Moving Chickens- A Tale from Tuscany

It was a very strange afternoon. Come to think of it, the morning was strange too. We we woke this morning and came out from under momma, there was this layer of cold powdery white stuff all over the ground. The night before it rained and rained and rained and then the water in the waterer turned solid! How bizzare. We haven't seen the sun for almost two days now...

"Hey Portici?"

"Yes Tuscany?"

"Why is Farmer Jason looking at us like that... and what does arctic cold front mean?" I said.

"I think that's a dish they make with chicken beaks," said Portici in a ghostly whisper, "and why is he walking at us carrying that box?"

"That's strange. You stay here and tell me later. I'm going under mom where it's safe!" I said in a hurried voice.

"He's not getting my beak!" Portici cried!

My sister and I quickly scampered under momma to find cover with the rest of my brothers and sisters. There sat Catania, Ravenna, Salerno, Casoria, and Savona playing chicken twister. In the past couple of days, I've noticed that Momma seems to be shrinking. There's just not as much space under her as there used to be.

Just then the door to our coop opened and like a flash of lighting momma let loose on Farmer Jason! She flapped her wings and squaked at him really hard. Like a good momma she led him outside and away from us. We took cover immediately. Feathers flew and while I know she did her best, Farmer Jason took her away.

But enough about her... The seven of us had our own problems. Evidently this arctic front stew required all of our beaks. Farmer Carrie took over where Jason left off. She tried and tried to round us up, but we were too fast for her. She'd swoop down and grab thin air where a chick used to be.

"Look out Salerno!" I chirped while taking a new position in the far corner. Catania and Savona were under the box trying not to make a sound. After two minutes of this little game, we chicks were winning 7 to 0! All we had to do was keep this up for the rest of our lives.

NOT. Evidently chick catching is a tag team sport, because as soon as Farmer Jason came back outside, he took over and we found out just how fast one of these farmers can move. I mean, HE WAS FAST. I was looking right at Ravenna when she just disappeared. It was like rapture happened! Then Catania, Savona, Casoria, and Salerno. Portici ran and hopped around the coop, ducking and diving to get away from Jason. She did such a good job that she led him straight to me!

In the end, it didn't matter. We all ended up in the box and in a matter of seconds into the farmer's house... where Momma was waiting for us in a big blue bin! It was nice and warm in there and his house smelled of something delicious. Momma was excited to see us and hugged and inspected each of us when we were dropped into that box. I still don't know why we're in here, but it sure is warm. - Tuscany