Spark the Rooster's Adventures at Little Bitty Life - Chapter 1

(This is the first story in a series I am beginning for my blog.  It will be continued each Tuesday.  I hope my readers enjoy!)

It's morning!!

It is early.

It is cold.

"COCCKKKADOOOODDLE-DOOOOOO!!!"

I love mornings.

And early.

Not that fond of the cold, though.

"COCCKKKADOOOODDLE-DOOOOOO!!!  UP and AT 'EM, ladies!!"  I coax.

Mostly my crows fall on deaf ears in the mornings.  None of the girls are much for being early risers.  They moan and groan and stay curled up on the roost.  However, I have a mission.

I stretch my wings out and scratch my head with my left claw.  Another crow.   Then I hop down to the coop floor, soft with a layer of pine shavings, and make my way out of the door.  Ahhh.  The morning air is crisp.  The horizon is dark blue - I get up before the sun, you see.  Then I look up.  Every morning for as long as I can remember, I fly out of the coop and monitor the grounds.  There are dogs to inspect, cats to converse with, and a pony to question.  I have a VERY important job.

With one big stretch and a 1, 2, 3  I extend my wings and with a few good flaps and I am out of the coop.  I sail to the ground and sound a boisterous crow to let the world know to stand guard!!  I am Spark, and I am watching!  A hawk caws in the distance and I dart beneath a bush.

Okay, all clear.  Anyway...

Once I am sure the coast is clear, I slide through the fence and into the dog's yard.  Jake, the rather flighty male collie, is in a tizzy about something.  He is running alongside the fence, then darts towards the woods and barks and barks.

"Good grief, Jake.  What is it this time?"  I bellow.

Jake sees me and scampers forward, stopping just before me.  His eyes look anxious!

"Spark, alert the girls!!  There is a FOX just down in the gully!"

"A FOX???"  I squawk.  Suddenly I hear noise in the bushes.  Jake bristles and I ready my spurs.

Out pops Siri, the rather naughty calico cat.  She likes Jake for some reason, and he likes her.  But I never have cared much for her since she decided it would be good evening entertainment to scare my girls when they are trying to set on their nests.

I say nothing as she saunters by, a mean glare in her eyes.  Jake walks to her and they sniff noses.

"Fox is almost up the hill."  I hear her tell him.

"Probably be best for you to stay within the safety of our yard, then."  Jake informs her.  Siri rolls her eyes.  Arwen, the female collie, trots up then.  "Fox?" She asks, sniffing the air.  Jake, Siri, and myself all nod.

Then, just across the yard, we hear the howl of a fox - right behind the chicken coop!!

Click here to read the next chapter!