The Chicken Lover

The Large Green House

I followed them quietly through the trees. The sun was setting and it was deathly dark underneath the canopy of pine needles. I almost fell over a root quite a few times, but I eventually found their camp. They hadn't cooked the rooster yet, but soon they would. I'd have to be swift. I tied up my skirt and rolled up my sleeves. The wagon was tied to a large oak tree, so I hid behind that. None of the men were looking, so I reached out to grab the large rooster. I lifted it out and dropped it, unsuccessfully, onto the ground. I was afraid it would squawk, but it just walked up to me and cocked its head. I lifted it into my arms and ran. I didn't stop until I was quite down the road. I had to get to Dublin town.

"Excuse me sir!" I called to an old farmer riding towards town on a wagon. He pulled to a stop and turned to look at me. "Might I trouble you for a ride to town? I am quite tired, you see, I've been running all this way."

He eyed me curiously and nodded. "Yes lass, hop aboard!"

We rode for quite a while when I began to see people walking round. In and out of buildings they swarmed like ants. He stopped near a library.

"Thank you, dear sir!"

"Oh, my pleasure, lass! Don't be gettin' into any trouble!" He waved and urged his horses forward.

"Excuse me ma'am." I said to the clerk in the library, "Do you 'appen to know where a Lady Edana lives? I have her rooster here, you see, and I must get it back to her."

She looked very confused. "I'm sorry dear, but lady Edana doesn't own chickens of any kind. You must be confused. But if you insist, she lives down the road in the large green house on the hill."

"Oh, thank you ma'am!" I curtsied. I ran out the door and down the street to where I saw a large iron gate opened to a path up a hill.

"This must be it." I said to myself. I walked quickly up the path to find a giant house at the top. I knocked on the door and a small old lady answered.

"What can I do for ye'?" She said angrily.

"Is lady Edana here?" I said.

"Not at the moment." She began to close the door and I placed my boot in the doorway.

"May I wait here for her? I must see her."

She frowned and opened the door, gesturing for me to enter. "Come with me."

She led me into a hall-like room where I sat down to wait. The lady left me alone. Suddenly the rooster jumped out of my arms and ran in circles around the room, then it stopped in front of a large door.

"What's wrong, little fellow?" I opened the door slowly. The bird ran in and I followed it. The room was dark and covered in cobwebs. The bird ran to another door that appeared to be a closet. I opened that door, too. It ran in and the room wasn't a closet at all, it was a hall leading to a large room lit only by the sun shining through the curtains.

"Rooster? Rooster where did you go?"