Henrietta - A Wild Cat fright and a Sweet surprise by JB.

Woods
Date Added: 2015-01-28. Please leave feedback using form at the end of
the story!

Intro: A story from the Henrietta series with a Valentines Theme

H
enrietta was out and about early this February morning. She had been restless all
night and so worried about the weather she didnt feel like laying an egg. The
wind had been howling and blowing earlier but it had died down to a whisper and
an eerie silence spread across the countryside.
She knew what that meant, and sure enough when she poked her head out of
the hen house door there was a deep blanket of snow covering Village Farm.
Oh, dear, only bran today, I hope Farmer Brown is early with our feed.
She took a small step onto the ramp, but before she could place another claw in
front of herwhoopsher feet went upwards and she slid the rest of the way on
her bottom.
The deep snow stopped her quickly and she tumbled head over heels and
finished spread-eagled in an undignified heap with her head buried in the snow.
Oh, the shame, she thought, I hope nobody saw that.
She struggled up and shook herself to get the snow out of her feathers.
Hi! Henni, babe. Taking up snow-boarding?
Horrified she looked up and there was Big Red the Rooster smiling down at her
from the Hen house roof his chin resting on a furled wing-tip.
No, I am not, you you silly Cockerel. Have you got nothing better to do, she
said indignantly.
Nope. He pointed a wing tip down at the door. Im going to enjoy myself
watching this lot when they walk the plank.
Typical. Henrietta tossed her head and pushed herself forward against the
snow, thinking, Its alright for him with his long legs.
She liked snow really, especially when it was crispy. A bit cold on the tummy
though.
Her first a stop was the animal barn and a helping of pig food before going for a
stroll under the hedgerow by the empty lambing pen where the snow was
shallower. The orphan lambs were sheltering inside on this cold day.
She took her time, scratching here, pecking there, sometimes both, enjoying the
solitude of the quiet winter morning when she suddenly stopped, alarmed.

Was it a smell, or a sound, or maybe those footprints? She had been so busy that
she hadnt noticed them before. Three pads, four feeta Cat! A big one at that.
With her head twisting first left and then right she listened intently. Nothing!
Slowly she turned with her head cocked to one side listening. Still nothing!
Step by careful step, she made her way back along the hedgerow towards safety
but then she heard a scrunching sound on the other side. She stopped. The
sound stopped. She moved forwards and the sound moved forward.
She paused, frozen, one leg in the air, head stretched forward. Without moving
her head she glanced sideways through the long beige stems of dead grass at
the base of the leafless hedge. Looking back at her was the gleaming golden eye
ofGinger Moga wandering wild cat looking for a chicken dinner.
Henrietta took a pace forwards. He took a step forward. A pace back, and he
copied her.
Oh, dear, what am I going to do? she said to herself.
Then she heard the most wonderful sound. Children laughing and a dog barking.
It was the Farm children playing in the snow with Bobby the Collie dog.
Henriettas mind was made up. She had to attract their attention. It was risky,
but there was no other way.
She started to run and flap her wings squawking and shrieking at the same time.
The deep snow slowed her and with her stubby wings she could only fly a couple
of metres.
Ginger Mog saw his chance and he darted through a hole in the hedge his eyes
bright with the thought of a feathery meal. Leaping high he was able to move
across the snow quickly and he was catching Henrietta fast.
Johnny, one of the children shouted, Whats that noise? and pointed down to
the paddock. Look, its Henrietta with a cat chasing her. Come on!
He started running towards the frightened Henrietta.
Bobby barked and ran after him. In a short distance, he had overtaken Johnny
and went bounding through the snow.
Ginger Mog took a final leap and caught one of Henriettas legs and knocked her
over. She screamed and squawked louder than ever.
Scrabbling to regain her footing, she stumbled a few more steps when Mog leapt
again and pinned her down and pushed her head deep into the snow. So intent
was he on his meal that he was not paying attention to the advancing Bobby and
he was about to snap his jaws on Henriettas neck when out of the corner of his
eye he saw the leaping black and white figure, teeth bared, descending on him.
Bobby crashed into Mog and sent him tumbling. Howling and screeching, Mog
scrambled to his feet and ran for the hole in the hedge as quick as his legs would
carry him with the growling, snapping Bobby in hot pursuit.
Henrietta struggled to her feet and made her way unsteadily back towards the
henhouse glad to have lost only a few feathers.

At the bottom of the ramp Big Red ran over and said, Are you alright Henrietta?
Yes, thank you, Red and where were you when you were needed?
I was over by the big house when I heard you shout. Here, I have something for
you.
From under his wing he took a heart shaped candy and gave it to Henrietta. One
of the children dropped it.
Why a heart, Red?
Its Valentines Day, Henri, and youve always been my favourite.
She snuggled up to Big Red and rubbed her head up and down his neck. Youre a
big softy, arent you?
Big Red turned away shyly. Occasionally, he said and gave her a wink before
strolling off.
Henrietta carried the heart inside and laid it in the bottom of her nesting box,
and exhausted after her adventure, she dozed off with pictures of a rangy Rhode
Island Cockerel in her dreams.
THE END

H
enrietta was out and about early this February morning. She had been restless all
night and so worried about the weather she didnt feel like laying an egg. The
wind had been howling and blowing earlier but it had died down to a whisper and
an eerie silence spread across the countryside.
She knew what that meant, and sure enough when she poked her head out of
the hen house door there was a deep blanket of snow covering Village Farm.
Oh, dear, only bran today, I hope Farmer Brown is early with our feed.
She took a small step onto the ramp, but before she could place another claw in
front of herwhoopsher feet went upwards and she slid the rest of the way on
her bottom.
The deep snow stopped her quickly and she tumbled head over heels and
finished spread-eagled in an undignified heap with her head buried in the snow.
Oh, the shame, she thought, I hope nobody saw that.
She struggled up and shook herself to get the snow out of her feathers.
Hi! Henni, babe. Taking up snow-boarding?
Horrified she looked up and there was Big Red the Rooster smiling down at her
from the Hen house roof his chin resting on a furled wing-tip.

No, I am not, you you silly Cockerel. Have you got nothing better to do, she
said indignantly.
Nope. He pointed a wing tip down at the door. Im going to enjoy myself
watching this lot when they walk the plank.
Typical. Henrietta tossed her head and pushed herself forward against the
snow, thinking, Its alright for him with his long legs.
She liked snow really, especially when it was crispy. A bit cold on the tummy
though.
Her first a stop was the animal barn and a helping of pig food before going for a
stroll under the hedgerow by the empty lambing pen where the snow was
shallower. The orphan lambs were sheltering inside on this cold day.
She took her time, scratching here, pecking there, sometimes both, enjoying the
solitude of the quiet winter morning when she suddenly stopped, alarmed.
Was it a smell, or a sound, or maybe those footprints? She had been so busy that
she hadnt noticed them before. Three pads, four feeta Cat! A big one at that.
With her head twisting first left and then right she listened intently. Nothing!
Slowly she turned with her head cocked to one side listening. Still nothing!
Step by careful step, she made her way back along the hedgerow towards safety
but then she heard a scrunching sound on the other side. She stopped. The
sound stopped. She moved forwards and the sound moved forward.
She paused, frozen, one leg in the air, head stretched forward. Without moving
her head she glanced sideways through the long beige stems of dead grass at
the base of the leafless hedge. Looking back at her was the gleaming golden eye
ofGinger Moga wandering wild cat looking for a chicken dinner.
Henrietta took a pace forwards. He took a step forward. A pace back, and he
copied her.
Oh, dear, what am I going to do? she said to herself.
Then she heard the most wonderful sound. Children laughing and a dog barking.
It was the Farm children playing in the snow with Bobby the Collie dog.
Henriettas mind was made up. She had to attract their attention. It was risky,
but there was no other way.
She started to run and flap her wings squawking and shrieking at the same time.
The deep snow slowed her and with her stubby wings she could only fly a couple
of metres.
Ginger Mog saw his chance and he darted through a hole in the hedge his eyes
bright with the thought of a feathery meal. Leaping high he was able to move
across the snow quickly and he was catching Henrietta fast.
Johnny, one of the children shouted, Whats that noise? and pointed down to
the paddock. Look, its Henrietta with a cat chasing her. Come on!
He started running towards the frightened Henrietta.

Bobby barked and ran after him. In a short distance, he had overtaken Johnny
and went bounding through the snow.
Ginger Mog took a final leap and caught one of Henriettas legs and knocked her
over. She screamed and squawked louder than ever.
Scrabbling to regain her footing, she stumbled a few more steps when Mog leapt
again and pinned her down and pushed her head deep into the snow. So intent
was he on his meal that he was not paying attention to the advancing Bobby and
he was about to snap his jaws on Henriettas neck when out of the corner of his
eye he saw the leaping black and white figure, teeth bared, descending on him.
Bobby crashed into Mog and sent him tumbling. Howling and screeching, Mog
scrambled to his feet and ran for the hole in the hedge as quick as his legs would
carry him with the growling, snapping Bobby in hot pursuit.
Henrietta struggled to her feet and made her way unsteadily back towards the
henhouse glad to have lost only a few feathers.
At the bottom of the ramp Big Red ran over and said, Are you alright Henrietta?
Yes, thank you, Red and where were you when you were needed?
I was over by the big house when I heard you shout. Here, I have something for
you.
From under his wing he took a heart shaped candy and gave it to Henrietta. One
of the children dropped it.
Why a heart, Red?
Its Valentines Day, Henri, and youve always been my favourite.
She snuggled up to Big Red and rubbed her head up and down his neck. Youre a
big softy, arent you?
Big Red turned away shyly. Occasionally, he said and gave her a wink before
strolling off.
Henrietta carried the heart inside and laid it in the bottom of her nesting box,
and exhausted after her adventure, she dozed off with pictures of a rangy Rhode
Island Cockerel in her dreams.
THE END