Driving along the dirt road, I came to the place that I was seeking. Laughing, I saw several chickens meandering loose in the driveway of the store. Along one fence were several bales of hay. In front of the window was a stack of feed. The store was an old wooden building, with a faded sign above it which read "FEED AND GRAIN".

I parked in the least muddy part of the driveway, got out of my pickup truck and walked through the open doorway. Inside, the aroma was different from any store I had ever entered. There were cages, feed bags, and farm equipment in all parts of the one-room store. The counter person was clad in jeans and a flannel shirt that could have been cleaner. She smiled as I looked around. I smiled back and headed towards her.

"Where are the baby chicks," I asked.

She pointed towards the back wall, where I could see what looked to be an incubator. I strolled over and peered inside.

There were little yellow fluffs running this way and that about the cage. Some inside the incubator, some in the surrounding area. The lady from the counter brought me a little box which sported small air holes. "Choose whichever you want," She said.

"I opened the box, and set it into the cage. Then I started catching the warm little things and putting them in the box, ten in all.

I closed the box and carried it back to the counter. I opened my purse and pulled out my wallet. The clerk checked to see how many chicks I had in the box and brought me some seed in a paper bag. I paid her the amount owed, and took my new little friends along with their food, back to the truck. Then I drove home and put them in the cage I had prepared for them. My little chicken farm was started.



~ Sharon (Sunyskys1943@aol.com) ~
© July 2004

 



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