I am not talking about the carbon tax, the politicians, or even an alleged incident involving Slippers.
Instead, my focus is on the storm that recently struck the suburbs of Perth, Australia.
During their younger years, my children were often anxious around animals. Dogs would cause them to recoil in fear…and birds with feathers would make them tremble. The solution to their anxiety was to bring dogs into our home. Now, they are so accustomed to them that the dogs even sleep on their beds.
Later, we introduced chickens to our household. These new additions have become part of the family and are handled and played with daily.
Recently, we experienced a mini tornado accompanied by heavy rain and frightfully strong winds. Our chickens, named Gertie, Valerie, and Priscilla, were quickly put away in their pen as the rain intensified. However, the strong winds caused them distress.
They huddled together, clucking and pecking at the sky. Though they appeared scared, it seemed to be a tactic to see if they could escape to roam around the house or even the garage.
Valerie, the leader of the group, bullied her companions and took a leap for freedom from the pen. Gertie, slightly heavier and slower, attempted to follow but found it difficult. A sudden gust of wind lifted Valerie over the fence and into a new environment.
Gertie, on the other hand, lost her opportunity and ended up trapped in the shed…or more specifically, between the shed and the garage (a very tight space).
Priscilla, always the princess, managed to climb out of the pen and, like Houdini, crawled low through the grass, safely making her way into the garage. There, she was sheltered from the winds, remaining dry and warm as she slept through the storm.
Meanwhile, the dogs reacted by barking loudly at the thunder and lightning until a clatter from the falling TV aerial prompted them to hide under the bed.
This was a moment for courageous action. With considerable encouragement from the children, I sent my wife out to rescue the birds. She vaulted over the neighbor’s fence in an Olympic fashion and successfully gathered up Valerie.
Soaked and clucking loudly, Valerie was placed in the garage. Not the wife, just Valerie.
Next, my wife had to scale the shed roof, using a long broom to hook Gertie and pull her to freedom in the garden.
Priscilla seemed startled to wake up and find two soggy companions snuggling next to her in the garage.
A drenched wife returned home to cheers from the kids, who managed to momentarily put down their iPods to welcome a mother with fairly composed expressions.
It was one of the most severe storms we have experienced in years. This made me contemplate what advice I would extend to families looking to add animals to their households.
My sole piece of advice would be to ensure that mom can manage during inclement weather. My kids suggested that since the chickens got too wet, perhaps we should buy some ducks.
Mom responded that she was going to take a bath…and that the next day we would have chicken soup.
by TOG
