Every morning before school, he runs outside barefoot—even in the cold—to find her. He talks to her like a friend. She follows him everywhere, waiting patiently by the porch until he comes home.
At first, it seemed sweet. But after his mom left, he stopped smiling, eating, and laughing—until Nugget appeared: a scruffy yellow chicken that somehow brought him back to life.
Yesterday, Nugget vanished. He cried himself to sleep clutching her photo.
This morning, she returned—muddy and scratched but alive. Tied to her leg was a red ribbon and a tag that read: “Returned. She chose to come back.”
He refused to let go—not for breakfast, not for school.
Later, an elderly woman knocked on our door. She said Nugget was her adventurous hen who had wandered off. She found her caught in a fence, rescued her, and sent her home with the ribbon and tag.
We introduced her to Finn. She told him Nugget had missed him. Finn hugged her, whispering thanks.
She stayed for dinner and gave him a book about a little bird who always finds her way home.
The next morning, Finn smiled as he boarded the bus, clutching the book. Nugget watched from her coop.
This story is about healing, connection, and kindness. Sometimes, one small act—a chicken returned with a ribbon—can bring hope back into someone’s life.
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