Sucker

After work, I stopped at the feed store to pick up some hay for my horse Autumn.  I went up to the counter to pay and the girls asked me if I could hold on a second and went into the back room. They returned with a card board box and in it was a fluffy yellow and black chick.  "He's blind.  He's not going to make it with all the other chicks in the brooder.  You can have him for free."
Where would I keep a chick?  I lived in a little cottage without a back yard.  The land lord made it quite clear that pets were forbidden.  I scooped the poor, fuzzy, little fellow up in my hands and decided that the guest room could be converted into a blind baby chick rehab center.  And I also decided he was a sentient being in need, not a pet per say.

I may be blind but I'm super cute.

Next thing you know I have the counter covered with chick starter feed, cracked corn for snacks, a water bowl, a feed dish and a heat lamp.  I looked at the little guy and had an overwhelming feeling I was missing something.  What could I get this little guy to help him find his way around?  Then it hit me.  He needed a bell...well not for him but he needed another chick to wear one so he could hear it and follow it around.  So I went and picked out Bell, a little hen chick for him to follow. 

Bell & Baby Bill J.

Fifty dollars later, I was leaving the store with my free chick, his new friend  and armfuls of chick paraphernalia.  I looked down to see if I had the word SUCKER written across my chest.  And sure enough, I realized I did.  Well, it didn't really say sucker but the veterinary hospital's name and logo that I work at was plastered on my shirt. 
On the way to the ranch, I stopped at my friend's house, to pick up  her giant dog crate that would become the chicks new mansion. After scheming along the drive up to the ranch, I went directly to the ranch owner, Bill J.'s house.  I scooped up the little chicks and knocked on his door.  Knowing I was up to something he asked "What?" 
"Oh, these are my new chicks.  This little one is blind and the other one is his seeing eye chick."
"And?"
"Well, I'm going to raise them at home and when they get bigger they are going to need a bigger home.  I noticed that your hen house looks like it has two nests open."
"I don't know how the blind chick is..."
"Baby Bill J. will be just fine out there with Bell. I'll bring them over when they have feathers.  You're the best!"
When Bill got done rolling his eyes, I saw him look down at his chest to see if he had SUCKER written across it. 
I took the chicks home and set up their deluxe suite.  I fed and nursed Baby Bill J. tenderly.  He loved it when I took him outside and placed him in the grass so he could look up to the warm sunshine.  He was so cute and content.  As the days passed the poor little Baby Bill J. just grew weaker and started to fade.  He passed away.  My heart broke and so did little Bell's.  Now she was alone.  So what does a sucker do in a situation like this?  I went to the feed store and bought another chick, Merv*.  They kept each other company until they out grew the guest room and off to the ranch they went to start their new life. 
I hope little Baby Bill J. is sitting in a warm patch of grass in chicky heaven and can see the sunshine that he couldn't see here.

*Merv turned out to be the rooster from hell.  He was an abusive womanizer and Bill kicked him out and ditched him on my unsuspecting friend, aka another  SUCKER, in need of a rooster for her clutch of hens.  You can read more about the adventures of Merv the Perv rooster  on my friend's blog Theansword  in the The Rooster Diaries.

Thanks for reading!  And a HUGE THANKS to everyone who donated to the American Cancer Society HERO Ride For Life Fundraiser that Autumn and I will ride on this Saturday.  There's still time to make a donation.  Just email me at Jacksonhillhorseygirl@gmail.com.   You can also email me here if you would like to be added to my email list.
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