Every portrait tells a story. As your Syracuse NY Children’s Photographer, not only do I capture the story visually, but I create a storyline that continues on with each image. Please enjoy the First Adventure of the Mills’ Brothers.
“Pa said a coyote made its way into the chicken run last night,” Théoden said as he brushed the dirt off his jeans. “I just finished mending the fence where he broke through.”
Colton braced a wounded, black hen in his arms, as he prepared a stint for her leg. “She barely made it out alive,” Colton responded. “Her leg got caught in the fencing, but she gave it her best jump and made it to a high enough branch. I had to scurry on up after her to bring her back down.”
Colton gently wrapped up Pillow’s leg and set her carefully in a box to heal. “Give her a few weeks, she’ll be laying big brown eggs and sassing the other hen’s soon enough.”
Each day, Théoden and Colton helped with Pillow’s care. They cleaned her wound and wrapped her sore leg in fresh bandages.
Gentleness was a fruit that began to develop, not only from their lips, but their hands as well, as they petted and cared for the much smaller creature.
Ma was pleased. She watched with a smile, as her two rough, wilderness boys applied a gentle touch to a helpless bird that another boy may have written off as lost. All those days of quiet corrections, and careful disciplines were paying off. “Now to apply the same tender care when it comes to their little sisters,” Ma prayed under her breath.
Colton especially loved having Pillow indoors as she healed from the coyote attack. She became his playmate and did whatever Colton asked of her. She was the monster from planet Kluknut attacking his army men as they defended earth. She gobbled up all the popcorn bombs they threw her way and enjoyed pecking at the little green men if they came to close.
Pillow also fit right in, when the children dropped all their stuffed toys into a pile of the living room, and the game became, Find Pillow! She would sit real still among the fluff and colors pretending to be one of the lifeless toys and remain hidden.
But just because she was enjoying the comforts of home didn’t mean Pillow wasn’t going to earn her keep. Colton kept her occupied on days he made egg deliveries for the neighborhood.
“Let’s go for a ride!” Colton would say, “I have eggs to deliver to the neighbors and I could use a travel buddy.” Colton propped the black hen in the back of his Red Flier wagon, with 5 dozen fresh eggs packed with her. Off they went, barefoot and all around the neighborhood, delivering their own golden nuggets.
Pillow found her job a breeze and refreshing as the wind softly caressed her feathers and the sunshine warmed her up. It was getting stuffy inside, and a bird like Pillow prefers the outdoors.
Down the road they went, Pillow riding and Colton pulling. The bugs were busy on the hot sticky day, and Pillow was an excellent bug catcher. She ate her fill of flies and then some, enjoying her trip to visit the neighbors and their sweet compliments. Soon enough, she’d move back to the coop and perform her duties as best hen and lay delicious eggs.
During Pillows Rest and Relaxation period, Pa took time to train Théoden and Colton in sharp shooting and target practice.
“You boys will have to know how to defend the homestead from varmints that are looking for a quick meal.” Pa said as he instructed the boys in the evenings on cleaning their instruments.
Hitting the mark was a challenge. Both boys had to learn to steady their arms, patiently aim, and hold their breath to make the correct shot. It soon became a competition for the best bullseye’s mark, and they progressed daily.
“Before you know it,” Pa remarked with a wink, “you will be shooting better than me.” He was proud of his young men taking on the responsibilities of growth that would turn them into fine young men.
The time came soon enough for the boys to put their training into action. Ma was putting the girls to bed, singing softly, when her song was interrupted by a long howl that was sounded like a gong in the back yard reverberating loudly.
“It’s a fine time for Pa to be at the town meeting,” Ma said as she looked out into the dark toward the chicken coop. As she turned back toward the house, fearful of what lay ahead for her flock if the coyote broke through the run again, she was met by two boys, aged in maturity, ready to take on the intruder.
“I don’t think so,” Ma said as she pointed back to the door.
“Ma,” Théoden reasoned, “We got to protect our home and our chickens. Pa would expect us to.”
“Besides, we are only going to scare him away, and save the trophy bagging for Pa,” Colton added with a nod.
The boys snuck through the shadows, up into the hayloft, with a clear shot towards the chicken run. Sure enough, a mean-looking coyote was slinking around the repaired run, digging at the bottom and clawing at the fencing.
Inside the hen house, the ladies and cock were silently sleeping unaware of the prowler right outside.
“You got a clear shot?” asked Colton.
“Not yet. I need him to take about five yards over to the left.”
“I’ll call him closer,” Colton responded. He arched his neck and screeched his voice, as if he were a rabbit in peril.
The coyote’s head popped up, and his nose sniffed the air. He smelled something, but it wasn’t rabbit. Colton’s voice was convincing enough. The coyote slunk down low, crawling down along side the run, slowly etching himself towards Colton’s fraudulent cry.
“He’s mine,” Théoden confirmed as he his strong finger pulled back on the trigger.
“Bang!”
The sleeping chickens woke at the sound within a split second the coop was an uproar of feathers and squawks.
“Nice shot, Theo!” Colton said, congratulating his brother with a pat on the back.
“Thanks, little bro.” Théoden responded “I couldn’t have done it without your rabbit cry.”
The boys headed back to the house in time to see Pa pull in and tell him about how they protected the homestead together.
Thanks for reading just one of my “Adventures of the Mills’ Brothers story. It is always a joy to capture children and create a visual story, and then add the words to liven it up more.
To book your child’s Story Telling portraits please email me at info@simplyshelayna.com to request information.
