Mother Hen keeps her chicks in the Hen House and goes out in search of food for her chicks. She always returns with enough food to feed her five chicks. Day after day, Mother Hen will go and return with food for her chicks. On certain days she returns early, on other days, she returns late. One thing is always certain, she will always return with food. The chicks are fast-growing. They have enough stamina to go out. Mother Hen leads her young chicks out, shielding them from danger. She will not let them go too far from her watch. The chicks never liked this. They look forward to the day they will be out on their own, without Mother Hen.
"Mother, we can now go out on our own?" The first of the chicks asked on behalf of her siblings. Mother Hen is surprised. She pleads with them, stating the reasons why they can't go out on their own till they are fully mature. But they are not convinced. They also have their reasons.
"Mother, check out our wings," the first of the chicks said, flaunting their feathers before their Mother. They flap their wings excitedly and fly to and fro the Hen House. Mother Hen laughs half-heartedly.
"Our beaks are well-grown and can now break hard food particles."
"Our legs are now strong enough," They stamped their feet on the floor in unison, as though obeying the blunt order of a commandant.
"If not for lack of space, we would have loved to show you the strength we possess to run."
Mother Hen counsels her baby chicks day after day. She tells them of the dangers and hazards of baby chicks going out alone. She tells them about the soldier-ants. She narrates to them how the hawk goes about in search of chicks to eat. "Even in the care of the mother, the wicked hawk still tries to hunt innocent baby chicks like you. What do you think he will do to you when you are alone?" Mother Hen counselled her chicks.
"Mother is out of the House. Let's go out before she returns. We won't go too far. Let's go quickly," the first of the chicks said to her siblings. But they are not in support of the idea. She leaves them behind to see the world all alone for the first time. She enjoyed every moment, and quickly dashed to the hen house before Mother Hen returns. She promises herself to be back for another adventure, with her siblings. On her way back, she runs into a hungry hawk. The hungry hawk rejoiced that she had found lunch. Sensing danger, she tries to run to safety. The hawk is fast catching up on her and she is fast losing her strength. She wants to run faster than she is running but her legs are heavy with pains. She cries for help. Mother Hen has been everywhere looking for her. She is right on time to rescue her troubled chick. Mother Hen is able to rescue her chick from the hawk, but not without some scars. Mother Hen leads her weak chick to the Hen House. "Mother, I have learnt my lessons. I should have listened to you. I didn't know that going out on my own, at my age, is exposing myself to danger. I am sorry. Please forgive me," she said weakly. "It's okay. I was trying to save you from danger but you thought I didn't want you to go out to explore the world," Mother Hen said.
Inspired by the Yorùbá saying, a ngba òròmọ adìyẹ lọ́wọ́ ikú, ó ní wọn kò jé kí òun re àkìtan lọ jẹ̀
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