The Elf and The Shrimp, A Thanksgiving Special

One day, Etwas the elf was running through the forests of grass, under the canopies of clover and around the stems of tall flowers when she bumped into a shrimp on the seashore.

"Hi, Etwas," the shrimp greeted, and happy Thanksgiving!"

"Thanksgiving is always happy," Etwas answered.  "Thank you." and she giggled.  "See?"

"Do you know the story of Thanksgiving?" the shrimp asked.  "It's about how my ancestors became merpeople."

"But you're a shrimp," answered Etwas.

"Mermaid," said the shrimp.

"OK, have it your way."

"Once upon a time," the shrimp narrated, "all the people of the Earth were platypuses.  In the sea, on the land, in the rivers.  Duckbills, everywhere."

Etwas shivered.

The shrimp knew then that his story was profound and she continued with zeal.  "One day, there was a terrible war over who was ugly.  Platypus turned against platypus until my ancestor, Queen Ariel, had an idea.  She found a giant block of salt and picked it up in her mighty (and very beautiful) duckbill.  She cast it into the sea where it dissolved in the water.  Where it dissolved became the oceans and the people of the ocean became beautiful fish and sharks and merpeople, including Ariel.  On land and in the rivers, there was no salt and the people became foxes and coyotes and seals and elves and trolls and the like. Those who liked being ugly moved to the antipodes and stayed platypi.  And there was no more war. Jus an occasional wolf chasing a squirrel.  And on Thanksgiving, ever after, we mermaids celebrate by eating seaweed cured in brine.  I give thanks for you, dear Etwas, for listening."

"And I give thanks for you, shri-mermaid."

"Call me Bobby," said the shrimp.

And ever since then, the elves celebrate holiday traditions with a grain of salt.