Maria and I were sitting outside in our friendship chairs, and she suddenly moved her foot. “Hey, Older Hen,” she said, “stop pecking at my food. You know the difference between food and my foot!.”

The hen did not look in the least apologetic or abashed; she just looked bored and turned quickly away, disappointed,  and pulled a worm out of the crown. She seemed much happier with that.

Nature is rough in tooth and claw.