Chicken House on Red Rooster Road. Valdosta, Georgia
When the rooster crows, the hens lay eggs. “Here comes Boss Wringer. I wonder what he’s gonna crow about this mornin?” said Ester Lee. “He looks very concerned and is moving kinda fast toward the hen house. This makes me nervous. I think I’m gonna need a nerve pill. I just know it,” said Florence shaking and fluttering.”
Girls, get ahold of yourselves. I know what it’s about. It’s a request and not an order. Our eggs are in high demand right now. Girls, don’t panic, just listen to him.” Boss Wringer walks inside the hen house. “Mornin, girls, look plump and juicy this mornin. I have some news to tell you about and it does make me a bit distressed. Two chicken houses have shut down and have been converted over to poultry plants. We don’t want that, lordy-lordy.”
“Well, what happened to the hens, Boss Wringer? Were they transferred to another chicken farm?” said Laydalee. “I’m afraid to say. Well, their necks were wrung and each wound up on the butcher’s block. They were southern fried or became stock in a noodle soup.”
“Oh no, they didn’t?” said Ester Lee. “Yes, that’s what happened girls, but we can prevent this from happening here. We can determine our future and not let fate lead our way” said Boss Wringer. “This is just shocking. I can’t bear the thought of it,” said Florence and she said further “I’m about to faint, girls. Help me. Someone please catch me.”
Isabella voiced “I need to save my neck. I’m the lead soprano in the chicken choir. My vocal chords are tightening up. I’ll do anything to save myself. Anything!” “I got mouths to feed,” said Laydalee in a sobering tone. And she said “My chicks depend on me for feed. For them, I will not let this get the best of me. I gonna come out fighting, just like Rocky.”
“Each of the two chicken houses had one hundred hens. They produced one thousand eggs per week. So, I have made an agreement with ‘Eggs on Demand’ that we could meet their need for one thousand eggs each week,” said Boss Wringer.
“Oh my,” said Ester Lee and she said “We’re doing good to lay our one normal egg each day. This is not doable. What do they think we are, an egg factory? ” Henrietta to Ester “Hon, we are an egg factory. We’ve just got to produce. A lot of hard work, but if we work together and efficiently, I believe we can do it.” Boss Wringer agreed.
“Boss man, we’ll do our best, but I need to remind you of what happened last year when you pushed us to produce more eggs,” said Henrietta. “Go on, tell me. I think I already know the effect of it all. Not good,” said Boss Wringer.
“Remember Geraldine? She collapsed and mm…mm…mm, bless her heart. And Florence, she’s now on nerve pills and our elder hen, Irene, is still in chicken psychotherapy. She nearly lost her mind from the strain of it all. And…” “Tell me no more, Henrietta. I remember it all. That will never happen again,” said Boss Wringer.
“Well said, boss. Now, girls, as Wringer said, we need to produce one thousand eggs per week. Relax for the rest of the day. Tomorrow morn, when the rooster crows, hens lay eggs. Now, go nibble on some chicken feed. See you at the crack of dawn,” said Henrietta.
In place on the fence post, outside the barn, Boss Wringer crows out “Cock-a-doodle-doo. Cock-a-doodle-doo!” “Okay, girls, on your nests and start a laying. Cackle, cackle, one egg down chute. Cackle, cackle, another egg down chute and another and another. Conveyor filled with eggs.
After one hour, Henrietta yells out, “Stop production. Break time. Fifteen minute stretch and back on nests. Ladies, this is wonderful, you doubled your production in one hour. Two hundred eggs laid.” After another hour, two hundred more eggs down chutes. Three hours later, five hundred eggs.”
“Chickadees, what got you motivated?” asked Henrietta. Laydalee and Ester Lee said “That poster of him. Brutus the rooster. He’s a massage therapist and he is one hunk of a bird. Boss Wringer said whoever triples production, gets an hour with him for a private massage.” Henrietta announces “And the winner is…all of you. Each one of you will get a fifteen minute massage with Brutus. Ten today and the others over the next two days. We’re off till Monday. Enjoy your time with Brutus.” Ester Lee says with excitement “Oh, I will and me first.”
A rooster can crow. A demand can be made. Pamper a hen and you may get more eggs.
Copyright © 2022 Frank Clark