The chicken and the ball

He came home from his organic spree

full of non-pesticidal cheer
to boil, fry and steam and add
a twinkle of fleur de sel

This territorial ritual went on for years
until one day confronted with
the 20euro chicken

Taken aback
eyes transfixed
hands trembling as they moved to touch
the refrigerated plastic film

Then, on impulse and going against generations
of good sense and economy that were emblematic of his family
he bought it!

He rolled it back home in his caddy yet
with every step he neared his threshold
guilt amassed
In the kitchen a fight ensued with his wife
the 20 euro chicken in the middle
"how could it be" "never in my life" could be heard through the walls
the sky seemed to darken and head down, he set off for a walk.

An hour later he came back with a giant ball
one of those bouncing exercise balls in resplendent blue
It needed careful inflation
with a "cure" time of 24 hours; soft music and warm temperature

During the ball’s incubation
"how nice" and "how blue and bouncy" could be heard
the chicken was eaten
and that was that.