Pete had a heart attack recently, and recovery is lengthy.

His hen (I’ll call her Penny) is being pecked nearly to death by the others. Since he has time, Pete stands in the coop swatting at the mean hens with the feed scoop.

Penny follows him around, borrowing Pete’s bravery.

N. West Moss is the author of the memoir, Flesh & Blood from Algonquin (2021) as well as the short story collection, The Subway Stops at Bryant Park from Leapfrog (2017). Her middle grade novel, Birdy, is forthcoming from Little, Brown.