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[ 6 and a half minute read ]
Chicken Suited Aliens
When I was little, my parents would make an Easter egg hunt for us kids; my brother, sister and I. We had a big garden and there were a lot of places to hide people, animals, farm equipment, spiders and rats and chocolate eggs. There was always a possibility that going into one of the barns we might find someone sleeping off one of our parents parties the next morning; you know it was Saturday before it was Easter Sunday. We never had to go into the Billy Goat shed and who would, he stunk. Equally, the dog kennels right at the bottom of the garden was also not where we might find sweet treats or colouring books. The spinney left wild at the very furthest from the house was also not a place where any of us were expected to go, and in any case our parents didn't want us to fall down the well covered only by a sheet of steel (just a hole that went down, down, down).
Usually, we kids never had to go much more than sixty or seventy feet from the house and dig somewhere under loose soil. Being the youngest and littlest and having a psychopath eldest brother meant that I had to run as fast as I could, and only in the same direction he ran in, to stop him finding one hoard and then claiming a second one while my sister claimed the third. It didn't help that my mum would say 'Go!' and then call me back to tie my shoe-laces.
These days, zoo-keepers try to stimulate the animals under their care. On really hot days they might give a block of frozen fruit to the fruit eaters like bears or badgers or something. They hide lumps of meat halfway up trees and under logs for lions and tigers to 'hunt' or search for. At the safari-type zoos the staff also don't make sure the visitor's car doors are locked to give the animals something to think about. Bears, lions and tigers might have accidentally opened a car door in the 2010s and still try to get in another car in 2025. It gives them some anticipation of a moment of mild ferocity, something they are good at, followed by something new and tasty for lunch.
I found some more eggs on my doorstep yesterday morning; half a dozen again in an egg box. Sally, my immediate next door neighbour left some in response to me leaving tomatoes on her doorstep in the Summer. But now she has twice left half a dozen eggs unsolicited, and not in response to being surprised by random tomatoes I left her. Yesterday, the eggs were among the strawberry plants and near the garlic. That is how my path is arranged. The previous time she left some was on All Saints Day, when all the saints are honoured (usually restricted to the Anglican and Catholic faiths) the day after Halloween or All Hallows Eve. It took me a while to figure out the occasion and why Sally might be giving gifts. I think that she hopes that some kindness will stick to her gift. She is that kind of woman; a little mysterious and quite enchanting. Beneath her clever and calm demeanor is a cheeky and fun person. Quite delightful, if you can catch her unawares with one of her thoughtful pursed lip smiles.
When I found the eggs yesterday I felt like a bear finding a block of frozen mixed fruit.
'Where did this come from? Who left it here? Why is it here? How should I respond?' I don't think bears really think that but they do have their curiousity piqued.
Another one of my neighbours told me that another woman in our road sometimes leaves eggs on his doorstep, so I had to consider the probability that it was the same woman. I don't think so. Now I went down a route of thinking that the previous gift, on All Saints Day, follows a religious bent or at least an observance of a religious date as a reason to give a gift without initiating embarrassment in the recipient I am sticking to that theory. With that in mind I thought that I would look at some dates to try to understand how it, the 9th of November, might trigger a moment of generosity.
I fully believe that we should all be able to give gifts to people, even strangers, without causing them to have a guilt that is only dissolved by reciprocation. Unfortunately, this seems to only be allowed on someone's birthday or wedding day but there is a note written in the spirit world that there is a debt to be repaid. There isn't really, it is a note that adds to the collective understanding of a person's life. Immanuel Kant, the philosopher had ideas on debt when he discussed 'Ethics'. He disappointingly doesn't mention spirits though. He did mention that we are compelled to visit people in hospital even though we don't want to.
I, however, need to know who the gift giver is and why I have gotten a gift. I never got unsigned Valentine cards from secret admirers so I have no practice in wearing a mantle of arrogance and believing that eggs or cards fall from the sky because I deserve them. I am pretty certain Sally left the eggs, but the Sherlock Holmes in me is playing the video tape of my perception in the moments preceding my discovery to watch for any aliens or someone in a chicken suit running away and clicking their heels in the air in unsuppressed delight and glee. Reality has it that I washed some clothes and never did look out of the window before I stepped out with the dripping items and discovered the eggs.
I searched the internet for a special occasion on November the 9th. There were 52 days left until the end of the year. Neither Sally or I are 52. Some actors, whom I have never heard of, were born on that day in the past. I couldn't find anything relevant. Finally, spent from looking at two websites and exhausted by my search I relaxed. Then it hit me: Remembrance Sunday was yesterday, and it just happened to fall on the 9th of November this year. Now, it makes a bit more sense. All Souls Day is the 2nd of November, the day after All Saints Day. It is a religious date in the Christian calendar.
Sally, is way brighter than she might first appear to someone who doesn't care to notice her. I had already worked out that she didn't leave the eggs late on Saturday, because she knows the rats will be able to work out how to open the egg box. I rather fancy that the rats near us read books and watch us with binoculars.
An identical gift given twice on two consecutive days is worth more on the first day. The Diminishing Margin of Utility in economics tells us that. As a foodstuff, a dozen eggs in two days invites over-consumption. Sally doesn't want to contribute to my death from blocked veins caused by too much cholesterol. So, now I am wondering if I am still alive in all my capacities. Perhaps Sally bewails my demise in some way and she honours me on Remembrance Sunday instead of All Souls Day. Perhaps I was a better person last week or last year.
I am glad I am a curious bear looked after by considerate keepers instead of a morose camel or frentic zebra poking my head through open car windows mindlessly munching on popcorn. Now I am even more curious because Sally made me notice myself because I notice her.
Thank you Sally for making my Sunday morning interesting.
The day after All Saints Day is All Souls Day when the dead are honoured.