Lessons from a Fighting Rooster

Hello folks, let’s chat… That was some bear story out of California last week. Did you hear? A Chihuahua found himself facing down a hungry bear who had clearly mistaken him for an hor dourve.

Fortunately for Purse Dog, his owner, a 73 year old ex-Marine named Carl, came to the rescue and punched the bear in the face. It must be true. Carl’s buddy said he saw the whole thing. Hmmm…So, I’m not saying it didn’t happen, but yesterday I wrestled an alligator out of the lake and painted his toenails bright red. Ask Dixie. She was there.

I understand wildlife officials said something like, “All’s well that ends well but we do not recommend punching a bear in the face.” Duly noted. You could get more than you bargained for, which reminds me of another story. This one, a family favorite.

Papa doesn’t have farm animals anymore but I remember when he had a barnyard of chickens and roosters, along with a baby pig, and a proud turkey. They were all getting along well enough until someone gave Papa a Banty rooster. As we say around here, it was on chicken bone.

The other roosters began ganging up on Banty Rooster. Seemed everybody wanted to whoop the newcomer. Day after day, Papa found the little fellow in the corner of the barnyard, wet, roughed-up, and dazed. Papa felt sorry for him, but it never failed. Soon as Papa would finish dressing the rooster’s wounds, Banty Rooster would jump back in the fray and take another licking. Even the turkey got in on it, grabbing the little fellow by the throat and slinging him around like one of those Championship Wrestlers.

Well, what no one knew is that Banty Rooster had himself a Rocky Balboa game plan. He was wearing ’em down. One day Banty Rooster jumped up and took Mr. Turkey out with a mighty peck to the temple! And then he picked off the other roosters, one by one.

The moral of my stories, should you need one, is never give up. Today’s prize fighter might just be tomorrow’s turkey dinner.