CHAPTER 37

Why Did the Chicken Cross the Road?

(October 2, 2016)

Heather said something strange the other day, just as I was leaving for work.

She said, “Why did the chicken cross the road?”

I said, “I don’t know.”

Her brow wrinkled. She began snapping her fingers in the air. “God, almost had it.”

“Had what?”

She sighed. Her shoulders slumped. “I don’t know, but it seemed real important a moment ago.”

“Well, maybe it’ll come back to you later on, hon.” I slipped on my coat, kissed her on the cheek, then went outside to deal with the world. Just as I did every day.

But for some reason, unlike the countless days that had preceded it, my mind was now wracked with frustration. Heather’s question went round and round and round in my head. Why had the chicken crossed the road? Whose chicken was it? What was it doing by the side of the road?

Why did I care?