Chicken Adventures: A Narrow Escape

I've heard of narrow escapes before but this one takes the cake. 

There's a good-sized gap between the gate and fence on the dog run. It's big enough for even a fat chicken to get in. Now any animal with intelligence is not going to waltz into a run guarded by two oversized rottweilers, but chickens aren't particularly renown for their intelligence. Besides the run was lush with bright green grass. What bird in his right mind could pass that up?

Enter one ditzy buff orpington who only had eyes for grass and not the 101lb bored rottie who pounced on her like a freight train. Iko loves squeaky toys and this chicken didn't disappoint. Round and round they raced. 

Tank watched idly, no doubt wondering why Iko would bother with a chicken still on the hoof. He prefers his game cooked and lightly seasoned. 

The chicken was already in Iko's mouth when I popped open the doggie door. "Drop it," I yelled.  

Not a dog to pass up opportunity, Iko took a few moments to consider the alternatives. But I think that look of murder in my eyes made him reevaluate any further evil. He dropped the chicken regretfully.

That chicken knew salvation when she saw it. She leapt to her feet, took a lap around Iko and then under his belly, past an unimpressed Tank, and straight through the doggie door, JUMPING into my arms.

I. kid. you. not.

I barely believed it myself. It was like something out of a Looney Tunes cartoon. Her little chicken heart was beating out of her chest like a boomerang and she murmured a low steady cluck that roughly translated to: "Holy crap! That was close." I'm pretty sure she suffered an out-of-body experience.

I cradled her in my arms and ferried her back to a (non-dog) pen where she could think about her indiscretions and about where she went wrong.

Safe again.

Iko got a stern warning for chasing. And Tank, the only well-behaved resident of Crazy Town got a cookie.

Good Tank. Lucky chicken.

***

We've had nonstop company this week, a visit with one of my favorite readers on the weekend, and even a lengthy stopover from my favorite husband. I'm expecting friends, family and assorted company for the next two weeks to boot. A little atypical for me. I'm not normally this popular.

***

Tomorrow: Please stop by and visit with my guest, Darke Conteur when she describes what made dark fantasy so appealing to her. It's food for thought about how we all choose our favorite reads.

Be a pal and show a new author some lovin'. See ya tomorrow!