looking me straight in the eyes with the expression " take one more step and you'd see".

After trying out the stones, the man himself got angry because why would a bird be so stubborn. He picked up a stick from the nearby bush and started hitting the turkey. The turkey eventually gave me some space.

No one told me to run but I sprinted. I ran as fast as my gown would let me. When I reached the school gate, I looked behind and the turkey wasn't pursuing me. I could finally catch my breath.

I just wonder why the turkey decided to torment me that morning of all mornings. I didn't do anything wrong to it. After lectures that day, I didn't want to go back home alone.

My instincts were right as the turkey was there, waiting for me. Good thing I was walking with two guys by each side. I told them about the morning incident and they laughed and said " tarrh, you're not wearing anything red". I didn't want to take any risk. Even with the fact that I was walking with two guys, I still ran past the turkey just to be safe.

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Few months after this incident, I packed out. I can not pay money to get terrorised by a turkey and still breathe bad air. And yes, to those people who still think turkeys pursue people because of the colour red, please be informed. Don't get on a turkey's bad side, knowingly or unknowingly.

With love, wongi ✨