HAPPY FAMILY

                                                                               Ritu Siddharth

Mr. Barry was a farmer. He had a little boy and a girl called Harry and Margret . He always called his wife honey so no one knew her actual name. He owned a pig- and poultry farm. Mr.Barry sold chicks and eggs regularly in the market .He also sold pigs for pork and piglets to be raised in farms. It fetched big income .The Barrys were happy and content.

Jill was an old hen that lived in Mr.Barry’s farm. Mr.Barry’s neighbors bought chicks from him as soon as they hatched, but the farmer retained Michiel and Pinky, 2 chicks of Jill . Michiel would crow at break of dawn, waking the farmers in the neighborhood. Pinky bore many chicks and eggs that were soon given away.

“Let’s keep atleast this batch papa”, begged Harry and Margret. In the end Mr. Barry had to yield to their request. The 2 children were overjoyed. They looked everyday if the eggs hatched. Atlast after 21 long days chicks one after another emerged from the shell.

“Yowee, our friends have arrived”, exclaimed Harry in excitement.

“Let’s name them”, yelled Margret in equal enthusiasm.

Tina ,Michel,Johny,Becky,and Rosy were christened with a small party. The kids had cakes and berries while the fowls had grains and bread crumbs and pigs, oil-cakes and husk for a treat.

Becky unlike others was slow to grow and so was tiny, so she was a pet of all in the family.

The farmers would leave early to work in the fields, as there was much to do. Jill and her platoons along with Piggy, a 2yr old pig, accompanied Mr.Barry when he went to work. The fowls picked insects and worms , their bellies often full before they returned home. Mr.Barry was content because he had to provide only meager feeds in the barn, that was economical. Piggy would dig out roots from under the ground and enjoy the vegetarian meal.

One day Becky was curious to know what was on the other side of the road. So she slipped out from the group, fluttered her wings to cross the road. Once she was on the other side she called out to her sisters to cross over as she did. They watched her in awe but did not leave Barry’s side. Becky moved up farther into the field away from her relatives. She found interesting birds of many kind with different colors, picking their meal from the ground and air. She watched them fly and hop around, in absolute admiration.

It was evening and time to go home. The little group marched home . It was Margret who discovered Becky had not returned. She told her father, “Papa, Bcky’s not home papa…where’s Bcky ?What happ’ned to her?”She began to cry.

“Don’t you cry sweetie pie,I’ll fetch her”, comforted her father.

“I’ll come with you papa”, Harry joined him. Piggy sensed something was not right. He snuggled close to Harry.

“Bcky…Bcky..”, Harry called out as he walked along the narrow beaten path to the field. Suddenly Piggy grunted and rushed across the road. Becky had lost her way and had been crying for her sisters and mom. She was relieved to see Piggy and at once flew on to his back.

“Piggy…Piggy”, called Mr.Barry, thinking he too got lost.

Soon Piggy grunted back to his master with Becky riding on him.

“O Bcky , you’re safe ..I’m soo Hap’y”, rejoiced Harry.

They returned home , glad that everything was fine .Becky’s sisters and Pinky gathered around her rubbing their beaks in glee.

Back in the barn, Harry told proudly about Piggy.

“You’re a hero..I name you Caesar”, he said patting his head. Now, Caesar the piggy, sensed he was appreciated, held his snout high. Becky in her shrill voice called out, “Keek, keeek…kek”, and danced around his legs as if to say ‘thank you, thank you’.

All were happy to be reunited.

..Concluded.