Page 26 of Any Second Now
“Sorry, sorry. This is just more involved than I thought it would be.”
“Chickens aren’t easy. Or cheap. And this isn’t the best solution. The simple enclosures aren’t the most secure. They’ve gotta be temporary.”
“Maybe we can set up with the minimum to keep her alive while I figure out what to do with her. Like theabsoluteminimum.”
The man half glares at me.
An hour later I leave the store with supplies to set up a chicken run. When I pull back into the campsite, Elizabeth is sitting out under their RV awning with her husband and dog. I wave and park my car.
“Hi, Raleigh,” Elizabeth calls.
“Hey.” I walk their way, stopping about ten feet from where they are seated. “I realize I might have sounded a bit unhinged before.”
“Do you really have a chicken in your RV? It took me a little while to process what you said, but when I did, I was like—what.”
“Yes, yes I do.” I laugh.
“Okay.” She nods, a wide smile on her face. “This is my husband, Darren.”
“Hello,” he says, his hand resting on a black lab’s head. “This is Tuna.”
“Nice to meet you, Tuna.” I pat the happy dog’s head.
“So did you get the chicken situation sorted at the store?” Elizabeth asks.
“Yeah, kind of. I got some supplies so I can care for her while I look for her real home, assuming she came from someone. I’m going to set up a little enclosed run outside so she doesn’t poop all over my RV.”
“That’s a good idea. Need any help?” Elizabeth stands and glances at the RV. “We used to have chickens in our backyard in Ohio. So I know a thing or two about them. Plus I’d really like to meet your chicken.”
“Megghen.”
“Megan?”
“No, it’s Megg-hen.”
“Your chicken’s name is Megg-hen?”
“Yes.”
“Perfect.”
“And I’d love the help.” I shrug. “I don’t know a thing about chickens.”
“Let’s do it.” Elizabeth hands her coffee mug to her husband.
This is weird, but why not? I have literally no plans today until meeting up with Atticus later tonight, and I could use some company. She follows me back to the Pink Palace.
“I talked to a guy at the farm store. After deeply judging me, he suggested buying all sorts of crazy stuff. We argued back and forth for a bit and finally agreed to this.” I pop open my trunk.
Laying across my flattened back seats is a foldable popup chicken run for outside, a wooden nest, a small tent, and various other items.
“Huh. Interesting. We had quite the extensive wooden chicken coup in our backyard. Still, the animals got to them all eventually.”
“That’s awful.” I shudder and picture findingMegghen ravaged by animals. I don’t think she’ll be sleeping outside—that tent will be going into the Pink Palace.
Elizabeth helps me unload.
“Where do you want it?”
