The horses and the cows act perfectly normal, as I feed them. They don’t stare at me strangely or stand in straight lines. Maybe the chickens are sick? Maybe I shouldn’t eat the eggs.
“How’s it going, Miss Daisy?” Charlie asks as he comes into the barn.
“Oh, just fine. But, uh… is there something up with those chickens?”
“How do you mean?” he asks quickly.
“I don’t know,” I say, patting Pecan, the beautiful chestnut-colored horse. “They were looking at me funny and didn’t move when I went into the pen.”
He waves me off. “They’re just used to people, is all. Agnes had those chickens forever. I’m surprised they’re still clucking around.”
“You’re sure they’re not sick?”
He chuckles. “Definitely not sick, Miss Daisy. Those eggs are just fine.”
I shrug and make my way over to the other horse, Butter, who is a golden cream color.
“What time can we head into town?” I ask. “I need some groceries.”
“I’d say about afternoon time.”
“I’ll meet you at your place.”
“No point in walking all that distance. I’ll pick youup.”
“If you say so.”
I’ve washed up and changed, ready for Charlie to pick me up. I head out back to put the basket away, and this time I see the chickens huddling together.
“Telling secrets, are we?” I ask with a laugh.
One of them, the biggest one, whirls around to face me, and I swear it looksmad.
“Wow, sorry.” I put my hands up. “Didn’t mean to interrupt.”
I turn to walk away but then look back at them.
The golden one seems like a normal chicken. Maybe a little… needy. Lonely? Sad? I’m not sure, but he doesn’t worry me as much as the other two. Weird to get avibefrom a farm animal, but… better than getting pecked at. Those little beaks hurt.
The dark brown one keeps his distance, watching me like I’ve personally offended him somehow.
But it’s the reddish-brown one that makes my skin prickle.
He just stands there, chest puffed out, staring at me like I’m trespassing on his property.
The old red truck horn blares, so I hurry through the house and out the front door to hop into Charlie’s truck.
“Have those chickens ever attacked you?”
Charlie laughs. “Miss Daisy, why are you obsessed with those chickens? The horses are a much better animal to be friendly with.”
I let out a sigh, looking out the window. I honestly don’t know the answer. “They’re just… weird.”
“Animals can be. You’ll get used to them. It’s just their personalities, is all. Don’t you worry your pretty little head about them.”
The square is our version of downtown. Every business in Bakersville is right here, located in the square. Grocer. Hardware store. Post office. Fabric store. And more. In the middle of the square are some trees and benches that no one hardly uses. The area is small and not so busy, but it seems everyone comes out of the woodwork when we step out of the truck. I’m here because I finally found out Grannie passed away. I’m sure the whole town knows and they all want to give their condolences—or see what else they can find out andspread around.
I hurry into the grocer before anyone can corner me. I can’t imagine all of them coming in here after me.
