The ballad of Howser Mack

When I was a kid, I had a pet chicken named Howser Mack. I went everywhere with Howser Mack. That picture is from my second grade school photo day. The photographer, Mr. Blethan, said that I couldn’t have Howser Mack in the photo. I threw a fit and he let my pet be in the picture. I smoked a lot back then. At that time kids were required to smoke cigarettes. Physicians said that the constant deep inhalation of smoke would help children’s lungs expand and be healthy. Howser Mack didn’t live very long. She coughed a lot and one day keeled over. My mother plucked Howser, cut her up, and cooked us a platter of fried chicken. It didn’t bother me because I really liked fried chicken.