I am the very proud keeper of eight chickens. When they first arrived, I was so happy to observe the fact that all of the chickens were getting along very well -except for one. Cookie, the only hen of the Cuckoo Maran breed, stayed in a corner of the chicken coop and rarely interacted with my other chickens, which made me worry for her. So naturally I spent extra time with Cookie, petting and preening her, feeding her oats from my hand, and helping her "Get acquainted" with my other chickens by holding them together on my lap and having little outings of two or three to my Dad's garden where they could eat unwanted insects. At first Cookie seemed determined on making herself an ostracized chicken from my flock, but after two weeks of this special treatment she became comfortable with the rest of the flock, and was able to hold her own. I love all of my chickens, and make sure they get lots of attention, but the outcasts hold a special place in my heart.
At school, I often see people who do the same thing as Cookie did, huddling in the corner and keeping to themselves. I don't think Cookie was happy. She seems to be so much happier now that she is integrated with the rest of my flock, and I think this is true for those people I see in the hallways, which is why I can't seem to help myself but go up to them and say “Hi.” At first most of them either look at me like I am crazy, ignore me, or smile nervously. But after a week or two of me greeting them, they will start opening up to me and start talking about themselves! This makes me feel really ecstatic, and a little later I bring them with me to my circle of friends.
I guess you could say they are my other flock, really, and I feel so comfortable with them that it's more like another loving family. By now they are accustomed to me bringing in a new person, and readily accept them, making them feel instantly comfortable within our little Nerd Herd. Helping others and hearing the outcasts’ voice makes me happy. Sometimes I want to cry, because empathy appears to be absent from the hearts of too many these days. Spreading empathy and passion to care for others, no matter what kind of person they are, has become a goal of mine. I think that serves a community.
