Beatrix and the Big Wind

Beatrix is a chicken. She has strong opinions about most things, including the weather.

Today there is a wind. A big wind. The kind of wind that bends the corn and slams the gate and lifts the leaves up like a startled flock.

The other chickens are inside the henhouse. Beatrix is not inside the henhouse. Beatrix has a worm to find.

The wind says: WHOOOOOOSH.

Beatrix says: "I HEARD YOU."

The wind says: WHOOOOOOOOOSH.

Beatrix grips the ground with her chicken toes and walks anyway. Her feathers are blown the wrong way. She does not care.

She finds her worm. She digs it up. The worm is surprised but accepts its situation.

The wind tries one more time. WHOOOOOOOOOOSH.

Beatrix turns around and stares right into it.

"I am Beatrix," she says, "and I have my worm. You can go now."

The wind goes a little quieter.

Beatrix walks back to the henhouse, feathers everywhere, with her worm. The other chickens look at her like she is a small lion.

"It was just wind," she tells them, calmly.