Ode to Chickenman

Rating: PG?
Timeline: I'm gonna say first season. Just 'cause.
Spoilers: None.
Dedication: To Jen, Dot, Vic and Meg for putting up with me. To Traci and Tim for doing the chickenman thing with me every damned day.

We were working in the library. Well, I was working - researching Ul'Gloth demons in my office, in case the one Buffy had killed the night before wasn't the only one in town. Willow was reading Beowulf for her Literature class, and Xander was reading the newspaper.

Suddenly, Xander cried out and threw the newspaper down on the table. He cradled his head in his hands, as if he were unable to believe what he'd read.

I stood and went to the door of my office in case he needed help, but I saw that Willow was already taking care of it. She put down her book and looked at Xander, her eyes full of concern.

"What is it, Xander?"

He looked at her, and I'd have sworn he was trying to keep from laughing. But his voice was pained as he said, "Will, they blew up the Chicken Man in Philly last night."

I had absolutely no idea what he was talking about, but Willow apparently did. Her hand flew to her mouth as her eyes went wide in shock and horror. "Oh no! What about his house?"

Xander nodded sadly. "Yeah, they blew up his house, too."

Willow sighed. "It was such a beautiful house. No one's going to take this lying down, you know. I imagine down on the boardwalk they're getting ready for a fight."

Xander looked at her as if she'd stated something incredibly obvious. "You better believe it, babe. We're gonna see what them racket boys can do."

"Yeah," Willow said. "And it's only gonna get worse. There must be trouble busing in from out of state by now."

"Yep," Xander agreed. "And you just know the D.A., he can't get no relief."

Willow shook her head in consternation. "You mark my words, there's going to be a rumble out on the promenade."

"Lord, yes." Xander said. "And the gambling commission must be hanging on by the skin of its teeth."

"Well, everything dies," Willow opined with a sad smile.

"Baby, that's a fact," Xander agreed.

"But hey," Willow said, brightening. "Maybe everything that dies, someday comes back."

Xander opened his mouth to say something, then paused. "Y'know, Will, that line's not as encouraging as it used to be."

She laughed. "I'll say. Tell you what, why don't you put your makeup on, and fix your hair up pretty?"

"Hmmph!" Xander was indignant. "I resent the implication that my hair isn't already pretty. But I'll still meet you tonight in Atlantic City."

Willow started to speak, but I'd had enough. I interrupted. "Excuse me, but what in the world are you two talking about?"

They both jumped and turned to me. "Oh, sorry, Giles." Willow said with a sheepish grin. "I guess we kinda forgot you were in there." I just tilted my head a bit and stared at her over the top of my glasses, and she went on. "It's a song."

"Yeah," Xander said. "Atlantic City. By Bruce Springsteen. You do know who he is, don't you?"

"Well," I allowed, "I've heard of him, of course, but I've never really listened to any of his music. 'Born In The Colonies,' that was one of his from a few years back, wasn't it?"

They both laughed, and Xander corrected me. "It's 'Born In The U.S.A,' Giles."

"Yes, I suppose that does make more sense for this side of the pond, doesn't it?" I said with a wry smile. "But that still doesn't explain what you two were up to just now."

Willow shrugged. "Jesse was always a big Springsteen fan. He turned us into fans, too. 'Atlantic City' is one of my favorite songs of his." She saw that I was still confused and shrugged again. "I don't know, Giles. It's just fun. Haven't you ever quoted lyrics with your friends?"

"Of course I have," I stated indignantly. "We used to discuss lyrics until all hours of the night at University. But I've never felt the need to use them in conversation, or to apply them to my life."

"Huh," Xander said. He was about to go on, but just then Buffy burst into the library, right on time after her Chemistry Lab.

"Buffy!" Willow cried out in alarm. "They blew up the Chicken Man in Philly last night!"

"No!!" Buffy screamed. She dropped her books and brought her hands up to her heart as she stumbled back to lean against the wall. "What about his house? Tell me they didn't do anything to the house!"

Xander and Willow both smiled at me, then turned to Buffy to continue their game. I just sighed and went back into my office, making sure to close the door behind me.

Bloody Colonials, I thought to myself as I went back to work. I just can't get no satisfaction around here.

END

*****

Atlantic City
by Bruce Springsteen

Well they blew up the chicken man in Philly last night
Now they blew up his house too
Down on the boardwalk they're gettin' ready for a fight
Gonna see what them racket boys can do

Now there's trouble busin' in from outta state and the D.A. can't get no relief
Gonna be a rumble out on the promenade and the gamblin' commission's hangin' on by the skin of its teeth

(Chorus)
Well now everything dies baby that's a fact
But maybe everything that dies someday comes back
Put your makeup on fix your hair up pretty
And meet me tonight in Atlantic City

Well I got a job and tried to put my money away
But I got debts that no honest man can pay
So I drew what I had from the Central Trust
And I bought us two tickets on that Coast City bus

(Chorus)

Now our luck may have died and our love may be cold but with you forever I'll stay
We're goin' out where the sand's turnin' to gold so put on your stockin's baby `cause the night's getting cold
And everything dies baby that's a fact
But maybe everything that dies someday comes back

Now I been lookin' for a job but it's hard to find
Down here it's just winners and losers and don't get caught on the wrong side of that line
Well I'm tired of comin' out on the losin' end
So honey last night I met this guy and I'm gonna do a little favor for him
Well I guess everything dies baby that's a fact
But maybe everything that dies someday comes back
Put your hair up nice and set up pretty and meet me tonight in Atlantic City
Meet me tonight in Atlantic City
Meet me tonight in Atlantic City

The End