A Strange Visitor in Our Yard

At first, I thought it was just a funny phase.

Every few days, I’d find Clove—the neighbor’s plump, bossy hen—sitting in our backyard coop, even though we didn’t own any chickens. My daughter Junie would always be nearby, holding her tight like a well-loved stuffed toy, leaning in to whisper little secrets into her feathers.

Old Miss Dottie’s Smile

I’d walk Clove back to old Miss Dottie’s house next door, apologizing each time. Dottie would just wave me off with a faint smile and say, “That girl of yours loves with her whole heart. Can’t fault her for that.”

The Day I Caught Her Again

Then one afternoon, I caught Junie sneaking Clove out again. This time, she had a blanket and a juice box packed neatly in her little wagon—like she was planning a trip.

A Child’s Heartbreaking Explanation

I knelt down and asked, “Sweetheart, why do you keep bringing Clove home?”

Her eyes grew wide as she whispered, “Because Miss Dottie said she’s going to… let her go. Like we did with Grandpa. And Clove didn’t do anything wrong.”

Dottie’s Painful Truth

Dottie was trimming her roses when we arrived. Before I could speak, Junie blurted out, “You can’t take her away! I already promised she’s safe.”

“She’s not just a hen,” Dottie said quietly. “She was my husband Clyde’s. He got her the year before he passed.”

The Burden of Hard Choices

“She’s the last piece of him I’ve got,” she went on. “But she’s old. Doesn’t lay anymore. Eats plenty. The vet says she’s got a tumor. I can’t pay for another surgery.”

I glanced at Junie, still stroking Clove like she was trying to comfort both of them.

Junie’s Big Idea

That night, Junie asked me, “Can’t we help Clove, Mama?”
I told her it wasn’t that simple. She didn’t cry—just nodded and said, “Then I’ll make it simple.”

The Lemonade Stand That Changed Everything

A few days later, Junie set up a lemonade stand—asking for donations “to save Clove’s life.” At first, only neighbors came. Then someone posted it online, and cars from two towns over showed up.

By the end of the week, she’d raised over four hundred dollars.

Dottie’s Tears of Gratitude

When I handed the envelope to Dottie, she just stared at it. “It’s for Clove,” I told her. She sat on the porch steps, tears rolling down her cheeks. “Clyde would’ve adored that girl.”

The Surgery and the Medal

Clove’s tumor was benign. Junie made a paper medal and pinned it to her coop: Bravest Chicken in the World.

A Morning Rescue

Two months later, Junie found Dottie lying on her garden path after a fall. The ambulance came just in time.

Letting Go of Clove

From the rehab center, Dottie asked, “Would you keep Clove for good?” We moved her coop to our yard. Junie called it Clove’s Castle.

A Summer Surprise

While cleaning Dottie’s old shed, we found an egg—long forgotten. It hatched into a chick Junie named Clover. She called it a miracle.

More Than Just a Hen

Clove became a loving mother, and I realized this was never just about a chicken—it was about compassion and refusing to give up.

The Last Visit

Dottie returned once in the fall. Watching Junie play with Clover, she said, “She saved me too, you know. Your girl reminded me what love looks like.”

The Lesson I’ll Never Forget

Whenever I see Clove or hear Junie’s laughter, I remember how it began—with a little girl who wouldn’t take no for an answer. Sometimes a child’s heart sees what grown-ups forget—that every life deserves a real chance.