Chapter 18
Its been a few days and nothing bad has happened to me or my friends. I consider myself lucky. Well, as lucky as someone whos almost gotten killed
numerous times
can be.
Well, anyway, today I feel extremely sluggish and tired. I was up late last night, so maybe thats why. I dont know, though. I feel like I weigh a million pounds! Hopefully Im not getting sick.
Im on a perch in the barn when I see Onyx come over to me. I dont feel like being bothered right now.
Hey Clouds! Whats wrong? he says, sitting on the perch beside me.
Nothing, I answer glumly.
It cant be nothing. What happened now? he asks.
I said nothing! I yell.
Seriously. You seem irritable. Whats wrong? he persisted.
Nothing! I shriek.
This is getting very annoying. I just want to sleep! I feel like growling and snarling, but then I realize that that wouldnt be a very nice thing to do. Onyx is just trying to be friendly.
Ok, ok, I get it! he says calmly.
Im sorry, Onyx, I reply.
Its fine, Clouds, I understand, he says.
Thanks, I reply.
Hey, isnt this how Prim and Daisy and Lilly acted when they started to lay eggs? he says suddenly.
Yeah! That must be whats wrong! I cluck.
Now I know why Im so sick. This is exactly how my friends acted when they were about to lay their first eggs! I was wondering why I havent been laying yet. Also, their combs are almost fully grown and mine is tiny. I get it now!
Why dont you go sit in a nest box? he instructs.
Fine, I snarl, making an attempt to lug myself up.
Be careful, he says.
I get it, ok? I cluck angrily.
Alright, alright, he says, offering me a hand.
Instead, I heave myself up and stumble over to the boxes. I choose an unoccupied one and make myself comfy. I feel claustrophobic in this tiny box and I still feel heavy and sick. Not to mention, I am very hot and panting.
This is horrible and I just want to get this thing out of me. I think Onyx was tired of getting yelled at, and he walked away. I feel so sorry about how rude I was to him, but I couldnt really help it.
I feel really heavy, sick, and lethargic. I think Im going to lay the stupid thing soon. Or at least I hope so.
Suddenly, Prim comes over.
How are you doing? she says, patting my back.
Fine. But not great, I reply.
Oh, well, you should be fine, soon. The first ones the worst, then you get used to it, she says in an attempt to comfort me. It doesnt work. Will it be like this all the time?
Get used to it? I cluck.
Yeah. Itll become an every day thing, she says.
Oh, I say glumly.
Well, Ill leave you alone now. Good luck! she calls as she walks away.
Finally! I really wasnt in the mood for talking, especially not about laying this stupid egg! I could care less about it. Stupid thing.
I sat there for a few more minutes, then I decided that I was not going to put up with this anymore. This thing would come out, and it would come out now.
I pushed and heaved and made some ugly clucking noises. Finally, I felt it move and I puffed myself up, almost to the size of the box. I felt my back touch the top and I squealed.
I tried and tried to lay the egg and after ten minutes, I felt the egg come out and drop. I was stunned and I just sat there for a couple of minutes. I looked down, and saw a smallish light brown egg. The shell was hard, surprisingly, and it wasnt very big. I was shocked and didnt know what to do next.
I snapped out of my daze and saw that my friends were coming over to check on me.
Look! I did it! I yelled.
I stepped out of the box to show them my accomplishment.
They congratulated me and I felt so good and so relieved! The only thing that put a tamper on my happiness was that I might be doing this again every day for the rest of my life. If its anything like how it was today, I dont think Ill be able to do it, ever!
