The Lucky Toad

A toad hopped along the outside of the chicken fence.  I quickly put down my pail to catch the tiny toad.  I crouched down and got ready to grab it when it hopped through the fence and a hen dove for the toad.  My heart sank as the chicken ran away with the helpless creature dangling from her beak.  The hen dropped it, glanced downwards, and walked away. The toad flipped upside down like a dog doing his "play dead" trick.  I found some plastic and while trying to scrape it up it opened its eyes and closed them.  Then the toad scramble up and hopped away. Oh no, chickens ran to the moving object in seconds. I shooed them away but one hen got it and ran.  "He's dead this time for sure," I groaned.  The hen dropped it and went. The toad looked like a chunk of dirt.  But, it got up again and this time I tossed the plastic and grabbed it with my hands.  I filled up a pail with water and plopped the toad in the water. I was very suprised when I didn't see any blood or cuts. It was perfectly fine. I messed with it in the water and then placed it in Mom's garden. What a lucky toad, surviving 2 hens.