Meanest Rooster Ever

The Meanest Rooster ever, lived in Julian!

Yup, right here, right in Julian. If you just walked up the hill to
where the old hotel used to be, then back behind the old well,
HE had a pen there. It was HIS pen, HIS hens, and no questions.

I sure remember. I sure remember how I found out too.

My brother Johnny and I used to come to Julian with our folks to
stay with my grandpa Llew just about every summer.

We stayed in the old Hotel and only had 2 chores to do each day.
(I’ll get to these later)

We always tied our wagon on top of the Car and it came too. My
Uncle Lou and Dad had built this wagon for Johnny and I and it
was a top-notch wagon for sure.

Uncle Lou and Dad had put these little real Airplane tires on it and
a real steering wheel off of some old car on it too.

It was a dandy.

Johnny and I would get it to the top of one of these hills here and
jump on.
Then down we would come, fast, very fast, had a few accidents too.

Back to those chores. But boy was that Wagon fun.

Get water from the well every morning. Two big buckets of it.
Collect the Eggs the Hens had laid and carefully bring them in
the kitchen.

That’s it, only two.

Well that very first time we got the water chore done just fine, now
time to collect Eggs.

Johnny and I walked up to the Chicken pen gate and here came that
Rooster. He didn’t look very friendly so Johnny, following my
instructions (I was big brother) stuck his finger through the wire.

Wham! Wham! Twice in a split second and Johnny was headed for the
hotel screaming. (Boy that Rooster was fast)

I followed the injured one and after my Dad looked his finger over he
said “Heck Johnny, you’re not even bleeding”. I didn’t like that too
much but decided I should remember it just in case I got the same.

I had to make mine bleed a little if that bad bird ever got me.

Johnny and I, being industrious even at our age then decided we
needed to find some protection from this mean bird.

We looked all around the Hotel and couldn’t find anything that
seemed satisfactory so decided to look around town.

Johnny spotted a tin garbage bucket that still had the top on it
and we checked out our surroundings carefully. Didn’t see
anyone so Johnny took the top off and we ran back up that
hill with our protection.

We would take turns every morning. I’d have the lid to fight
this Rooster off then Johnny would. It was more dangerous
if you had to be the protection person so we kept track of
turn’s real close.