Amy Payton

Chicken Wing

Ruby’s beady black eyes followed Heidi’s every move as she gingerly patted the dusty shelf overhead. Goosebumps tickled her neck as the sticky cobwebs clung to her fingers. Resisting the urge to run out of the musty chicken coop she tiptoed to reach higher. She took a quick peek at the hen on the perch, unnerved at the hen’s statue-like stillness. Heidi shuffled a little farther into the dimness as the glittery eyes followed her. She needed to find that little black book! The hen silently watched. Heidi knew it was irrational, but she was afraid to turn her back on the old biddy. Swallowing down her anxiety she again hastily patted the shelf. Metal clanged as her fingers painfully rammed a metal box. Ruby’s wings fluttered behind her which spurred her to snatch the box and sprint out the door with squeal.