Early Saturday morning, dog walked, I’m in the yard dead heading my leggy petunias. All of a sudden, I hear a commotion coming from behind our shed. Going to investigate, I turn the corner and see a flash of orangey brown fur and wings flapping. Took a sec to figure out it was a fox killing one of our new neighbor’s chickens. So, I start yelling and waving my arms and the fox runs off.
Poor chicken’s done for. I go get a kitchen garbage bag to put it in. It was
gross, let me tell you, but it had to be done. Frankly, I was glad I hadn’t eaten breakfast yet. Just as I’m about finished, I think I see the fox again and I start yelling. Turns out it’s just the neighbor’s dog, Punkin (If you’re from Maine, you know that’s not a misspelling). Startled the poor thing something fierce.
That’s when Charlie drives up. He’s back from his early morning run to the Busy Bee Bakery. Babe’s been cooking up apple cider donuts that are to die for, and they sell out early. He heard me yelling and came running. What a sight he saw as he rounded the shed!
No to Food
Heard the yelling. What’s the scoop?
“Fox got in their chicken coop.
Them new folks, there. McGillicuddy”
Yeah, but why are you all bloody?
“Hen, all beat and battle-scarred,
Somehow wound up in our yard.
Fox, he saw me, up and fled,
And left her there without a head!
“A grosser mess I’ve never seen
Even on the movie screen.
I stuffed it all inside a sack
And to them folks, I’ll gave it back.”
You didn’t think to call it dinner?
“Very funny. That’s a winner.
Like to see you cook it up!
Meanwhile, I could use a cup.”
Well, wash your hands, take a seat
I’ll fix you something up to eat
“Thank you, hon. Don’t think me rude,
But yes to coffee, no to food!”
By “fix you something to eat,” I knew Charlie meant putting a donut on a plate. As good as those apple cider donuts are, I wasn’t tempted. ‘Till later that morning when I wolfed one down. I followed that with a half donut, like you do. Couldn’t leave that other half all by its lonesome, so I ate that, too. Yup, two apple cider donuts. I guess it’s hard to keep a Maine gal down.
That’s it for now. Catch you on the flip side!
Hear Ida Tell It: So This Happened