Wing Or A Leg?

JULY 1997

Long day at work. Driving up the road making sure I don't look at the garden. Nothing there now. Go around the drive making sure I don't look at the trailer. Always there now.

Unload kids, groceries, books, mail and assorted garbage. Fight with the key to the door and give up. Open the window and push the kid in to open the door. Big dog very happy we're home. Bumps and pushes everyone around. Groceries drop, kids drop and all is well.

Head back out the door stumbling over the rottweilers being pushed by the Big dog. Joyous reunion with me in the middle getting squashed. They all run across the field and I see my big chance to get to the dog food shed. Yes, we have so many we need a shed. Grab the container and start filling bowls.
No dogs yet?
Strange
Get Big dog's bowl full and head back to the shack.
Hear leaves crunching
Wings beating
Oh no.

I take off for the chicken pen. A rottweiler flies past me with a chicken flying faster in the lead. Second rottweiler is trying to climb a tree. Chicken on the branch looks a bit put out. I run on to the chicken pen stopping just in time to see feathers flying over the top.
I'm thinking this is not a good sign.
A leg comes out of nowhere and hits the tin roof.
I get a flashback of that old movie The Birds.

Three chickens scatter around the side. One doing a weird leg/belly gate. Big dog slides around the corner with a Big dog grin and wild eyes.
Oooooo...scenes from Cujo knock out the Birds movie..
I grab a even bigger stick and start yelling and swinging.
Big dog catches the leg/belly chicken and throws it up. It lands on the roof with the leg.
Songs now? All Together Now by the Beatles.
Rottweiler and fast chicken trot by. Together.
Not fast enough I quess.
Tree climbing dog gives up and takes one of the many bodies laying around off through the woods for a picnic. Big stick and Big dog finally make contact.
He gives me a look that ask "How much did you see?"
I give him one back that says "Enough"
Chase him up to the house and put him in. Go back to the chicken pen to count the damage.
Hear a thump.
Tree sitting chicken just fell out.
Hit the dirt.

Knowing mother-in-law is due to come down and feed her chickens about now I decide I better tell her she can watch an extra 30 minutes of The Price is Right show everyday.

She follows me back down to the pen and picks up the tree falling chicken and looks at it.
Says "You want this one for supper?"
I decline the offer.
Back at the house I sit down and look at Big dog.
He's wondering where the stick is at.
I'm wondering why I came home.