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POULLETTE'S STORY: LET'S GET THE PLUCK OUT OF HERE!

So, I’m going to need to do some digging here. I come from a long line of important avians….the chickens FLOCK to US!

I heard a rumor from my mother’s friend, Chicken Little, that my mother, Poullette, was forced into an egg laying factory by her evil uncle Galo Malo. She was very young, really just a pullet, when she was taken by Galo Malo. He noticed her loveliness and sweet nature and calculated that he could make some scratch by selling her to the highest bidder. Actually, the only bidder that he knew Coq Chanceux, who ran the Egg Factory. Like Galo Malo, Coq Chanceux was a bad bird, but unlike his friend in crime he wasn’t very bright—he ran a substandard operation that was slightly cracked.

There were a lot of bad birds there, but she did meet some good eggs…Two of them were Welsh, Cyw Iar, a Mother Hen and Cye Hwyaden, a Welsh Harlequin Duck. Apparently they introduced themselves to Poullete, saying, “Cymry ydym.” Which means, “We’re Welsh.” And then they would ask her what she was doing at the Egg Laying Factory.

Both were appalled when they learned that evil Uncle Galo Malo had done the dirty deed. He was a friend of Coq Chanceux,the slimy customer who ran the Factory.

Cyw Iar and Cye Hwyaden were determined to break out, clucking and quacking back forth hatching plans for escape. They would say, “Beth am gael y place all an o fan hen!” Or words to that effect, which means, loosely translated, “Let’s get the pluck out of here!”

Batty Hilda, was another Heroine! She was a tough old bird who had survived a neck-wringing and lived to scratch through another day. She was equally determined to crack the code on how to escape and fly the coop! These three birds took little Poullette under their wings and included her in their scheme.

HOW THEY DID IT!

Since Cye, Cyw and Batty Hilda had been there for a long time, they knew the ropes of how the factory operated. First, they had figured out how to get out of their cages-the most important thing! They knew the people who worked there, what time they arrived and what time they left. They knew where the loading docks were, what time the egg trucks arrived and the time they left. They knew who was nice and who was not, who was easy to fool and who was sharp. Thus, they knew which would be the best times to escape and they began to hatch a plan.

Their plan was to escape in the wee hours of the morning, when everyone - including the nightwatchman-was asleep! So, they began to hoard some of their daily food, squirreling it away underneath the hay so that they could take it with them when the time came. They timed it so that they would arrive at the door of loading dock just as the midnight egg truck was being packed. They scrambled behind a stack of old egg crates, hoping that they wouldn’t be heard. It was very quiet except for the noise of the workmen and an occasional snore from the night watchman. Just as the men were about to finish one of them noticed a pile of feathers and got suspicious. They four hens squeezed together as the big footed man stomped around, telling his partner that there was something strange going on…it was unusual to see so many feathers lying on the ground. The other laughed and made a comment about having chicken salad for breakfast, a thought that ruffled the birds’ feathers and made them quake where they stood. The two dock workers shifted some boxes around, coming within inches of the birds, but finally gave up the hunt and finished loading the egg crates onto the truck.

Now it was time to make their final escape. With extra food in their beaks and songs in their rapidly beating hearts, the three hens and one harlequin duck flew onto the back of the egg truck as it pulled out of the loading dock! 

They buried their heads under their wings for the first few miles, just relieved to be free! And, then they noticed that the truck was approaching a Farmer’s Market on a river bank and decided this was a great place to jump, blend in for a bit and then run  

away. So, as the truck took a hard turn (nearly cracking some eggs) the four feathered friends flew out and onto the pavement.

Luckily for them it was so early in the morning that no one was about. The ground was all damp with fog and a little slick with oil, and dark except for patches of light that of an occasional street lamp. Wandering around they could discern big bobbing shapes, which they figured were boats. They had heard Coq Chanceux and Galo Malo discuss boats and how they could swim through the water like giant ducks or geese. Finally, they found a ship painted with a picture of a Swan and decided that was the vessel that would carry them into their future. So, they hopped on and sailed away!

How Poullette met my father is a story for another day….

I finally convinced Flavia to tell me what the pluck happened to her, and her it is…..

               FLAVIA’S TALE OF WOE

           THE FLAVIA STORY - PART I

(Flavia wants to credit two of her favorite heroines, Vivian and Celeste. These strong women inspired Flavia to not just hang on, but to formulate excellent plans of action. Both ladies appeared in books by Barb Simmons, ‘The War Within,’ Vivian and ‘The Guardian,’ Celeste.)

To say that Flavia disappeared and then “just showed up” doesn’t do the story justice. It was so much more colorful and dramatic than that. You see, Flavia was always multi-hued (mostly yellows and pinks), curious and audacious—even as the DOWNIEST of chicks. Her vibrant plumage and bold personality set her apart from all the other hatchlings from the get-go. 

One day she and some of the other little chicks wandered out of the coop into the surrounding countryside. Always adventurous, they were happy to be scratching fertile new ground, digging up grubs from the dark rich soil outside the barnyard. Big green leaves draped over and littered the path with berries and seeds. It was exotic and exciting as they wandered through the hopped in mud-luscious puddles before rolling around taking dirtbaths. feasting on a buffet of berries and seeds! They were frolicking so much that they forgot the time and before too long they noticed the sun slipping down below the horizon. The sky was inky blue black before too long scaring the little chicks. So, they huddled together under a bush and tucked themselves in for the night. The next morning all them were up with the sun except Flavia since she always loves her beauty sleep! They woke up, peeped around and then, forgetting my sister, made their way back to the coop. They really got squawked at when they arrived home. My mother and father were frantically worrying about Flavia and even left the barnyard to find her, but it was to no avail….because she was gone.

Just after the other chicks had left, a man in a big green hat showed up. His name is Alberto and he is from the Island of Alcatras in Costa Rica. His nickname is Bert Man from Alcatras and he loves birds. He loves rare and beautiful birds. Although Alcatras doesn’t have the bounty of birds that you can find elsewhere in Costa Rica, it has Ruby Hummingbirds and other stunners. Bert was in awe of avian creatures from an early age, and as he got older his tastes blossomed to include love of Macaws, Parrots, Herons,Toucans,Tanagers, and, of course, the rare and resplendent Quetzal! 

But, Bert took one look at the pulchritudinous plumage on our sleeping Flavia and he just reached down and plucked her from the ground. She woke with a start and began peeping as loudly as she could. He popped her into a tiny cage in the back of his truck and motored off. Her bell-like peeps were very musical with a sweet lilting sound even when she was calling her little heart out. She peeped so long that her throat became very scratchy and she started losing her voice and eventually she sat still, like a tiny stone, sad and leaden behind bars — all her efforts were to no avail! Our Flavia was gone!

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Little Flavia was SO upset.

She peeped herself to sleep, lulled by the steady motion of the wheels of the truck as it traveled miles and miles. Days and nights, they travelled, they drove through forests, by lakes and streams, through cities and the countryside. She awoke once, noticing that the landscape had changed drastically, then quickly dozed off. Flavia finally woke up when she felt the truck halt, coming to a dead stop, heard the doors opening and felt her tiny cage being lifted through the air out of the vehicle. She immediately noticed the change in atmosphere to humid air that was thick with fragrant scents of flowers and spices. 

“We’re Home!,” sang the Bert Man, as he carried her into a strange building that housed many other birds. 

Flavia noticed that the building was filled with scads of other birds. She saw parrots, finches, parakeets, canaries, conures, cockatiels, but she was the only chicken. And, our little chicken, Flavia, was just as colorful, beautiful and exotic as all the other birds. She was a real find for him!!! 

Bert placed Flavia’s cage next to some parrots. After listening to the parrots talking and whistling to each other, she began to understand their chatter. Not one to sit by and just listen, Flavia, using the parrots’ parlance began to ask questions of her avian neighbors. Starting with “Where AM I?” right through “How long have YOU BEEN HERE?” Flavia started a stream of questions that came almost too fast for the birds to answer.

What was the skinny on Bert? The Bert Man was an avian abductor and she was his latest catch! He brought her to his Bird Store, “THE GILDED CAGE” and they were in New Orleans, Louisiana. It was HARD to escape, the parrots shared with her. In their 6 month long tenure at “The Cage” only 1 bird had broken free and 15 had been sold. Despondent, Flavia listlessly pecked at some grain at the bottom of her cage, and then peeping a little, tucked her head down and went to sleep. 

Every now and then a new bird would arrive at The Gilded Cage. They were always overwhelmed after having been shoved into a strange cage in this unusual aviary. Many times they had been pets whose “parents,” had passed away and all they could think about was “Home.”

Pretty Polly was one such bird. A stunning female Eclectus, brilliant Polly could swear like a sailor and learned to read by sitting on her “Mom’s” shoulder, perusing whatever was being proffered. “The War Within,” by Barb Simmons was a particular favorite! 

(Polly’s ‘mother’ had omnivorous literary tastes and would bounce between all sorts of fiction and Schopenhauer.) Polly was a red-head, like Vivian, the heroine in “The War Within.” Polly idolized the athletic and caring redhead who fell in love with a wounded warrior in the book. Polly even convinced her “Mom” to install special set of weights so that she could work out like Vivian. 

Polly arrived just after Flavia, and the became inseparable, or as inseparable as birds in different cages could be. Polly heard all about Flavia’s family and THE FLOCK, likewise, Flavia was tuned into Polly’s world and her favorite heroine, Vivian. They talked about it all the time, trying to be brave, kind and positive just like the vibrant Vivian! 

I asked Flavia how her feathery neighbors influenced her outlook and actions. “They helped me think things through and be brave!”

Bert, on the other hand, was over the moon! He had acquired a true RARA AVIS and wanted everyone to know about it! Ever the entrepreneur and promoter, Bert took pictures of Flavia, his beautiful new bird and posted them all over town. He put fliers on lamp posts, in shop windows, bulletin boards and finally Bill Boards so that all New Orleans could come and admire her, because with her long eyelashes, and yellow and pink plumage, she was one alluring Avian!

People flocked into the Gilded Cage to get a glimpse of this Cute Chick! Flavia became the Toast of the Town. Young girls mimicked her hairdo, which was Feathered, and made sure that their eyelashes were as eye-catching as Flavia’s!

The noise of all this hubbub reached the ears of New Orleans’ most AMAZING, HANDSOME ROOSTER, and our cousin, CORUS! Corus, who is the King of the Krewe of Corus, is truly The Big Easy’s BIG ROOSTER! Originally from “Up North” came to town as a Cockeral and took The Crescent City by STORM! He sang from the rooftops, was a regular at the Jazz Clubs, where he often was a solo artist. He has been on the cover of DownBeak, a magazine for Musical Roosters and Jazz Loving Jays. His wit is irrepressible, his style is unimpeachable and his charm is incontrovertible and his feathers are in shades of green, gold and purple - just like Mardi Gras.

As I have stated, He has not only his own FLOAT, but he is the KING of his OWN KREWE!

He is one Bodacious Bird, second only to ME-Maurice!

But, I digress, Flavia’s pecking at me to get on the with story.

Corus was a young rooster when he and his family were sent down to New Orleans. As residents of a newly formed Petting Zoo, they were splendid and very appealing. By the time Flavia arrived, Corus was well established as a BIG ATTRACTION. 

Hearing about this Charming Chicken set Corus back a bit. As a man about town, he was in on the news about all the Bird-Doings and what was up with the Peeps, too. Naturally he was very curious about this New Girl in Town, feeling like he had to meet her and, also, let her know that he was the KING around here! But, when he saw pictures of Flavia, it jogged some very old memories. She wasn’t a Pullet from his past, or even one of the very cute pet ducks with whom he had tete-a-teted, but she looked strangely familiar. Corus mentioned something about Flavia to his mother. His poor mother hen was a little ditzy these days, but she could recall the most obscure odds and ends. She took one look at Flavia’s picture and squawked, “Why that’s little Flavia, your cousin. I would recognize her feathers and eyelashes ANYWHERE! Why do you have a picture of her?” 

GACK! Corus’ mother has always been A LITTLE MUCH!

But, I digress.

CORUS FOLLOWS HIS BEAK

Corus needed info about The Gilded Cage and the Bert Man, so he started making the rounds…hitting the usual circuit: clubs and shot houses and even consorting with his Voodoo friends, DayUs X Makena and his Lady Oshun, powerful practitioners of this ancient art. ( He had long ago made his peace with them, these days they hung out, smoked, drank and threw some bones. It was righteous!)

So, Corus arranged to visit with DayUs under the cover of darkness at a secret spot along the Mississippi. The night of their meeting the riverbank was dark, but fortunately not too muddy, as the moon hung in the misty sky. Corus and, his pal, Reggie (another fine feathered rooster), made their way to a ramshackle enclosure under an ancient majestic Live Oak tree dripping with Spanish Moss. They were just off River Road past the Chalmette Battlefield, at an eerie spot during the wee hours of the morning, when the spirits were out and about. Both brave roosters were a little on edge, their feathers ruffling in the heavy air that was almost electric with mystery. Corus, as usual, was following his beak, getting more information about The Gilded Cage and the Bert Man of Alcatras - intel that was critical to springing Flavia and the others from that dreadful aviary.

A sliver of light was visible under the broken, scratched door of the beat-up enclosure and the birds heard some cackling coming from inside. Scraping the door 8 times, Corus and Reggie tingled with a little fear as they waited for the door to be invited inside. As the portal hinged inward they were greeted by the wizened face of DayUs X Makena and the Lady Oshun, resplendent in gold and white, wearing a coral colored tignon lounged beside him fanning herself a beautiful gold abebe. He, too, made quite the impression, dressed in white, sitting on a woven mat, smoking a cigar, holding a bottle of rum in one hand and a pouch filled with white rice in the other. Powerful priest that he was, DayUs X had his craggy fingers on the pulse of The Big Easy and its’ surrounding territories. There was nothing that escaped his knowledge.

They were sitting in front of a kerosene lamp that lit the center of the shed.  

“Come in, come in, my fearless feathered friends! It is so good to see you Corus and Reggie! It’s been way too long!” laughed DayUs, his voice as deep as the ocean. “I’m hearing that you have some questions about The Gilded Cage and its’ beautiful birds.”

Nodding his head, Corus said, “We want to free all the birds, especially my cousin Flavia, who was stolen by the Bert Man a few months ago and brought to his aviary here. I need to get advice about when is the best time to break them out, and, if there are any things that I should know about the Bert Man.”

Lady Oshun laughed gently, “Oye, Cher, I have a feeling this is all going to turn out just fine…” and then fanned herself some more. “The Bert Man is of little consequence to anyone…especially to you and your cousin, Flavia.”

Corus and Reggie began to scratch the dirt around the floor-they were a little nervous….

DayUs X invoked Papa Legba with special prayers and a shot of rum, asking him to open the gates to speak with the Obatala, asking for justice for Flavia and her feathered companions. The room was very quiet and suddenly the door opened with a WHOOOSH of wind that nearly blew them all over. DayUs’ voice became deeper and he prayed to Obatala for justice for the flock at The Gilded Cage, as well as for the date and time to spring the birds. 

And there it was, as quick as a wink, Corus learned when he and his Krewe should storm The Gilded Cage, rescue Flavia and the other birds, setting them free and making things right.

THE GREAT ESCAPE

In the meantime, on the other side of New Orleans, two wonderful friends of the birds, Miss Katherine and Miss Kathi, had also checked out the newest arrival at The Gilded Cage. They knew Corus and most of the big-time birds in the Big Easy. Dedicated to liberating as many birds as possible, the two were most interested all the goings on in the Aviary. And, they visited frequently, talked with the birds, purchasing or purloining as many as they could, just so they could let them fly free. 

Miss Kathi loved every bird, delighting in hearing their stories. And, in addition to being an avian aficionado, she knew they lay-of-the-land around New Orleans, establishing Safe Houses for escaped birds outside the City. 

Miss Katherine’s home next to The Gilded Cage was a perfect temporary resting place for birds who had broken out. A beautiful rose trellis on her property abutted the aviary, so that fowls could fly or hop from the roof of their “prison” to the trellis and from there to freedom! Bowls of birdseed scattered throughout the yard, even under the bushes, made a charming sanctuary for avian creatures of all kinds. Often Miss Kathi and Miss Katherine worked in tandem, freeing their feathered friends and housing them until they could be transported back to their natural environments as quickly as possible

The ladies’ involvement assured the success of the birds’ flight from The Gilded Cage. 

Bert Man was completely unaware of the intrigue that went on underneath his roof. You might say that he stuck his head in the sand from time to time, because he was so preoccupied with going out and finding fowl with brilliantly colored plumage. He did wonder from time to time about why some residents’ of The Gilded Cage mysteriously went missing. But he was quickly distracted by planning his next trip to Alcatras, other parts of Costa Rica, or anyplace else that boasted a bounty of birds. So, he was easily fooled! 

HATCHING THE PLAN

Meanwhile, Miss Kathi, Miss Katherine, Corus and his flock, and the birds in The Gilded Cage hatched a plan. They settled on the next waxing gibbous moon to for the great escape. That way, there would be light, but all the crazy people of the night wouldn’t be out. Also, this date would give them more time to scratch around the place and come up with exit and entrance strategies. 

Corus and his chorus went to see Miss Katherine a couple of days before they were going to spring the birds from the gilded cage. They had gotten a big truck and their friend, the unflappable Miss Kathi, agreed to transport the previously purloined birds to her safe houses and FREEDOM! She was the perfect person to execute the rescue to places in New Orleans, up into the Atchafalaya National Wildlife Refuge, and Bayou Teche. What might have taken a less cocky rooster months to plan, was easy for Corus because he is so well-connected and had worked with the whole flock! 

The moon was growing a little fatter each night, until it reached that beautiful, bright almost-full stage. The feathered friends knew that it was time to get those birdies out of that “gilded” nest! Sneaking into Miss Katherine’s yard, they sneaked and peeked through the fence at The Gilded Cage. Miss Kathi had already parked the truck behind the the trellis so they get the cluck out after the jig was up. 

That night, at 9:00 p.m. the aviary was still open, since the Bert Man was entertaining some special customers who were collectors of Exotic Avifauna. They were quibbling about prices for Tanagers, Toucans and Flavia (!!!) and agreed that the collectors would come back in the morning to seal the deal. Corus was alarmed as he heard the discussion, knowing that they COULD NOT FAIL in their mission. 

After the collectors left, the Bert Man dawdled as he rearranged the cages and puttered around the shop. It was after 10 when he left, locking the door behind him. Corus nodded to himself, because he had gotten copies of the keys to both the front and back doors—no feathers ruffled here, 

THE BIRD BREAK-IN

The crew sprang into action, hopping over the fence, striding towards the back door. When police car drove by they backed themselves into the shadows for cover. They were breathing heavily as they slunk towards the door, key in beak, ready to break in. While they were slinking, Kathi drove the truck to the other side of the back door, so it was ready when the birds fled free . 

The key fit the lock, click, they were In! The truck backed up to the door as it creaked open, and, wedged inside so the feathery flock could fly in, and they could all roll out together. Meanwhile, Corus was inside the aviary, where he hopped on the counter and crowed as loud as he could to wake all the birds up! And, wake they did! Squawking, squeaking, peeping, cawing and crowing all at once! 

“Hello my friends! I am CORUS! The time for your liberation from the Bert Man and this place is NOW! AND, I’m also here to bring my cousin, Flavia, home. Since you took part in planning this operation, you know that now is the time to open the doors to your cages and proceed into the truck in an orderly fashion. As you fling the doors open, I want you to fly towards the light in the back of the truck, and find a place to roost. We have plenty of food and water, supplied by our friend, Miss Katherine, for everyone. We will find places for you to live-it is all taken care of...but, you need to shake a tail feather because we don’t have much time!” 

Corus heard the cooing sounds of happiness from the crowd and he smiled to himself! Suddenly a loud squawk came from the other side of the store, “Corus, it’s ME! Flavia, your cousin! I’m opening my cage right now! Thank you for coming for me!” 

“Come here, Flavia!,” crowed Corus.“I’m on the counter in the back-just come back here as soon as your cage is open” he bellowed over the din of the creaking cage doors. 

And, then, voila! Corus noticed an Avian Vision appear before him. Pink and yellow feathered with long eyelashes, Flavia hopped onto the counter and flapped her way up to join her equally colorful cousin. She gave him a peck on the cheek and they hugged for the first time in years!  

As the truck idled, Kathi went around the back to make sure that all the avians were aboard. Then she peeled out, taking to them to freedom in parts unknown! 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

MAURICE ANGRY ROOSTER MEETS A PIRATE OF THE CARIBBEAN 

CONTACT:

Elizabeth Bickford

Mauriceangryrooster.com

804-683-6114

edrsbick@gmail.com

https://mauriceangryrooster.com

A Chicken Coop Near You, June 12, 2024- Hurdling their way to locate Gallus Domesticus, Maurice and his pals, meet another raging rooster on the train. These Birds of a Feather, Maurice, Gall, Hane and Rustic’s, encounter the Very Fearsome One-Eyed Rooster, Juan David Del Corso y Violetta. Read about their rough encounter with this swashbuckling bird who is a direct descendant of Gallo Majestico, his fair bride, Gallina Gloriosa and their son, their brilliant son, Gallo Del Mar (Chicken of the Sea).

Del Corso y Violetta, a member of the Fabled Founding Flock on the Yucatan, recounts his family’s connection to the Fierce 17th Century Corsican Pirate and Privateer, Juan Del Corso.

There is always something new hatching with Maurice and his Flock! Check out the latest installment at www.mauriceangryrooster.com.

Maurice has gone in search of his father, Gallus Domesticus, who is mysteriously missing. Sensing trouble, Maurice has vowed to find his dear old dad.

For more information about the details of this odyssey and the compelling story of Maurice and his flock, visit: https://mauriceangryrooster.com.

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