Why Did The Chicken Cross The Road?

A Chicken teaches possums a valuable lesson.

Once upon a time there was a group of possums that lived in the forest. They would travel to a big field to sun and play everyday. One day while going to the field they came across a group of people with big machines clearing a wide strip through the forest. They weren’t sure what was going on and kept to their routine. One day on the way to the field they came across a big new wide road. That’s what the people had been building through the forest. They made it to the edge of the road, stopped, listened and looked both ways. They began to run across the road. As the last possum ran across, VROOM! A car came out of nowhere. Driving as fast as it could go. THUMP! THUMP! The poor possum didn’t make it. They all turned and ran back to where they started. All but poor Billy.

The other possums were terrified. What had just happened? They ran home to tell everyone about the tragedy.. When they made it back home they explained everything. They were being careful but the car just appeared like magic. Grandpa possum told the younger possums that they might as well get used to the situation. Now that a road cut through the forest they’d never get to the field. He explained that possums are just naturally cursed from birth. They’ll never be able to cross the road. No matter how hard they try they just can’t cross a road and survive.

A chicken had been walking by the possums home and overheard the story. He quickly went to the door and said, “That can’t be true. Anybody can cross the road and I can prove it.” Grandpa said, “Boys don’t do it. I know what I’m talking about.” But the young possums really wanted to get to the field and play so they went with the chicken.

Marvin, the oldest possum, said to the chicken, “Please show us how to cross the road.” The chicken said, “Ok watch what I do.” Then the chicken walked up to the edge of the road. He stopped, listened and looked both ways. Then he casually walked across the road and back. “See how easy that was?” The chicken laughed. Marvin said, “That’s exactly what we did but a car just appeared out of nowhere and ran poor Billy over. We’re going to try again. Ready guys?” The possums cautiously approached the road. They stopped, listened and looked both ways. Twice. Then they started running to the other side. Before they could get there another car appeared. VROOM!! THUMP. THUMP. They ran back to where they started. All but Carl. He didn’t make it.

The chicken said, “Wow, where did that come from?” Then he ran up to the road, stopped, listened and looked both ways. Then he closed his eyes and walked backwards to the other side of the road and back. “See nothing to it. I could do this all day.” The possums were determined. They got up their courage and approached the road one more time. As expected a car appeared suddenly and wouldn’t you know it another possum was down. “I guess grandpa was telling the truth. We’ll never get back to the field.”

The chicken felt bad for the young possums. He thought for a moment and came up with a plan. He told the possums to follow him. They walked a little way and the chicken said, “There’s your solution.” The chicken pointed to a pipe that went under the road. “If you go through that pipe you can get across the road and to the field. The possums were overjoyed. They let out a big shout of excitement and ran through the pipe. They thanked the chicken for helping them find a way to the field. From that point on the possums never had to cross the road again but still enjoyed playing in their field.

I guess now we know why the chicken crossed the road. To prove to the possums it could be done.

The End