How to Waste (?) Time

New prompt and upcoming events.

I’m getting very little work done these days.

We’ve just added six chicks to our flock.

At Tractor Supply, B. said, “You can’t just pick the underdogs.”

I didn’t want to pick at all. There were dozens piled in warm bins, separated by breed and whether or not they were “sexed” (identified as soon-to-be roosters or hens). All oblivious to their fates. I don’t want to know what happens to the ones who get left behind.

As it turned out, I only had to choose the breeds, two of each: Sapphire Gems (grey feathers, greenish eggs), Amberlinks (yellow feathers, brown eggs) and Isa Browns (reddish-brown feathers, brown eggs). All apparently “good-natured” hens and hearty in cold weather. A Tractor Supply employee did the actual picking by reaching a quick hand into the bins. The chicks scattered and pressed themselves against the edges. (The claw!) She placed them in a box for me as though we were at the drive-through at Dunkin’ Donuts. The cheeping in the box intensified. Scary! Separated from thei…