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The Yard (One of the strangest stories you will read)
“What a horrid day!” complained Millicent, her beady eyes bright and her head bobbing with irritation. I listened impassively. I was really only listening with half an ear because my attention had been captured by Edna who was strutting around, chest thrust out, in a comical imitation of Dali.
“Dame Edna doesn’t think so!” I commented after a few minutes.
“Dame Edna indeed!” Millicent muttered. “What airs she has and for no good reason. She prances about like Madam Muck. Just look at her! And she isn’t the slightest bit attractive. Actually…” she exhaled pretentiously, “I find her to be rather common!”
In truth, Millicent or Millie Moaner as the others referred to her behind her back, believed herself to be not only handsome but also superior to us all.
“Oh Edna doesn’t really have airs and graces.” I responded warily for Millicent was not one you could cross. “She’s just a born actress! She really ought to be on stage.” Then in an attempt to change the subject, “What a pity we have to be locked up at 4 o’clock.”
This had the desired effect and Millicent rattled on, now off on a new tangent,
“Hmph! I do not like being locked up either. I am completely innocent of any crime and it is not easy for me to have to mix with others who are not of my class or ilk” she sniffed indignantly “but I have accepted my lot in life and try to make the best of it!” - this said with the injured air of a martyr. She was convinced the others looked up to her and had great respect for her – after all they ought to. Her behaviour, in fact did not endear her to us at all. Even dear old maternal Mavis who fussed over us all had a hard time maintaining her sensibilities when Millicent got going.
Later that afternoon, after lockup, an obviously upset Penny, accompanied by Marilyn, a beautiful but rather stereotypical dumb blonde, approached Mavis who was chatting amiably with Edna. I listened with amusement as Penny complained vociferously about Millie but did not get involved. I knew the drift because I had heard it so many times before. Millie had once again claimed the choice food and left them with scraps.
“She is insufferable!” Penny burst out. “I do not think I can go on living this way!” “It’s bad enough being raped by that lout almost every day without having her around making our lives even more miserable!” “Have you noticed he never touches her?” she hissed angrily. The others all nodded their heads in agreement and commiserated. Penny was the smallest of us all but she had the most pluck and was always the first to speak up when there was an injustice. The commotion was interrupted by the unmistakable sound of Dali. None of us knew his real name but we called him that because he bore a more than a passing resemblance to the arrogant madcap artist Salvador Dali. As if on cue he rounded the corner, his chest puffed out and his eyes glinting with excitement. Who would be the recipient of his attentions this night?
The new day dawned in a warm flush of amber and gold and I was excited to be finally getting out into the fresh air. I was not the only one. The moment the gate was unlocked we all burst out into the warm sunshine chattering gaily, so happy to be out of our cramped quarters - all, except for poor young Marilyn who had been the unfortunate recipient of Dali’s attention the night before. She was still feeling bruised and tender and refused to get up and could not be coerced out. We were used to this sort of thing happening all the time and so did not allow it to put a damper on our day. It was simply splendid to be outside in the beautiful gardens, so in contrast to our concrete and wire-fenced quarters, and so we ignored the more unsavoury aspects of our existence. I strolled around the yard, noticing that most of the others had gathered in little groups and were gossiping - probably their favourite activity. I could clearly hear Millie’s voice rising stridently above all the others and I smiled sympathetically. The day seemed to slip by so quickly and it was only when we were being herded back to our quarters that I noticed that Edna was not among us. “Had she escaped?” I wondered. Dame Edna, as everyone referred to her, was well liked. Nobody could call Edna attractive but she oozed character and was always able to inspire a laugh with her playful antics.
Later that evening, we found out Edna had been attacked. Nobody seemed to have any details except for the fact that she had sustained an injury to her neck and shoulder and was in a serious condition.
“It must have been The Black Shadow” someone averred in hushed tones. Roxanne, now infamously known as The Black Shadow, was a source of great fear in the compound. At the mere mention of her name, we all quivered in unison. Nothing was said after this for each of us had a fear we would be next. Everyone, that is except for Millicent! She rattled on and on about how careless Edna had been.
“It serves her jolly well right for not staying with the group!” she muttered. We stared at her with open antagonism. Nobody bothered to conceal their resentment and anger at that moment but we wisely avoided arguing with her. She simply could not be convinced of anything that was not in line with her own opinion and she could skewer anyone with that sharp tongue of hers. Nobody suspected that deep deep down Millicent longed for love and acceptance. She simply could not break the mould she had set for herself. Her acerbic manner was merely a cover up but she knew no other way.
We stepped out cautiously when the gate was unlocked the following morning. The sky was somber and oppressive as if mirroring the dismal atmosphere and reflecting our heavy spirits. Roxanne was usually locked away securely in another section but if she was out, we were all in mortal danger. Nobody spoke about Edna but all of us were acutely aware of her absence. Was she going to die? Would she be yet another victim of this cold-blooded murderess? Why was Roxanne allowed out after the last bloody massacre? Our fear led to heightened sensitivity and every noise or movement would cause us to jump almost in unison. We stuck together, somehow believing that we would be safer that way. In spite of our vigilance, none of us were prepared for the fear that slid down our spines when we saw Roxanne sashay into the yard. Her round black face and friendly smile belying the evil that inside. There were a few nervous titters and we all huddled closer to one another, hoping that she would see we were a united group, lose interest and stay away. We heaved a collective sigh of relief when we saw that she appeared to be going in another direction. Then a gasp! I saw Mavis at almost the same time as Penny who had emitted the gasp.
Mavis had strolled off and was enjoying a stray sunbeam that had broken through the clouds. She was not far from us but she was alone and this made her an easy target. It was unusual for Mavis to be away from the rest of the group. Her maternal instincts made her the mother of all and she fussed over all of us incessantly. We were dumb struck with horror by what we were about to witness. We could see it now on Roxanne’s face. No longer smiling, her dark eyes intent, she moved with sleek determination towards her victim. We were all frozen with fear and unsure about what to do when suddenly to the surprise of all, Millicent broke away from the group. She charged towards Roxanne looking as ferocious as she possibly could. Millie could be frightening; we were all in agreement, but at that moment we looked at the scene before us not only with complete amazement, but also growing admiration.
Mavis alerted by the sudden noise, turned suddenly and dashed back to the safety of the throng. We welcomed her into our midst and then watched in disbelief as Roxanne turned her murderous stare upon Millicent. Millie had in an instant been elevated to the status of a heroine among her peers. We were all cheering her on and imploring her to come back and join the safety of the crowd. Millie, however, was blocked off by Roxanne who was now directly in the path between her and us. We distracted Roxanne just long enough for Millie to get away and she quickly tried to hide behind a tree but Roxanne was not to be deterred. She lifted her face and seemed to sniff the air, her eyes now demoniacal. We watched as saliva trickled from the corners of her mouth. She was insane, we were convinced of it! Suddenly Millicent made a run for it. She ran wildly making loud terrified noises but Roxanne was far too swift and almost directly in front of our horrified eyes, Roxanne tackled Millicent, brought her down and snapped her neck in an instant.
Later that night we spoke of Millicent’s heroic act with reverence and awe. Many of those who had avoided her like the plague now claimed to have been close friends. I thought about the irony of it all and shook my head sadly, feeling a deep inner pain inside. Not even the sight of a wounded, but obviously on-the-mend Edna, could cheer me up. I was despondently thinking that it was only a matter of time. We were all in terrible danger. How many would be killed by this monster? Would I be next?
For a chicken there really is no such thing as freedom.
Especially when there is a psychopathic dog on the loose.
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