Chapter 2: Fox in the Hen House

Benjamin sets out to explore his backyard and discovers a mystery with the chickens. The Sly Fox lurking nearby, Benjamin, and Mr. Cat hatch a plan of their own. A warm, animal-filled tale of a curious boy's first remembered adventure.

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Transcript

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Chapter two Walks in the Hen House A boy named Benjamin lived on an island on a lake below a mountain. Benjamin loved to explore. His first adventures were in his backyard, surrounded by apple trees, blueberries, and a vegetable garden. It's hard to tell if these first adventures were just exaggerations of the imagination or genuine experiences of an extraordinary young man. This is the story of his first adventure, at least the first adventure he remembers. Benjamin hopped down the big steps from the front porch of the little stone cottage he called home. Mr Cat greeted him at the bottom with a hello. Benjamin patted the little orange cat on the head and said, Hello, mister Cat. What have you seen this morning? The cat sat and scratched under his chin. Well, the chickens have all sat down on piles of hay and they refused to get up. Mr Cat was frustrated. He continued. I tried to play with them right when the sun came up, and they squawked and cooed and ignored me. Benjamin scrunched his face as he considered the matter. Let's go see. Benjamin and Mr Cat walked to the backyard. He picked up small rocks and threw them at the big maple tree along the way. One of the rocks hit with a loud thud. A small owl stirred from one of the branches above and spoke Who goes there? Little Benjamin, don't you know some of us are trying to sleep? Benjamin looked up in surprise. Oh, I'm sorry, Miss Owl. I hope you can forgive me, he said with genuine concern. Mrs. Owl smiled at little Benjamin and said, Oh, who am I to get riled up by a little thud? It's okay, Benjamin. Go enjoy your day. Thank you, Miss Owl. Please tell Mr Owl I said hello when you have a chance. Benjamin said as he waved goodbye. Benjamin and Mr Kat walked through the potato garden, around the well until they reached the chicken coop. There they were, just sitting down on piles of hay, clucking away, but not moving around, just as Mr Kat said. Chickens, why aren't you walking around pecking at the ground? Benjamin asked as he approached. They did not answer. But Miss Hound got up from her pillow nearby and answered for them. Little Benjamin, don't you know they're hatching their eggs? Benjamin and Mr Cat looked at each other with the same puzzled expression on their faces and asked in unison, hatching eggs? Miss Hound howled with laughter. Mr Kat was somewhat annoyed by this. She went on, every once in a while the chickens lay eggs, and sometimes their owners, like you, collect them to eat for breakfast or to bake a cake with. Benjamin smiled at the thought of cake, his favorite dessert. Miss Hound continued. Other times, though, the chickens sit on their eggs to hatch them, and when they hatch, baby chickens come. Benjamin asked with wonder, There are baby chickens? When can I see a baby chicken? Miss Hound thought momentarily. Well, hm. I suppose by this time tomorrow, as long as we keep that sly fox away, you can see baby chickens. Benjamin was extremely excited. He was unsure how long it would take to get to tomorrow morning, but it seemed like a long time. Baby chickens. How wonderful he thought. Then he realized he did not know Sly Fox. Why do you have to keep Sly Fox away? And who is this sly fox anyway? Benjamin asked. Mr Cat answered, Sly Fox is that red animal with a bushy tail that tried to steal your mother's pie just two days ago. Benjamin replied firmly, that sly fox seems always to try to cause trouble. We must catch him or chase him away. Miss Hound warned. Benjamin, the sly fox is dangerous. You better be careful. Yes, Miss Hound, we will be careful, but we can't let that fox get those eggs. Come on, mister Cat, let's go make a plan to stop him before it's too late. And thank you, Miss Hound, Benjamin said with a bow. He and Mr Cat quickly made their way to the shed. The shed had all the tools they might need to help keep their chickens' eggs safe. There were shovels, rakes, wheelburrows, ropes, and to Benjamin's wonder, a thousand other objects of mystery and potential. Well, Mr Cat, Benjamin said, how can we keep that fox away from those eggs? He picked up a shovel and asked, could we bonk him on the head or trap him in a hole? Putting the shovel down, he spotted a net on a pole his father used to pull in big fish from the lake. Yes, that's it. We'll catch him in a net, and then talk to him and tell him to stop stealing those eggs. Mr Cat replied, You'll have to be fast, and you'll have to hide. I'm the fastest person named Benjamin I've ever met. And you can help me hide, mister Cat. Benjamin and Mr Cat went back to the chicken coop and looked around to see where they could hide for the surprise attack on the sly fox. If I were gonna hide, I would cover myself with hay in this corner right over here, said Mr Cat. Benjamin nodded. Yes, and I'll have the net in my hands ready to scoop up the sly fox. Mr Cat and Miss Hound covered Benjamin in the hay beside the chickens. All Benjamin had to do was wait and wait and wait. The sun moved higher in the sky. Clouds rolled across the blue sky, and the wind cast ripples on the lake. Morning passed, lunch disappeared, and the sly fox was not heard or seen. Benjamin thought, what if the fox isn't hungry today? I know I sure am. His stomach growled. Quiet, stomach. We're hiding, and we can't let Sly Fox hear us. The chickens cooed and clucked as the day went on, but never moved from their piles of hay, just like Benjamin. More time went by, and now the sun was shining through the trees on its way to dipping below the horizon. The wind was cool now, but the hay kept Benjamin warm. Well, he thought, I suppose it's time for dinner. My mom will be calling me inside soon. He sighed. Right before he decided to get up from the pile of hay, all the chickens went silent. That's strange, he thought. Benjamin then heard the faintest footsteps from inside the coop. His heart began to race, and his body tensed. This must be the fox. Time stood still as the red sly fox carefully slinked towards the chickens. His bushy tail bounced with every small step he took. At first Benjamin didn't know what to do. The fox was a brand new animal to him, and he just wanted to look at it and admire its beauty and its cleverness. Then the fox moved closer to the eggs, and the chickens began ruffling their feathers and clucking in panic. Benjamin didn't waste another moment. With one smooth motion, he leapt out of the hay pile and swung his net at the fox. The net whipped through the air. The fox had no time to react, and the net scooped him up. The fox made small barking noises and squirmed, but it was useless. Benjamin had caught the sly fox. Help! Let me go, the fox cried. What's the meaning of this? The sly fox continued. He created quite a commotion. Mr. Cat, a squirrel, Miss Hound, Mr and Mrs. Owl, and even the green frog from the lake gathered around Benjamin and the captured sly fox. Sly fox, no eggs for you today, tomorrow, or ever, Benjamin said proudly. But but what am I going to eat? The fox replied in panic. Hmm, do you eat grass or potatoes? Benjamin asked. The fox answered, No, no, that will not do at all. Let me out of here. The fox tried to wiggle free, but it was no use. Sly fox, what if I brought you some bacon, ham, or fish every day? Would you leave the eggs alone? Oh, and my mother's pies? The fox stopped moving around as he thought about the proposal. Well, I suppose that would be an agreeable arrangement. But could I ask one more favor? Benjamin said, Yes, of course. The fox asked, Might I not be called sly fox, but red fox, as my mother called me. Benjamin repeated Red Fox. Well, that sounds like a wonderful and proper name. But you have to promise to be just red and not sly. You understand? As long as you bring me one morsel of food a day, I vow to be just a red fox and not a sly fox. He vowed theatrically. Benjamin looked at the gathered animals. What do you all think? There was a general inaudible murmur, and Mr Owl finally answered, We shall hold him to the vow. Mr Red Fox, if you are sly any longer, we will toss you into the deepest part of the lake. The Red Fox gulped, No, that will not be necessary. And that ended the sly work of the fox on the island. Every morning, Benjamin left food for Red Fox, and Red Fox never stole a pie or an egg ever again, though he was tempted to at times. Red Fox even became friends with the red rooster. They could be seen walking through the blueberry bushes daily before the sun went down. Early the next day, Benjamin's dad woke him up and picked him up out of his bed. Son, I have a surprise for you. They walked to the backyard to the chickens. Benjamin noticed the chickens were noisy. They cooed and clucked with excitement. Not like the day before with the fox, but different this time, Benjamin noticed. He also noticed a brand new noise. There were small chirping sounds. Benjamin's father bent down and picked up a small yellow thing. Then Benjamin saw the small yellow thing was moving with eyes and a beak. It was chirping. This is a baby chicken, Benjamin. We call it a chick. Do you want to say hello? Benjamin patted the soft chick on its little head and said, Hello, little chicken. Hope you're having a good day.