Lady decided the best thing to do was not fret and fuss about her circumstances. But, to do what she could about them. Northfield and the greater world at large seemed an inhospitable environment. Any wilderness seems inhospitable, I suppose, except this one is also cold half the time. She noticed other birds moving South last Fall. Now she understood why.

There’s a disadvantage of being a hen in this world she also noticed. She is a bird like other birds, but she can hardly fly. As if she’s been on a pro-longed weight increasing diet. And her wings don’t seem nimble and free to move about like other birds. Why does such a bird exist, one with wings but can not fly?

She also noticed she has a size disadvantage. She’s not wiry and well, cocky, like Rooster. It sure would come in handy to be a bit fiercer looking, and to have people think twice about messing with you. Seems like a hen is just a meal walking around with no source of protection. Perhaps that’s why pens are best?

In the absence of her safe pen, she decided not to go about too freely. She learned how to stealthily walk about in her garden at Mulberry Farm in Northfield. Go about a few paces, looking all around. Rest by a small shrub or shadow to avoid being exposed to danger unnecessarily. Rocky, her friend, was stealthy. She was a speckled Barred Rock hen that was so mysterious and stealthy, Lady wondered whether she’s with the CIA. “Conspiracy theory” humans say condescendingly.

Well, it’s possible there are theories abounding to explain the wilderness we are experiencing. But, why would a word exist if at least some of the theories were not true? Why be such a word “conspiracy” at all?