；　roly…polys　…　probably　spiders；　if　they　can　catch　them。　I　think　they　eat

snails；　too。”

“Seriously？”　My　mother　smiled。　“Well；　in　that　case　…”

“Oh；　thank　you；　Mom。　Thank　you！”

And　that's　how　we　wound　up　with　chickens。　What　none　of　us　thought　of　was　that　six　chickens

scratching　for　bugs　not　only　gets　rid　of　bugs；　it　also

tears　up　grass。　Within　six　months　there　was　nothing　whatsoever　left　of　our　yard。

What　we　also　didn't　think　of　was　that　chicken　feed　attracts　mice；　and　mice　attract　cats。　Feral

cats。　Champ　was　pretty　good　at　keeping　the　cats

out　of　the　yard；　but　they'd　hang　around　the　front　yard　or　the　side　yard；　just　waiting　for　him　to

snooze　so　they　could　sneak　in　and　pounce　on　some

tender　little　mousy　vittles。

Then　my　brothers　started　trapping　the　mice；　which　I　thought　was　just　to　help　out。　I　didn't

suspect　a　thing　until　the　day　I　heard　my　mother　screaming

from　the　depths　of　their　room。　They　were；　it　turns　out；　raising　a　boa　constrictor。

Mom's　foot　came　down　in　a　big　way；　and　I　thought　she　was　going　to　throw　us　out；　lock；　stock；

and　boa；　but　then　I　made　the　most　amazing

discovery—chickens　lay　eggs！　Beautiful；　shiny；　creamy　white　eggs！　I　first　found　one　under

Bonnie；　then　Clyde—whom　I　immediately　renamed

Clydette—and　one　more　in　Florence's　bed。　Eggs！

I　raced　inside　to　show　my　mom；　and　after　a　brief　moment　of　blinking　at　them；　she　withered