Ten writers for children. All with something to say.

5/28/10

Part 4 of our story from Edie

Crowing was definitely not his forte, but it was something he was forced into by nature every morning at first light—something he had never quite mastered the way his brothers had. Once Rooster got past that humiliating daily ritual, he could throw himself into his screenwriting, which is what he truly loved.

You might wonder how a rooster could write, but he had found an old typewriter tossed into the corner of the barn two weeks before the Kentucky Derby and had started pecking at the keys. Not only had the hens crowded round him, but the other animals stopped to listen, too. Even the race horses, heavy with sweat after their daily runs, had taken notice of the tap, tap, tapping. And, thus, the trainer and his young apprentice, Jonas, stopped by, too.

“I wonder what he’s writing,” said Jonas.

“We’ll never know till someone puts some paper in the typewriter,” said Ralph.

7 comments:

Christy said...

Edie, you must read the Freddy the pig series by Walter R. Brooks, a series of 26 books written between 1927 and 1958--all animals, and among them a rooster.

Edie Hemingway said...

No, Christy, I haven't read those. The rooster popped in there because of Carmen's final line, and I just went from that to what was most on my mind as I was heading to Spalding Univ. for my film adaptation/ screenwriting residency.

Mark said...

I laughed so loud when I read the last line that the rest of the family wanted to know what Daddy was reading, so I read it to them! What a classic example of using the "unexpected" to create humor. Great job, Edie!

Mark said...

And, yeah, the Freddy books have been a favorite around our house for years now. Comforting stories of friendship and adventure from a bygone era.... Great recommendation, Christy!

Lauren said...

I love the Freddy books!

David LaRochelle said...

I love the image of a rooster pecking at a typewriter without any paper in it. Of course we'd want to put in some paper to see what is on his mind!

betsy woods said...

Hah! I am so smiling.