Jazz Age Wednesdays 25 ― Pip’s a Chicken

Posted on by Teagan Riordain Geneviene

Wednesday, March 7, 2018

Early Lucille 2
A very young Lucille Ball

Hi there, Sheiks and Shebas.  I’m happy to see you back at Jazz Age Wednesdays.  Here we are in the month of March.  For many of us, March came in like the proverbial lion.  I hope it takes on a much more lamb-like countenance for the remaining three weeks.

Good riddance year of the Fire Rooster!
Welcome year of the Earth Dog!

Speaking of critters… I haven’t done a post for Chinese New Year, although I did last year.  I’m going to re-share the story I wrote for last year.  I hope you don’t mind.  If you are curious about the original post, click here*.   Anyhow, I used my “three things” exercise to write the story.  Those things were Fire, Rooster, and Calendar.  Without further ado, here’s Pip.

Pip’s a Chicken

“Bock, bock-bock.  Bock!  Baaawk!”

Of all the nerve!  My mouth dropped open.  I was speechless.  Granny Phanny bocked at me like a chicken.  She bocked.  She put her fists under her armpits and flapped her boney elbows — and she bocked at me!

Then, to make matters worse, she laughed.

Why that banty old woman.  Of all the self-important, cockalorem!

“Oh Pip, if you could see the look on your face,” she said, still chuckling.  “It’s not like you to chicken out.  Now tie on your apron and we’ll look at this recipe together.”

Granny hung an apron around my neck, and then put her hands on my shoulders to forcibly turn me around.  She tied a bow in back that I knew without looking was perfectly symmetrical.

“But Granny, I nearly set the kitchen on fire last time,” I complained, sincerely afraid of what damage I might cause.life-woman-chickens-1908

“Hush that nonsense right now, Sweetpea.  We’ll not be having any fires.  Just because your fried chicken turned out as tough as an old rooster doesn’t mean you can quit.”

“An old rooster?” I exclaimed, mortified.

I looked at the recipe card.  “Chicken Fricassee…” I read aloud.  “Dredge chicken pieces in the flour mixture; coat well.  Oh Granny, this sounds pos-i-lutely like a repeat of the fried chicken disaster.  Granny?”

Phanny Irene Peabody was gone.  Her purse was missing from the corner table.  I called out again and she hollered from the living room.

My eyes fell on the calendar that hung on the wall.  Wong’s Chinese Restaurant made one annually for Chinese New Year.  Granny was going to an early dinner with friends.  No wonder she wasn’t worried about me ruining dinner again. 

“Granny!” I yelled, really miffed.

“I’ll be back this evening, Pip.  Just keep the stove set to low while you fry that chicken, and follow the instructions for the fricassee,” she called from the living room to the sound of the front door creaking open.

I blew a raspberry as the front door closed with a thud.  My hand plopped down on the plump poultry with a smacking sound.

“Old rooster, huh?  I’ll show her,” I muttered and went back to the recipe card.

The End

***

Yesterday I posted a request for your votes and feedback.  I want your input as I decide on what kind of blog serial to do next.  It will be a “three things” style serial, with you sending three random things to drive the story.  So I want you, the reader to be evolved every step of the way.  If you missed that post you can vote and leave your thoughts here*.  Please do.

Thanks for visiting.  You’re the bee’s knees!

 

PS:  Of course, I have to show you the links to the books about Pip and her friends.

Bijou front only 2

Murder at the Bijou — Three Ingredients I

Novel-book-The Three Things Serial Story-Teagan Riordain Geneviene-The Writer Next Door-Vashti Q-spotlight-author

The Three Things Serial Story: A Little 1920s Story Kindle 

 

 

This is a work of fiction.  Characters, names, places, and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, locales, or events is entirely coincidental.

Copyright © 2017 by Teagan Ríordáin Geneviene

All rights reserved.

No part of this work may be reproduced, scanned, or distributed in any printed or electronic form without permission.  Please do not participate in or encourage piracy of copyrighted materials in violation of the author’s rights.

All images are either the property of the author or provided by free sources, unless stated otherwise.

 

61 thoughts on “Jazz Age Wednesdays 25 ― Pip’s a Chicken”

  3. Granny Phanny is such a card! Reminds me of my Sicilian grandmother. Not a stitch of fear is those old bones, and a sense of humor that would light a street lamp 🙂 But Pip holds her own. I sure love that gal! ❤

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    1. Thanks for dropping in, Billy Ray. When I found that photo l had to do triple research before I could believe it was her. That pic is what started the whole Lucille Ball thing with these stories. Hugs!

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  11. Teagan I thought about you last night when I went to a talk with Karen Joy Fowler who lives here in Sanata Cruz. Even though I don’t know you personally she reminded me of you.
    I love this story Teagan but an old rooster has to be cooked a long time to make chicken fricassee. Hugs!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    1. Hi Gerlinde! Hmm I don’t know her,but now I’m curious. I’ll look her up.
      LOL, that’s Pip’s problem with cooking chicken. Hers usually ends up tasting like an old rooster when she’s done, no matter how young and tender the bird. Poor girl has no more talent in the kitchen than I do. o_O
      Thanks for visiting. You’re the cat’s pajamas!

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      Reply

  12. I was laughing a bit at the mental image of Granny Phanny bocking like a chicken. I hope this ends without the need for a fire brigade. Dinner is being warmed-up as I read this. It’s a leftover chicken dish and I’m getting hungry just thinking about it.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    1. LOL… I love your comments, Donna. You brighten any day. Even a cold and dreary one like today. Heartfelt thanks for visiting. You’re the cat’s pajamas for sure! Sunshine super hugs right back.

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      Reply
  27. Pingback: Jazz Age Wednesdays: Pip’s a Chicken. – The Militant Negro™

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