The Fox and Farmer Beeching(Herm Sherwood-Sitts) The Fox and Farmer Beeching
By Herm Sherwood-Sitts

A long time ago my brother–in-law Nuzzy and I were unemployed. I was working in my garden when he went by my house in his truck and gave me a wave. Being bored and being me, I decided to have a little fun with Ole Nuzz.

Nuzzy and his family lived just up the hill from ours. I hiked it real fast because I didn’t know how long he would be gone. Nuzzy raised chickens and usually left the morning eggs in the feed barrel until the evening when he went in. When I got to his place I was met by his huge dog Barabbas, he gave me a few barks and a wag. Barabbas was a Saint Bernard mix, a mammoth of a dog. Friendly and would knock you down and lick you. He followed me playfully to the hen house.

Once inside I left a note for Farmer Beeching (Nuzzy). The note said “listen here you dumb ole chicken farmer! I bet I can steal 10 eggs before you can catch me!” Signed… THE FOX!” I placed an egg in my pocket and was gone.

The next day, Farmer Beeching saw me in the garden. He didn’t wave, he just gave me an evil stare as he slowly rolled by. That’s when I knew the game was on!

I stuffed some dog biscuits in my pocket and proceeded to farmer Beechings. When I arrived I gave Barabbas a treat. When I got to the hen house the door had a new shiny lock on it. I grinned and went to the back of the henhouse. I was prepared for this and took out my trusty flat bar and removed a board from the structure. While squeezing in you could hear the hens clucking. I left Farmer Beeching another note and pocketed another egg. I replaced the board and started for home. That’s when I noticed my nephew’s bicycle leaning against the tool shed door. Ah… thank you Bobby… The lazy ole fox hopped on the bike and headed down the hill for home. I was laughing, as I started down the steep hill, but not for long. The front wheel started wobbling, the handlebars started shaking, but worst of all the brakes didn't work. I was doing all I could to keep the bike on the road when I met Farmer Beeching coming up the hill. Farmer Beeching ran me (the Fox) off the road into the pickers’. Luckily I didn’t break my egg!

After a few days it was apparent that Farmer Beeching was not going to leave the farm and his chickens. So the Fox planned an early morning raid. Barabbas cooperated fine with the biscuits and the take was a success. I left a note telling him he was a lazy ole chicken farmer and I stole an egg while he was sleeping. By now Farmer Beeching was getting furious.

The next day I tried the same scenario. When I got inside the henhouse and was getting ready to leave the note, the henhouse door flew open. There in the doorway stood Farmer Beeching with a shotgun pointed at me! It seems that he out smarted the fox with a baby monitor. When the hens started clucking He knew the Fox had arrived.

Nuzz and I worked together for quite a few years. We had some good times pranking each other. A mountain of a man and a good friend. He is gone now and is deeply missed.

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