Chapter 1

Chapter 1 The birdcage bounced around in the back of Barbara's old green station wagon. Dirt, Sugar, Poppy, and Sweetie bounced along inside of it in the storage area behind the backseat. By the time Barbara pulled off the main highway, it was after 6:00 p.m. "Where are we going again?" asked Poppy. "To a farm," answered J. J. from the backseat. "What is the point of this trip again?" asked Sugar. "To see things you've never seen before," said J. J.

"I've seen everything there is to see," said Sugar. "You've barely been out of the backyard," said J. J. "You have no idea where I've been, pal," said Sugar. "Have you ever been to a farm, Mom?" asked Dirt. "I grew up on the farm, silly!" answered Moosh. "You grew up on a farm?" Sweetie gasped. "I had no idea!"

"We all have our secrets, kid," said Sugar. "Mom clearly has a dark past and doesn't want to talk about it. Let it go." "I think you're all going to enjoy it," Moosh continued. "There's wide-open space to run around, and there's even a pond! We can go fishing and swimming...." "I don't like to get wet," announced Sugar. "I'll just wait in the car." "We can build a bonfire and sing songs," offered Moosh. "I do have a beautiful singing voice," said Sugar. "I'll roll the window down a crack so you can hear me." "We'll tell stories," added Moosh. "Well, okay, I like a good story," said Sugar. "I'll stay in the car, but I'll roll down the window halfway so I can hear you." "Can we toast marshmallows?" asked Dirt. "That's a wonderful idea!" said Moosh. "Okay," said Sugar. "I'll roll the window down almost all the way, but you'll need to

bring me a really long stick so I can toast my marshmallow from the car." "You can't stay in the car for a week," said J. J. "You have no idea what I can do, pal," Sugar responded. "The best part," continued Moosh, "is that you're going to meet your whole family— cousins, aunts, uncles. It's a family reunion!" "There's more of us?" asked Dirt. "There's more of them?" asked J. J. "Of course!" replied Moosh. "How many more?" asked J. J. "Look for yourselves!" answered Moosh. The car had turned off the road and was moving slowly down a long, muddy driveway toward a two-story yellow house. Gathered on the front porch and spilling over onto the steps and into the driveway were excited, gabbling chickens in every size, shape, and color. "I've never seen so many chickens!" exclaimed Poppy.

"I'll be in the car with Sugar," growled J. J., covering his eyes with his paws.

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