“There she is again!”

“Who?”

“That lady. The one who came here in the summer and adopted Lily and Esmerelda.” Four hens and a rooster pressed closer to their gate to have a look. “She’s coming over! What do we do?” the four hens said with a slightly worried ‘cluck, cluck, cluck!’

“Just be yourself,” answered the tiny rooster.

I went over to the small flock only to have a very quick peek. I had a lot to do that day and not much time to do it. “My goodness,” I sighed, and without hesitation spun around and went back to the store to continue my errands. “Can you tell me a little about the four red chickens and one rooster?” I inquired.

“They are the last of our bunch awaiting adoption,” the manager answered. “We think the four girls will be leaving this weekend.”

“So, the tiny rooster doesn’t have a home yet?” I was kind of hoping that he did. I still wasn’t over the loss of our big Brahma rooster, Jack. We’d gotten him as a baby and had grown very attached to him during his six years as part of our family. Not seeing him in our yard anymore, or hearing his proud and songful ‘cocka-doodle- doos’ left quite a little ache inside me. “Will someone come get him before winter sets in?” I said, more as a statement than a question.

“Well, we really hope so. Otherwise, we can keep him in here.”

“Thank you,” I said and left the shop with the little rooster still on my mind. When I returned home later that day, I described the rooster to my husband. “He’s so little but he has all these gorgeous feathers and the ones around his neck remind me of a lion’s mane”.

“What breed is he?” he asked.

The manager hadn’t been sure. “He was supposed to be a Serama (a small, colorful Malaysian breed) but some of his characteristics don’t match, so no one knows for certain.”

My journey to and from work takes me right past the store with the four red hens and the one beautiful rooster. I tried not to look over as I drove past. “I’m just not ready for another rooster,” I’d repeat to myself upon each passing. “Plus, everyone is getting along right now and we don’t need any upsets in the coop.” There. I had convinced myself. Friday came, and all five were still there. Saturday, still five. “Maybe whoever comes for the girls will take the rooster also,” I thought to myself.

Later that day, Doug and his four pen-mates were happily munching on the grapes they’d been treated to by the shop keeper when their friend, little bunny Maxwell, hopped over for a visit. “Max! Hi Max!” the four chickens and one rooster called. “We got grapes today,” they all clucked at once. “Here, try one,” Doug offered as he rolled the grape under the fencing and over to Max.

“Oooo, delicious!” bunny Maxwell replied. “I brought you lettuce.” All five ran this way and that gobbling up every piece the little rabbit tossed in. “Yum! You’re the best Max. Thanks!”

Just then, Sally, who had gone back to eating grapes, stood up straight and stopped talking. She had a strange look on her face. “Sally. Sally. Are you ok?” they all asked. Sally just stood there.

“Something’s wrong!” Doug ran over to Sally who opened her mouth wide. “She has a grape stuck way back in her mouth,” he informed the others. “Keep your mouth open,” he instructed Sally. “I’ll try to pull it out.” But try as he did, that grape would not budge.

“I had a carrot stuck once. I was so scared. It was hard to breathe. Momma thumped me on the back and it flew right out of my mouth!” Maxwell blurted.

“Yes, that’s it,” Doug said as he took hold of Sally and moved her close to the fence. “Ok Max, do to Sally what your Mom did to you”. Maxwell carefully stuck his best thumping foot through the fence and gave Sally a few thump-thump-thumps. Nothing. He tried again. The grape still did not come out. Sally started to wobble. “Oh dear! We need help!” Doug took a deep breath and yelled his very loudest ‘cocka-doodle-doo!’ At the same time, Maxwell took a deep breath and screamed his loudest “Mommmmaaa!” And they kept on yelling until Momma bunny finally arrived.

“Child, what in the world is going on?! And what are you doing way over here so far away from our burrow?”

“These are my friends and Sally has a grape stuck in her mouth. She can’t breathe. I tried to thump it out, but it won’t budge. Help Momma, help!” Maxwell panicked. By now, the other three hens had joined Doug in a fretful chorus of clucks and squawks. Sally was still wobbly and looking a bit pale.

“Ok now, everyone stay calm,” Momma soothed. “Doug, bring her over here near the fence and hold her tight. Sally honey, this might hurt a tiny bit.” Momma slipped her foot through the fence and gave Sally one big, firm thump on the back. Sally coughed and opened her mouth wide. “Anything?” Momma asked Doug.

“I see it!” Doug quickly reached in, pierced the grape with his beak and pulled it right out of Sally’s mouth. Relieved and able to talk again, Sally clucked grateful clucks and hugged Momma bunny.

“You’re a hero Momma!” Little Maxwell exclaimed as he wrapped his arms around his mother.

“No son”, Momma corrected, “you two are the heroes.”

“What do you mean?” Sally asked.

“Well, Maxwell loosened that grape with his powerful thumps,” Momma put her arms around her little bunny. “And both you boys used your mighty shouts to call me. Doug, you used your strong beak with such precision to remove the stubborn grape that wouldn’t budge. Yes sir, these two are the real heroes.”

“Hooray for Max and Doug!” everyone chimed in. Little bunny Maxwell didn’t feel so little anymore. Doug, the tiny roo, didn’t feel so tiny anymore.

“I’m so glad we all got to be friends. Us girls are going to our new home tomorrow so you’ll have to take care of Doug,” Sally said to Max.

“I’ll be ok,” Doug tried to sound optimistic.

It was now late Saturday afternoon and the day was getting on. “I forgot something at the farm store,” I called to my husband. “Be right back.” I pulled in and parked next to the pen housing the small flock. Two cute rabbits were peering out from behind a fallen tree. “Awww, hi you guys!” I called quietly. To my surprise, the bunnies did not run away.

The shop keeper came over with my receipt. “There you go,” she said.

“I know you are closing soon. Thank you for waiting for me,” I replied. I reached in and gently picked up the tiny, little rooster. “I’m told you girls will be in your new home tomorrow,” I said to the four red hens who were all now around my feet.

“Cluck, cluck, cluck! The lady came back! See Doug, it all worked out!” They circled around me as if they were saying goodbye. With the rooster in my arms, I squatted down so the hens could see him. “Bye Doug!” they chirped and cooed. The little roo cooed back as if saying his goodbyes.

“Don’t worry, my girls at home are going to love you and we’re all so happy that you’ll be part of our family now,” I said to the tiny rooster.  I put Doug carefully in his carrier and seat-belted the carrier in. As I started the car, the two rabbits came out from behind the tree where they’d been hiding.

“Good bye Doug!” little bunny Maxwell called. “You’re gonna have so much fun!”

“Bye ladies! Thanks Momma. Good bye Max! Thanks for all the fun times!”

As we drove off, Doug let out a strong and proud ‘cocka-doodle- doooooo!’ Yes, that what is was. I’m positive Well maybe… now I’m wondering. “Nah, don’t be silly,” I thought to myself. “Roosters CAN NOT talk!”  But then…there it was again! Yes, I heard it loud and clear! My little Doug definitely said it: ‘Cocka-doodle-dooo…I’m Doug the Mighty Rooooo!’

Cindy Bezanson