the birds and the bees

We are at the supper table.  Huckleberry is leading yet another discussion about poultry.  His is giving a lengthy and graphic account of the intimate life of our rooster.  He knows for certain the the all the chickens will produce fertile eggs, except for the Australorps.  I inquire why he is so certain of this, and he says that he has not seen the rooster mating with the Australorps.  I suggest that because he hasn't witnessed this event  he should not suppose it hasn't happened.  But, no, he is certain that there will be no offspring from the Australorps.

He then stops suddenly, and says, "Hey!   How do the eggs get fertilized anyway?!"  Until this moment he has been completely oblivious to the fact that the mating actually has an effect.  Until this moment, the mating chickens have been merely symbolic of the production of fertile eggs.

Cause and effect have entered his mind.

Silas, Chicken Whisperer looks gravely around the table, making us all aware that he will accept the full burden of responsibility of answering this question.

He takes a deep breath.  "Well, Huck, its like this.  If Dad didn't exist, well, neither would we."

He raises his eyebrows in a Meaningful Way at Huckleberry.  A long pause.  Huckleberry looks puzzled for just a moment, then says, "ah."

We all wait for more.  He and Huckleberry go back to eating their dinner.

Apparently the fullness of mystery of poultry reproduction has been explained, accepted, digested.

The Talk is over.