The Secret Chicken Society by Judy Cox Read Free Book Online Page B

didn’t see the curious hens follow them out front.
    The kids put on their swimming suits and ran through the spray. The cold water felt delightful. When they were completely soaked, Emmy brought out the ice pops. They sat on the hot cement steps, watching the sprinkler make rainbows in the sky. Daniel had raspberry, his favorite. He licked it. The drips ran down his arm.
    â€œLook, blood,” he told Emmy.
    â€œEww,” she said. She had a blue ice pop. Her lips and tongue were blue.
    Just then Dot and Dash ran over from next door, yapping. Dash jumped up on Emmy. He licked her face. He knocked the ice pop out of her hand.
    â€œMy ice pop!” cried Emmy. “Bad doggies!” The ice pop lay melting on the sidewalk. The poodles lapped it up.
    â€œDot!” called Miss Clay. “Dash!” She stood on her front porch and clapped her hands. The poodles paid no attention to her. They spotted the hens.
Yap! Yap!
they barked.
    Daniel wasn’t sure what happened next. Suddenly there was a flurry of feathers. Peepers! He spread his wings and arched his back. He danced up on his toes. The feathers on his neck ruffled. He flapped his wings. He charged!
    Yip! Yip!
The poodles ran down the sidewalk like black and white streaks. The rooster chased them, darting and pecking.
Squawk! Squawk!
    â€œEmmy! You left the gate open again!” yelled Daniel, running after Peepers.
    â€œNot me!” said Emmy. “It’s Kelsey’s fault!”
    Peepers chased the poodles back into their own yard. But he didn’t stop there. He circled the dogs, flapping his wings. Dot whined. Dash growled.
    â€œMy poor babies!” wailed Miss Clay. “Get thatwild animal away!” She grabbed her broom. Kelsey screamed.
    â€œNo!” yelled Daniel. He splashed across the wet lawn, slipping a little in the mud. “Don’t hurt him! He’s just protecting the hens! I’ll get him!”

    He dived at Peepers and caught him. He settled the still angry rooster under his arm and carried him home.
    Dad stood on the front steps. “What’s going on?” he asked. “I heard noise.” His eyes widened when he saw Peepers. “She’s a rooster!” he exclaimed. Then he looked at Daniel. “Son,” he said. “We need to talk.”
    Miss Clay had called the police to complain. After the police left, Dad had a long talk with the Secret Chicken Society. Even Tyler.
    â€œIt was wrong of you to try to keep Peepers a secret,” Dad told them.
    â€œWe’re sorry,” said Daniel. “Are we grounded?”
    â€œI think this is punishment enough,” said Dad. He put his hand on Daniel’s shoulder. “The police have given us just fourteen days to find another home for Peepers.”
    Daniel tried to talk his parents into letting him keep the banty rooster. But it was no use.
    â€œWe can’t break the law,” said Dad. Daniel thought he looked a little bit sad.
    â€œBesides,” said Mom kindly, “this isn’t the best place for a rooster. He needs a new home.”
    Daniel put posters up around town:

    He called friends and relatives. He advertised in the newspaper. He even called Mrs. Lopez. Maybe she’d like to have Peepers for her classroom in the fall. But no one wanted a rooster.
    All too soon the fourteen days were up. The whole family watched as the two officers pulled up in the police car. The tall one got out, carrying a wire cage.
    For Peepers
, thought Daniel.
Jailbird
. His throat tightened.
    He felt Dad’s hand on his shoulder. “Do you want to get him? Or do you want me to?” he asked.
    â€œI’ll do it,” said Daniel.
    Emmy held Mom’s hand. She was crying. Kelsey’s face was red. She cried, too. Even Tyler had nothing snarky to say.
    The whole family and the policemen followed Daniel out back to the chicken coop.
    Peepers scratched the dirt, looking for bugs. He cocked one eye at