Chicken Stories

by Christina Williams (United States of America)

Making a local connection USA

I'm not really sure I fully thought the situation through, to be perfectly honest. I guess in the beginning I kept telling myself that I had a foolproof plan, when in reality I was jumping head first into who knows what. The only thing that made sense to me in that exact moment was the beauty of the clear blue Grand Cayman skies ,and the transparency of the blue waters where schools of fish playfully weaved in and out of my inner thighs on their way to a life much less confusing than mine. “I think I've died”. I can promise you that when I pictured him finally grabbing me by the face and staring into my eyes those were not the words I thought that I would hear him say. “What?” I managed to get out with a mixture of confusion and utter disappointment painting my face. He didn't even notice. “I think I've died and gone to heaven and managed to come back again.” This time his gaze was not on my face, but on the long haired bronze skinned beauty that's decided to grace the jet skis with her presence. I couldn't help but feel the heat rise in my stomach. I felt like I was going to be sick. I felt like my skin was on fire and it had nothing to do with the 90 degree weather of this beautiful island.I could feel the bile rise in my throat and I deserved it. I deserved every single second of discomfort I felt. Who invites their ex boyfriend on a trip to the Cayman’s knowing good and well he was going to blow them off like he did in the relationship? Me that’s who. “ Let's go say hi” Jay said with the most determined look on his face. Determined to find a weekend fling. Determined to ride the jet skies..or the jet ski beauty. Determined to break my heart again and utterly ruin my life. He brushed past me just as the breeze was coming off the ocean. How in the hell could I agree to being friends? That morning I’d oiled his long, beautiful locks with coconut oil causing him to all but glow in the afternoon sun. As the breeze blew, all I smelled was the sweet coconut scent coming from his hair. “I’m gonna go grab a drink. A strong one actually.Give you guys some privacy.” I half said to myself due to the fact that his perfect 6’7 frame was already completely out of the water and was now moving across the sand toward “Beauty”. I couldn't reach the bar fast enough. Stumbling across what felt like a football field worth of sand I finally made it to an extremely overcrowded hut that was full of the roars of laughter. “ Weh yuh a seh?”A fair skinned woman stood in front of me pen and pad in hand.I ordered a long island and a Modelo and alternated between the two. Once that was gone I ordered another round of both and diverted my attention to the large population of wild chickens at my feet. “Awww” I heard myself say. “Awwww?” I turned to see an adorable little brunette caucasian woman looking at me with amusement. “They are like..how do you Americans say? Roaches here. They are in abundance.Take some back with you.” she said as she kicked at the group of chickens at my feet on the way to the kitchen.” Ahhh pesky things.” As soon as I looked back down at my feet I saw one single chicken who was brave enough to be unphased by her opinion of it. I'm no chicken expert or anything but the chicken actually looked content. No one wanted it there nor did they see its value and yet that chicken didn't care about anything in that moment except itself. It was like a truck hit me. I was worth more than some jerk that never appreciated me or genuinely wanted me to begin with and yet here he was on MY trip. When we got back to the U.S things would have to change and in my favor. Who would've thought a chicken would spark an epiphany? I didn't even look back at Jay or Jetski Beauty. I caught a glimpse of myself in the mirror behind the bartenders that were busily working. I blew a kiss at the beauty that was looking back at me and joined in on the roars of laughter.