For all the Luke Walker: animal stick up for-er chapters, click here 😀
Chapter 24 continues from yesterday:
Joe changed the subject. “How do we tell them we want to adopt some. Is there an email address?”
“Er, … oh no, it says we have to phone this number. We’ve got to talk to them.”
“The farmer?”
“No, Wixham Animal Action.” Isabel was concerned. “They’re not going to let us adopt without parental consent are they?”
“You do it,” said Luke.
“Me?” Tania was apprehensive.
“Yeah, you’re good at soundin’ grown up. Like when you did that impression of Mrs Tyler. You sounded just like her.”
Tania smiled. “Okay,” she said, picking up her phone, “what’s the number?”
While she waited for the call to be answered her heart beat hard and fast. She turned away from the others so they wouldn’t make her laugh.
“Hello?” said the woman who eventually picked up.
“Oh, hello,” said Tania in her best Mrs Tyler voice. “I would like to adopt some rescued chickens please.”
“Oh great, hang on a minute, let me get a pen. ….. Right, how many can you take?”
“Erm,” Tania looked at the others and mouthed ‘how many?’ but they didn’t understand her. She put the phone on speaker.
“We like people to take at least three,” the woman advised, “because they’re sociable creatures. Wouldn’t be happy on their own.”
“Oh yes of course,” said Tania, looking at the others for a sign.
“Shall I put you down for three?” the woman suggested, “or have you got room for more?”
Luke held up his open right hand.
“Five?” said Tania uncertainly.
Luke nodded.
“Five?” asked the woman.
“Yes,” Tania smiled, “five please.”
“Good. Okay, now do you have a garden and a house for them?”
“A house?”
“A chicken house for them to sleep in.”
“Oh yes, a shed.”
“It’ll need nesting boxes and perches. And it’ll need to be fox-proof,” the woman explained.
Luke nodded at Tania.
“Yes,” she said, “it will be.”
“Okay then, I’ll just take your name, address and phone number and then we’ll get back to you on the thirteenth to give you a pick up location and time.”
“Pick them up?”
“Yes. Is that a problem?”
“No no, that’ll be fine,” said Tania with feigned confidence. “Absolutely fine.”
******
SATURDAY 7 JUNE
When the doorbell rang Luke rushed to answer it.
“Expecting someone?” asked Mum.
“Joe and the others.”
“Oh. Will you be going out?” she called after him. She’d been hoping to have the house to herself so she could give it a good spring clean.
Luke returned from the front door with his friends in tow. “We’ll be in the garden,” he told his mother as they headed for the back door, “where’s Dad?”
“Working in the garage.”
“Okay, thanks.”
Mum was relieved until she remembered, “oh but you can’t go in there!” she shouted after him as he approached the garage door. Luke stopped and looked back as Mum rushed down the garden path in her slippers. “What do you want Dad for?” she asked, “he’s busy, doesn’t want to be disturbed.”
“Just wanted to borrow a screwdriver.”
“Okay, I’ll get it. Flathead?”
“Phillips.”
“Okay.” She entered the garage and closed the door behind her.
“Dad’s a bit grumpy,” Luke explained to his friends. They nodded. Moments later Mum emerged with the screwdriver and the Society resumed course for the damson patch. They entered the shed.
“Not bad,” said Isabel. “It’s solid. Bit dusty but we can sweep it out no problem. This’ll make a good chicken house.”
“Let’s put this on,” said Tania, “where do you want it?”
Luke showed her the hole he’d hammered in the wall years ago to make a door for the rabbits. “Down here,” he said, moving the boxes that were blocking it.
“Perfect, that’s just the right size,” said Tania, holding the new cat flap up against it. “Once we’ve got this on, the chickens can go in and out during the day and at night you can lock it closed to keep them safe.”
“Great,” said Luke, smiling, “thanks.” He handed Tania the screwdriver and she got to work.
The others swept the floor, dusted off the cobwebs and cleaned the window. In less than an hour, the shed was almost fit for purpose.
“What are you going to do about bedding?” asked Isabel.
“I’ll get straw from the bale in Curly and Squirt’s shed.”
“I thought it was better to use shavings.”
“Straw’s all I’ve got, it’ll have to do.”
“That’ll be fine,” said Tania. “What about nesting boxes?”
“Ahh,” said Luke, smiling. He opened the door and went outside for a moment. When he came back he was dragging an old rabbit hutch. “This was what Butler kept Scratcher in before I rescued her,” he explained. “When he left it out for the dustmen I went and got it.” It was in good clean condition. Luke opened the doors. “I’ll take the doors off and make a straw bed on both sides. They can lay their eggs in there if they want to.”
“There’s only room for two though,” said Isabel.
“Three,” said Luke, “I’m sure three of ’em could fit comfortably in there, and they’re not likely to all wanna lay an egg at the same time are they?”
“Actually,” said Joe, “don’t take the doors off. If you open them wide and fix them open, the chicks can perch on them.”
“Good thinking!” Luke agreed, “What can we fix ’em with?”
At that moment Mum put her head round the door. “Ready for lunch?” she asked. “Ooh, this looks tidy. You have been busy.”
“Muuum! This is a private meeting!” Luke escorted her back outside.
“What are you up to in there?” she asked, “is it going to be your HQ?”
“Er, yeah, that’s right,” it was as good a cover as any.
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Story continues tomorrow 😀
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vegan, vegan children’s stories, humour, animals, animal rights, animal rescue, vegan children, veggie kids, vegetarian, animal farming, chickens, birds
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