Last Thanksgiving took an unexpected turn when our dog, Max, wouldn’t stop barking at the turkey my husband, Kyle, had just brought home. At first, I thought Max wanted a bite, but when I finally unwrapped the bird, I discovered a strange lump inside—hidden in its cavity was a plastic bag stuffed with thousands of dollars in cash. Startled, I immediately called the police, certain something illegal was going on.

When the officers arrived, they were just as baffled. They questioned me about where the turkey had come from, and right on cue, Kyle walked in with his mom, looking pale as ever when he saw the cops. At first, he stayed quiet, but after some pressing, he admitted the truth—he had hidden the money himself. He’d withdrawn his savings to surprise me with a dream trip to Hawaii and, in a panic to keep it secret, decided to stuff the cash inside the turkey.

I was stunned. Not only was it a ridiculous hiding spot, but it could have ruined Thanksgiving—or worse, gone up in flames if I had put the turkey straight in the oven. Kyle’s mom confirmed his story, though she wasn’t impressed with his methods. The police, amused more than anything, left after checking his withdrawal receipt, but not before laughing at what they called “the oddest smuggling case they’d ever seen.”

In the end, the embarrassment faded, replaced with laughter as we told the story to family that evening. Max, the true hero, was rewarded with extra turkey scraps, while Kyle endured endless teasing. We did take that trip to Hawaii, where we conceived our child—something we now jokingly trace back to the turkey full of cash. Looking back, I can only say one thing: always listen to your dog.