Next we find the sheep, who are huddled against each other in the corner of their pen, but once I put a bucket of grain in their shelter, they trot happily over to me and settle inside. “Hey, Ewe,” I say, petting his head.

“I thought that was Me,” Micah says, coming in to help.

“Not this again,” I say.

He grins. “I can’t help it.”

When Ferdinand sees us, he starts bucking and scratching his hooves in the mud as if he’s challenging us to a tussle. “Want to walk him?” I ask Ivy. She runs for the leash and lets Ferdinand chase her around the farmyard while Micah and I let everyone else in to shelter if they want to. The chickens cluck nervously when we get close.

“What’s wrong with that little one?” Micah asks, pointing to Bashful.

“She’s different,” I say. “They never let her eat, but I make sure she gets her share.”

“I wonder why they don’t like her,” he says. “Maybe she’s sick. Animals seem to know when someone in their group isn’t well.”

“I don’t think she’s sick. I just think they don’t like her.”

“Do chickens have opinions?”

“It seems so.”

The rain has completely stopped now. We watch Bashful wander around by herself, picking at worms that have come out during the rain. I toss her some feed, and she races over to snatch it up before the others can. They look mad at her when they run over and there’s nothing left, but they wander back to the other side of the pen again, pecking and clucking as if they’re all talking to one another.

“I’m sure they’re sharing their opinions right now,” Micah says. “Listen to them.”

“Oh, that little Bashful thinks she’s so great,” I say in my best chicken voice.

“I wish I had a worm burger,” Micah says in a high-pitched chicken voice.

“You need a worm burger like I need my feathers plucked,” I say.

We go on like this for a while, making up some babble for the chickens. It feels good to be a little silly for a change.

“Rachel! Come quick!” Ivy calls.

Micah and I stop our chicken talk and look for Ivy. She and Ferdinand are standing outside Lucy’s pen. Ferdinand has his head pressed between two rungs of the fence and appears to be licking Lucy’s snout.

“I thought something was wrong!” I tell her grumpily.

“Ferdinand found a girlfriend,” Ivy says.

“I think she’s a little old for you,” Micah tells Ferdinand.

“I guess opposites really do attract,” I say.

“Gross,” says Ivy.

She pulls Ferdinand’s head back by tugging on the lead. “C’mon, buddy, enough of that stuff.”

Lucy steps close to the fence as if she wants more Ferdinand kisses.