Community Corner
Excerpt #2 The Virgin Coop: a broken trilogy
The day before the board hearing Mary was gardening. Again, she was wearing her red riding hood this time to protect her fair skin from the sun. Mr. Wolf, hiding in Mary’s tall backyard bushes, leaped into her hidden garden,
“Wha-da-ya doin’ ?”
Mary was startled but not frightened,
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“Why Mr. Wolf. I’m tilling the soil around my coop to plant
wire and flowers to make safe and beautiful a home for my
Find out what's happening in Arlington Heightswith free, real-time updates from Patch.
three hens-to-be: Scarlett, Cantina and Bella Rose. Do you
like those names Mr. Wolf? I picked them myself. Perhaps
Martha has told you, tomorrow evening I make my formal
request to the village magistrates to raise three backyard
hens. I truly appreciate your support Mr. Wolf. Do you plan
to attend?”
Mr. Wolf spit a thick vomit of iniquity,
“Wantin’ ta raise tree backyurd hins are yea! Wha-da-ya
want ta-do-dat fo! What’s-a-madda which choo! Wha-da-ya
stupid! Wha-da-ya an idiot! S’pose we take a looky in dat
coop of yurs Mury. Harborin’ tree fowl hins alreedy are
yea!” The wolf moved closer, his horrid breath seeped past
his venom-infecting fangs. “Cim, cim, my sweet! Din’t be
shy. Opin’ dat roost box! Let me tik-a-ginder!”
Mary retorted, “Off my property Mr. Wolf! you ... you …
YOU BEAST!”
Mary ran into the house in tears.
ACT I: THE VIRGIN COOP PGS 7-8
THE Virgin Coop: a broken trilogy
Local Author: Matt Scallon
Through colorful fables, poems, and vignettes, the peculiar world of an 1870s farming community transforms into a mystical experience—connecting backyard chickens to the new “Holy Trinity.”
Available at the Arlington Heights Memorial Library
and Amazon.com (paperback & Kindle formats)
