STORY TIME: The Adventures of Crowing Rooster

by Pinky STIG

Once upon a time, there was a rooster known as the Crowing Rooster who lived on a farm. Crowing Rooster was an outspoken little fellow who loved to have fun but always told the truth. One day, Crowing Rooster criticized the farmer’s horse barn for not being very clean or very fun. The farmer got very angry and sang a karaoke version of Tom Petty’s “Don’t Come Around Here No More” right in Crowing Rooster’s face.

Next, the nasty, closed-minded farmer went and put a whole bunch of.

posters up with Crowing Rooster’s face on it. The posters said that if any ani- mal saw Crowing Rooster in the barn, then that animal was allowed to kick Crowing Rooster back into the barnyard. Then the big, mean farmer even began destroying some of Crowing Rooster’s belongings—belongings that the farmer even helped to pay for! “Silly farmer!” thought the Rooster. i Soon after being evicted from the barn, Crowing Rooster assembled all of the animals in the barnyard to make a big announcement: “Worry not, my friends. Athough I have been rejected from the barn, I am not affected, for I have spent little time there. I will simply find my way to a more appropriate res- idence for amusement and shelter. I will aid the economic situation down yon- der!” said Crowing Rooster pointing to the farm on the hill in the distance.

Later on that year, the mean farmer’s horse barn just fell down—lucki- ly, with none of the animals inside. All of the animals mooed and clucked and made happy horsie sounds with thoughts of safety and joy. No more loose beams falling on the heads of the poor animals anymore. A new barn was built, and_all the animals rejoiced!

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