Back in May I reviewed Stolpestad, from the short story collection by William Lychack titled, The Architect of Flowers. Today I am reviewing another story from that collection, Chickens.
Anna drove by a farm that had baby chicks for sale and decide to buy a box of them, they were only 2 for a dollar. She figures that she has a big yard and it would be nice to have fresh eggs. When her husband, Bob gets home, he thinks it’s one of her impulsive ideas and they never work out.
Anna said, “Could always be worse, couldn’t it? I told him. I mean, I have been thinking a lot about milk lately. Found myself following an ice cream truck through town the other afternoon.”
Nonetheless, Bob helps her build a coup for her new project. However, his prediction came true.
Anna narrates: Next morning became next week became end of June became a dozen and a half roosters, one hen, and a sharp shining hatchet in our future. What started as two dozen of my sweetest little whims all sunny and cartoon-cute — peep, peep — soon became a nightmare of roosters all mottled and nasty and mean.
She went to the library and checked out chicken cookbooks. That night she made the rooster, Larry for dinner and called around to the Elks Club, the VFW, and theKnights of Columbus. They all claimed Bob wasn’t there and she ate Larry by herself. He was tough and stringy.
She ended up eating a lot of the roosters herself. She also got through her pregnancy mostly by herself and to top it all off, the one hen never produced one egg.
You will have to read the story if you want to know the end. It is a story about spending time alone and a relationship that needs work. It is well written with a touch of humor and thought provoking. Though I don’t believe in the eating of animals, this story works on many levels. If found a link where you can read it for free, here.
Did you review this story? Please leave the in the comments.
Short Story Monday is hosted by John at The Book Mine Set.
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