The chicken that was afraid of jelly

Bill Wilderness was a chicken known for miles around. Brought up on a farm in the countryside he made his escape when he was still young and carved out a niche for himself in the hustle and bustle of the city.

The youngest of twelve chickens on the farm Bill was always curious and unsettled. Whilst the other chickens would be happy to peck at corn or sit inside their cages Bill would always be trying to break out and explore the wider world. He was brave and fearless and stood up to the farmer, something no chicken would ever dare do. The rooster would warn him:

'The ways of the farm are not for a chicken to know Bill. You should keep your beak out of it. You think you have no fear but everyone does, I just want you to be prepared'

But Bill would ignore his advice and once had broken free he even tried to release the other chickens as well, but none would follow for the outside world scared them. So it was with a heavy heart and tear in his eye that Bill left the coup and headed for the city.

Over time Bill built up a living running a grocery store. It started small, selling everyday things, and quickly grew in size and popularity. 'Bill's' became a famous name and soon all the supermarkets around the the town were struggling to keep up with it's success.

But there was always one thing you could never buy in Bill's.

Jelly.

When asked about the product Bill would freeze up, his shoulders rigid and a glazed look in his eyes. If you persisted he would start to flap and peck wildly at the ground.

People soon learned not to question him and even the staff ceased enquiring about the product. Somedays Bill would sit in his office and stare across the road at The Jelly Emporium for hours, unable to move or look away lest the Jelly come for him.

In his later years Bill was cared for in a special home where his refusal to eat the food was misinterpreted as a hunger strike. Soon the glazed eyes would return and as Bill sat in his leather chair, his stomach aching and his claws dug into the seat, the words of the rooster would float by his mind and he would curse the day he left the safety of the farm.