它们刚出壳，眼睛半睁着，互相挤在一起。我和妈妈跑来跑去，喂它
们吃喝，给它们准备小窝。它们太小了，连我们给它们的小米都不认识。

　　我给这些小鸡特权居住在我的卧室，从此我起床时间从８：００提前
到了６：００，天还没亮我就被它们不太和谐的交响乐嘈醒了。很幸运我
们家有个院子可以为这些小家伙提供运动场所，所以它们白天可以出去活
动，不至于整天呆在我的卧室里。

　　日子一天天过去了，小家伙们长的很快，而且身手也敏捷多了，当它
们扫荡了院子里所有的虫子我开始经常带它们出去找吃的。它们很快发现
外面的世界更精彩，而且外面的虫子更多，所以每当我们的院子门一关，
它们就不停的吵闹，看着它们恳求的目光，我只好打开院子门，它们马上
头也不回的冲了出去，消失在烟尘中，仿佛在逃离地狱一样。把它们收回
来的工作看来要难多了，我接近它们，呼唤着它们的名字，它们茫然的看
着我，仿佛在努力的回忆它们原来在哪里见过这个家伙，我奇怪我为什么
要养这些忘恩负义的东西。

　　口头命令不起作用，我只好做一些实际工作了。追逐它们证明是徒劳
的，它们是天生的野战专家。我满身是汉，一肚子气的回了家，发誓以后
再也不让它们出去了。当夜幕降临，我的团队自动回来了。因为夜盲症，
它们的脖子伸的长的不能在长了，这是我才明白我追它们是多么笨。

　　它们的损失开始增长，３只小鸡被猫吃了，１只被黑狗给拐走了，一
只自己被饭盆扣到底下憋死了，１只得了感冒死了。只有两只活着，现在
变成青少年了。妈妈老是抱怨它们到处拉屎，把院子都弄脏了，所以我们
把它俩送到了乡下的亲戚家，直到现在我们还是很想念它们。

９７．９．６

苏秦

后记：现在那最后两只鸡也死了，家里现在，以后都不养鸡了。

附英文原文（English Version）

They just came out of shells, huddling together, eyes half open. Mom and I scurried around preparing their accommodation, and treated them with food and water. They were too young to know what we offered was their favorite food.

We gave the chicks the privilege of living with us in our bedroom. Since then my wake-up time changed from 8:30 a.m. to 6:00 a.m. I was dragged from bed by their tuneless symphony when it was still dim outside every day. Fortunately we have a small garden where the troop could work out, so they didn't have to stay in our room all day.

Days went by. Our babies grew quickly, especially in their agility. After they swept all the insects in our garden I started to take them outside the yard from time to time. Soon they found that it was more interesting and that there were more insects outside of our garden. They squawked whenever the garden gate was locked. Looking at their pleading eyes, I had to open the gate. Then they rushed out in a gust of dust as if fleeing from a burning hell. The work of retrieving them proved to be difficult. When I approached them and called their name, they just gave me a blank stare as if they were trying to recall when they met this guy. I wondered why I should raise such a group of ingrates. The vocal orders didn*t work, so I had to use some physical tactics. Chasing proved futile. They were born experts in complicate wild field. Soaked in sweat, I gave up and returned home angrily, swearing not to let them out again. When the sky started to darken, my troop came back automatically. They stretched their necks as far as they could, for they have blurred eyes at night. I realized how stupid I was for chasing them.

Then their attrition rate began to grow. Three chickens were eaten by a cat. One was abducted by a black dog. One trapped himself in the feeding bowl and suffocated. One caught cold and died. Two still remained alive. They became teenagers. Mom complained that they left droppings everywhere and made our garden dirty, so they were sent to the our relatives in the country. Even now I still miss them.