Seasonal Surprise

Change is in the air and on the trees.  Our cast of characters is experiencing the good the bad and the rain all for the first time!  Do they like it?  

What surprises do they discover?  

Music and SFX courtesy of www.epidemicsound.com

Transcript

Seasonal Surprise

(Rain noises)

CLUCKY: Whoa it sure is Raining a lot! 

BELLA: Xander said that it rains a lot in Washington.

CLUCKY: I know but it has been days. 

BRIGITA: The rain here is so different from Florida. 

CLUCKY:. You got that right. Most of the time in Florida the clouds would roll in, dump a bunch of rain and then move on. 

BRIDGET: Yeah they would not hang around for days and days. 

BRIGITA: The sky is so gray! I wonder if the sun will ever come back out. 

BELLA: Yes the sky is gray but the ground and the trees are all so green. 

CLUCKY: True but I think something might be wrong with some of the trees with the big leaves. They are starting to change color.

BRIGITA: I noticed that too! One day the tree just across the field was covered with all these big green leaves then it seemed like the next day that a lot of the leaves were yellow then some even started to fall off! Do you think the tree is sick? 

KITTEN: Meow! Hi All! (Shake) Boy it was a wet walk down here. I am so glad Maddox put up this little rain shelter for me next to your Coop. so I have a spot to dry off while I visit. 

CLUCKY: Howdy kitten! You are just the creature to help us solve this mystery. 

BELLA: What mystery? 

BRIGITA: Are the big trees sick? Really Bella weren't you listening? 

BELLA: OH! It's a tree, if it is sick it does not affect me. 

BRIGITA: What? If the forest gets sick it affects all of us? 

BRIDGET: She is right. The leaves take in carbon dioxide which is a gas pollutant that we breathe out and also is produced by many cars and factories. The leaves take the carbon dioxide in and through a process called photosynthesis change it into oxygen which we breathe in and keeps us alive. 

CLUCKY: Oh my! That was a lot of big words! Where did you hear all of this? 

BRIDGET:I had an extremely informative chat with a chickadee yesterday. He had stopped by and asked me to pass some grain through the bars of the enclosure. He was having some trouble finding some seeds. As he ate we chatted and he told me all about these gasses in the air. I found it very interesting. 

KITTEN: That is fascinating. I wish the little chickadees would stop and talk to me but every time I get close they fly away. They never seem to believe that I'm not going to hurt them. 

CLUCKY: Okay so let me get this straight. A little birdie told you that there are two types of gasses in the air: carbon dioxide and oxygen.

BRIDGET:Actually they said there are a lot more gasses in the air then just two.

BRIGITA: How many? 

BRIDGET:Well the main two are nitrogen and oxygen nitrogen makes up about 78% of the atmosphere and oxygen is about 21%, then there are other gasses like carbon dioxide, neon, hydrogen and Argon and a few others that make up a very small percentage the gasses in air. 

CLUCKY: So if the air was like a big pizza,

BRIGITA: Oh I Love Pizza! 

CLUCKY: Me too!  So if you cut the air pizza into 4 slices, you are telling me that 3 slices would be nitrogen, and the last slice would be mostly oxygen with a few tiny slivers of other gasses like carbon dioxide, hydrogen and others.  

BRIDGET:Basically yeah. 

CLUCKY: We all breathe in oxygen and out this carbon dioxide.  Which is a python?  

BELLA:  Wait what?  How are snakes involved?! I Thought Washington did not have all those big snakes like Florida does. 

KITTEN: No, no, not python.  Pollutant. A pollutant is any chemical or compound that can negatively impact the environment, like the air we breathe or the water we drink. 

BELLA: Oh so the leaves on the trees take in these pollutants and through a process of photobombing produce more oxygen, is that why the air up here smells so fresh because there is more oxygen because of all the trees? 

BRIDGET: Photosynthesis not photobombing.  

CLUCKY: Photobombing is what Xander and I do anytime Maddox tries to take a picture of herself. 

BRIGITA: Yes, we are surrounded by all these glorious trees. That is also why we need to be concerned if they are getting sick. 

KITTEN: Why do you think a tree is getting sick?  

BRIGITA: Well we noticed that some of the trees with the large green leaves are starting to change color and in some cases those leaves are falling off.  

 KITTEN:  Oh,  oh the deciduous trees.  Don't worry. It is fall and the seasons are changing.  This is the time when the leaves change into all shades of yellow red green orange and then the leaves fall off the trees.

BELLA:  But isn't that bad? You just said that those leaves help create oxygen and we need that to survive.

KITTEN:  Yes that's true,  but even though the leaves fall off those trees, there are still plenty of trees around the world that  still have leaves to create oxygen. 

CLUCKY:  But can that oxygen get all the way to us up here?

KITTEN:  That oxygen does not need to get to us up here.  Look around you, we have lots of evergreen trees like pine trees and shrubs that don't lose their leaves in the winter.  It is only  the deciduous trees that lose their leaves in the winter.

BRIGITA:  What is a deciduous tree? it sounds like you're sneezing.

KITTEN: Meow, A deciduous tree is one that flowers in the springtime and in the fall loses its leaves. the word deciduous means fall off.  So any tree that has leaves that fall off in the season of fall or autumn that is a deciduous tree. Those are typically the big wide trees with large leaves on them.

BELLA: So we can enjoy the changing of the colors of the leaves and not worry about not being able to breathe?

KITTEN: Yes you can.  trees and shrubs do a good job of converting carbon dioxide to oxygen but one of the biggest producers of oxygen is our oceans and all the phytoplankton there.

CLUCKY: Who's fighting a plank? Are they Pirates? ARRG? 

KITTEN:  No Clucky not Pirates, phytoplankton, those are super small microorganisms that use the process of photosynthesis to create oxygen just like the plants on land.   These organisms are so small you can't see them with your eyes but they are responsible for creating over half the oxygen that is in the air today.

BRIGITA: Thank goodness for those little fighting pirates in the ocean!

KITTEN: Phytoplankton

BRIGITA: Yes, yes.  

CLUCKY: I knew you'd be able to solve this mystery for us.

KITTEN:  I have a mystery of my own I'd like you to help me solve. 

CLUCKY:  What?!  There's something you don't know?!  and you think we can help you solve it?!

KITTEN:  Yes there's lots I don't know, but in this case you and the hens are the only one that can help me solve this mystery. 

BELLA:  That sounds like a really big challenge, are you sure we're up for it?

KITTEN: Oh yes!

BRIDGET: All right, tell us, we'll see what we can do. 

KITTEN: (laughs) Meow,  don't sound so scared.  I just realized as we are learning about Washington and the new and meeting all these new creatures here, I started to think I don't know where all of you came from. 

CLUCKY:  That's your big mystery? you want to know where the hens and I are from?

BRIGITA: Oh well that's not scary or challenging we have a fabulous story.  Where should we start?

KITTEN:  I find the beginning is always best. 

CLUCKY:  Darkness,  in the beginning it was all Darkness and a very small space. 

BELLA: That's how it started for me too! 

BRIDGET: Yes I remember the darkness too. 

BRIGITA: Of course it was dark for all of us. We were inside of eggs! 

CLUCKY:  Brauk! She’s right!   inside that dark egg I started to hear noises and I wanted to stretch out I was all curled up. I just knew I had to fight my way out!  Every chicken starts that way fighting for freedom!  so I worked to push against the walls of the shell.  It took a while but eventually I realized I could use my beak and I started to Peck at the show.  Peck Peck Peck scratch scratch scratch and suddenly a crack and Light!   it was so bright I needed to go towards it! Then with one last push with my legs I was free!  

BELLA:  My hatching was similar. 

BRIDGET:Mine too!

BRIGITA: Oh yes me too but once I burst from my egg oh the noise! that would chicks all around me that looked almost exactly like me little yellow fluff balls all peeping! Peep Peep Peep!  Peep Peep Peep!  Where am i? Where's my mother? Where's my food? I'm hungry!

CLUCKY:  That happened to me too! Surrounded by little fluffy peepers!  So many questions.  So much noise!  I was a natural born leader so of course I was trying to answer all of these questions.   I peeped to calm them down and tell them it would be okay we'd figure it out.  Then suddenly a large hand came and took me. The hand was wearing a white glove and it put me in a box along with a bunch of other chicks all still asking those same question.  where's my mom?  where's the food?  I'm hungry.  I'm thirsty.  

KITTEN:  Wait a minute.  I thought you said when we met that you were all hatched at the Florida house.  

CLUCKY: Well that's not exactly true I was raised on the Florida property but I was hatched in a chick hatchery in Missouri and taken to a farming store in Florida where Xander found me. 

BRIGITA: That is where we all met, at the farming store in a large metal cage with large orange heat lights floating above us.  It was the same for me. Shortly after breaking free from the restraints of my eggshell I was plucked up and put in a box and driven to the farm store. When I arrived I noticed Clucky right away.  He was shouting commands and directing chicks to the food and water.

BELLA:  yes I was plopped in and Clucky was the first to my aide he helped me up and he showed me where the water bowl was.  

BRIDGET:  There was a bigger chick that was picking on me and Clucky came to my aide.    He was smaller than the chick that was pecking at me but he had no fear and he pecked him right back.  

CLUCKY:  Aw shucks, you know I can't stand by when there's a lady in distress. I was young, scrappy and hungry to prove myself.  Then it happened I was helping Bridget get back on her feet when a hand reached into our metal pen and picked me up. Stroked my head and said: 

XANDER: Hey Little guy!  You seem pretty fierce.  Did you just save that little chick from that big one?  

CLUCKY:  I can almost hear him saying that.  I gave him a big Peep, in response. As I was not able to crow yet.  He said.  

XANDER: I think you are a keeper!  Do you want to come home with me?  

CLUCKY: Home. I was not sure what it meant yet but it sounded good. The boy held me so gently and I knew we were going to be the best for friends.  

KITTEN:  That is how it was when Maddox picked me from the pound.  I just knew we would be friends!  

CLUCKY:  It was like something inside said, yes, this is your person!  He set me gently in a small box.  Then looked back into the big pen with the other chicks.  

BRIDGET: Next he reached for me saying:

XANDER: You are the one that was just rescued by the other chick,  we had better take you too. 

BRIDGET: Then I was picked up and placed in the box with Clucky.  

BRIGITA:  I saw what was happening and thought, I want to go where that rooster is going.  I could not stay with all these peeping chicks with no direction!  When Xander’s hand reached down again, I lept for it!  He was surprised.  

XANDER: Whoa, who are you?  You’ve got a lot of spirit.  You can be part of my flock too.  

BRIGITA: and he placed me in the box.  Then another person said,

DAD: Xander, Did you pick out your chicks?  Remember no more than 4.  

XANDER: I’ve got one more Dad. 

BELLA: I had just walked away from the water trough when I saw his hand coming down.  All of the chicks around me scattered in all directions.  I just looked up and thought maybe he wanted a high 5, so I raised my little claw to him.  Xander bumped my claw and said,

XANDER: Fearless, we certainly want brave hens in our flock.  Want to join?  

BELLA:  I don’t know about fearless but I certainly wanted out of the noisy metal pen.  I peeped in response and I was put in the box.

CLUCKY: Yep 4 little yellow fluffy chicks in a box.  We were all only 2 or 3 days old.  The car ride was short compared to traveling from the hatchery and when we got to the house, Xander set us up in the nesting box.  So, really Kitten, almost all my memories are of Xander and our Florida home.  Boy, we had some good times there. 

BRIGITA:  We sure did!

BRIDGET:  We are mostly having a good time in Washington too.

CLUCKY: I know, it’s just different.  I’m still getting used to Washington.  There are so many changes.  Heck we now have seasons!  We did not have those in Florida.  

KITTEN: They say the only thing that stays the same is change.  

BELLA:  What does that mean? How does change stay the same?  

CLUCKY: Is this a riddle?  

BRIDGET:  No, she means that in life everything changes. The good times don’t last forever and neither do the bad.  

KITTEN: Meow, exactly Brigita.  That is why it is so important to enjoy the good times while you have them and remind yourself that the bad times will pass too.  

CLUCKY:  I could do with this rain passing.  However, this dirt that has now changed  to mud is certainly something new.  I kinda like how it swishes between my claws.  

BRIGITA: Have you noticed how soft your skin around your claws are now?  I think the mud must be good for our claws.  

KITTEN:  I heard the mom person telling Maddox about something called a mud bath.  She said it was good for human skin.  I wonder if it is the same for chicken skin. Meow, I would never.

BELLA:  I don’t know, that sounds kind of interesting, however, I don’t know that I would want to get my feathers in it.  

KITTEN:  I guess, I had better get back up to the house.  I was hoping that the rain would stop but no such luck.  Thank you for sharing with me how you all came into this family.  

CLUCKY: Anytime Kitten, we love telling our stories.  

BELLA: Thanks for coming down.

BRIDGET: Bye Kitten.

BRIGITA: Until next time Kitten! 

(Music) 

KITTEN: OH the trek back up is always more of a challenge.  (plop) Oh that large rain drop just hit me right on the nose! (scrabble noise) What was that?  Is someone there?  Oh Hello!  

CHIP:  AHHH! 

KITTEN: No Wait! There is no need to be afraid.  Please don’t run away.  Run, Hop. Run, Oh Tree branch.  Wait little guy. I just want to talk.

CHIP: If you just want to talk, why are you chasing me across the tree branches?  Stay away predator. 

KITTEN: I’m not a predator.  

CHIP: I was not born yesterday.  I see your claws and teeth! 

KITTEN: I’m a cat but I don’t want to hurt you.  I live at the house.  We are new here.

CHIP: Go back to where you came from.

KITTEN: No need to be rude. 

CHIP: Stop chasing me!  Leap!  Ha ha! You’ll never catch me. 

KITTEN: I don’t want to catch you. I just want to chat, to get to know you.  

JACK: Ruf Ruff Ruff!  What is up there?  

CHIP:  Another predator!  Must climb higher!  

KITTEN:  AHH!  How did I get so close to the dog yard!  Jump!  Oh My! I’m stuck on this very large tree!  Must climb up to the branch! 

JACK:  Ruff!  Get down here intruder!  Come and face me.  

KITTEN: Hop, Don’t fall.  Almost to  the branch. There are no branches down here.  I am clinging to just the trunk of this tree!  

ROSIE:  Bark Bark!  What’s going on Jack?  What is it? 

JACK: Up there on the side of that tree, ruff ruff ruff there's an invader!

ROSIE: Bark! What?!  Oh my Kitten are you ok?  How are you holding on to that huge tree trunk!  Don’t fall! It’s a long way down. 

 KITTEN: Meow!  I must make it to that branch.  Jump Jump! I got it! I’m on the branch! 

ROSIE:  Oh thank goodness! You made it to the branch!  I can’t believe you just used your claws to hug the tree and jump up the trunk that way.  You looked like a ninja.

JACK:  Ninja attacker!  Get down here and fight!

ROSIE: Jack, it’s not a ninja attacker, it’s Kitten. 

JACK: Who? 

ROSIE:  Oy!  How many times Jack?!  Kitten, Maddox’s cat.  

JACK: Maddox has a cat?  Since when?

ROSIE: nevermind.  Kitten, what happened?  How did you end up on the side of the tree?  

KITTEN: I was coming up form visiting Clucky and saw new little creature.  I think it might have been a chipmunk.  I was trying to talk to him and he started to run away, I was following him through the trees when I lost track of where I was and I ended up in that small tree over there and Jack came out started barking and frightened me and the little creature.  We both jumped on to this big tree and that is where you came out.  

ROSIE:  Oh wow!  Where is the little creature now?  

KITTEN:  I don’t know.  In all the commotion, I think it fled through the high branches. 

ROSIE:  That’s too bad.  I love meeting the new creatures, however, its hard to do that from inside the fenced yard.   

KITTEN: How am I ever going to get down from here!  I am as high as the roof!  I can’t climb down.  

JACK: Meet Creatures? What kind of dog are you?  We are supposed to keep the vermin away, not make friends with them.  We must protect the family.

ROSIE:  We don’t need to protect the family from Kitten.  She is part of the family.  

JACK:  I’m going to get the family.  They need to know what’s going on.  

ROSIE:  That’s a good idea.  We’ll see if we can get help Kitten. Bark Bark Bark! Alert!  Mom person! 

KITTEN: Meow,  its getting dark and its still raining.  I hope I don’t have to sleep up here tonight.  

MOM: Doggies Doggies, What’s all the commotion?  

Rosie & Jack barking

MADDOX: What’s going on?  Has anyone seen Kitten?  

ROSIE:  Bark Bark! She is up on the tree!  

MADDOX: (Gasp!) Oh Mom look Kitten is way up in that tall tree!  

MOM: What? Oh No! How did she get all the way up there?  She is up really high and there are no lower branches

(barking) 

JACK: I’ll get you sneaky ninja! 

MADDOX: She looks so scared.  It’s ok Kitten we will get you down.  Mom, How are we going to get her down? 

( Barking)

MOM: First we need to get the dogs out of here.  I’ll bet Jack scared her up there.  Come on doggies, lets go in.  I’ve got a treat for you!

JACK: Treats!  Yes, I’m a good guard dog! I deserve a treat! Ruff!

ROSIE:  Don’t worry Kitten, they will get you down.  I’ll wait for you inside.  Bark

KITTEN:  Meow, thanks Rosie.

MADDOX: Kitten just stay calm we will get you out.  

MOM: Ok, I’ve got the dogs in.  Just once, I wish something like this would happen and your dad would be home.  

MADDOX: (on the verge of tears) Mom, what are we going to do?  It’s too high, we can’t climb up there.  It’s getting dark and it’s raining.  Will Kitten have to spend the night in the tree?  Oh she will freeze.  She is already soaked. What if a Cougar gets her?  

MOM:  Calm down Maddox, panicking will not help us rescue Kitten.  We’ve got to figure this out.  

MADDOX: (Crying)  It’s so high, and there are no low branches.  How will we get to her.  

MOM:  I’m going to go get the extension ladder.  I think it will reach to the branch. 

MADDOX: Hold on Kitten, mom’s going to get the latter

KITTEN: Meow, Meow

MADDOX: I know we are scared and probably hungry.  Oh you poor baby! You are so wet.  

MOM: Ugg!  Whew that is heavy.  Maddox, help me lean it up against the trunk. 

MADDOX: Ok, ugg

MOM: Ok that is all the way.  It almost reaches the branch. (noise) Oh this ground is not very flat.  Hey Kitten, can you climb down?  Come kitty kitty kitty.

MADDOX: Oh yes, come on Kitten you can do it.  Just climb down the ladder.  Come on Kitty Kitty.  

KITTEN: Meow, Meow.  Oh I just can’t.  It’s too high…  Meow

MADDOX: Mom, She is not coming!  (crying) Do you think it is safe to climb the ladder?  It dose not look very sturdy.  The ground is really sloped.  

MOM:  The wind and rain are not helping things either.  

MADDOX: We can’t leave her up there!  (crying)

KITTEN: Meow 

MOM:  Maddox, I need you to calm down.  We will get Kitten out of the tree.  Here is what we are going to do.  Take my phone.

MADDOX:  Why do I need your phone?  

MOM: I am going to climb up the ladder and try to get Kitten out of the tree. I am gong to need you to hold the bottom of the ladder as steady as you can.  If the ladder should fall, I need you to call an ambulance.  

MADDOX: What?!  Why?!

MOM:  Honey, if the ladder falls, while I’m on it, I could get very hurt.  There is a small cliff on one side of that tree and a 30 foot drop into the dog yard as another option.  Either option, I would probably need some medical attention.  Do you know what number to call?  

MADDOX: Yes, 911!  But Mom, don’t fall.  

KITTEN: Meow,  Meow

MOM: I need you to be brave Maddox like you were when you jumped in the pond to save S’mores.  Can you do that?  

MADDOX: Yeah, I think so.  

MOM:  Ok, hold the ladder.  I’m going up.  (noise)  Whoa! 

MADDOX: MOM!

MOM: I’m ok, honey.  My foot just slipped a little.  The rungs are wet.  Hold steady.  

MADDOX: ok. 

MOM:  Come on Kitten, want to meet me half way.  Here kitty kitty.  No?  Ok, I’m almost there. Whew, Kitten, ok I can touch you.  Can you climb on my arm?  

KITTEN: Meow, Meow

MOM:  Kitten, come on you can do it.  Just reach out.  No?  

KITTEN: Meow, I can’t I might fall.

MOM:  Ok, one more step.  I’m going to grab you now.  I’ve got you by the scruff of your neck.  Come on on to my arm.  Ouch!  Maybe a little less claw. 

MADDOX: Oh Mom she’s on your shoulder!  Oh No!

Mom: It’s ok honey I just slipped a little. Hold the ladder steady I’m coming down.  (Climbing noises) 

MADDOX: You made it.  Here Mom, I’ll take Kitten.  Oh My poor baby! You are safe now.  Let get you in and dried off.  

MOM: Whew, alright I’m going to take the ladder back in the garage.  Good job honey.  Glad we did not have to call the ambulance.  

MADDOX: Oh mom, I am so glad you are ok!  

MOM: Me too. Go inside and get Kitten dried off. (Footsteps) 

FERREL: Oh mon cherie, it is your cries for help that drew me here.  I am so relieved you are safe. I have searched for you since we parted many months ago.  I did not dare to dream I would actually find you again. But there you are, a little wet but perfect all the same. Don’t speak now, go with your human and get warm and dry.  We will find each other again tomorrow. 

KITTEN: Ferrel?

MADDOX: Kitten was that you or is there another cat outside? Huh, I don’t see anyone. 

(Footsteps & door sliding open and closed. )