We've all heard the story of The Little Red Hen (http://www.schoolexpress.com/storytime/redhen.html). It's a children's story to teach responsibility, helping neighbors, and earning what you get in life. Well, I think it needs some revision to best suit us adults, so here we go (this is copyrighted property of ME and no permission to re-post):
Once upon a time, a little red hen was sitting at home bored while her husband, the cock, worked and met with friends. Later that afternoon over the hot dinner she had lovingly prepared, she said, "Will you take me out on a date?"
The cock sighed and said, "I'm too tired," so the hen smiled and considerately didn't ask again.
A few days later, while looking through old photo albums from her childhood and reminiscing about trips with her family, she came across a collection of vacation pamphlets she had saved in the hopes of some day going with her husband. When he returned from his flight abroad to a country she'd wished for so long to see, she asked, "My husband, will you take me to one of these wonderful places I have always wanted to see? For we have never been on a vacation, not even a honeymoon."
The cock barely bothered to look at what she held in her wing then walked on by and said, "It's too much money."
Looking downward sadly, the little red hen said nothing more. Money was always an issue, although others who had less somehow found the time and means to enjoy life more than she.
Remembering her husband's concerns over money, and still wanting very much to have a little of his time that he made for his job and others, the little red hen pulled out games that had become dusty and somewhat moldy from years of neglect. After her husband had a good dinner and was well rested from the day, the little red hen said, "Husband, look what I have found! Would you like to play a game like we used to so long ago?"
The cock, without shifting his gaze from the show on TV, sighed deeply and replied, "Maybe later." But the little red hen knew "later", as always, would never come.
Days went by and when the little red hen was quite sure her husband had eaten well, was rested, had no need to awaken early for work, and was doing nothing what-so-ever of importance, she crept into their bed and tried to snuggle against him. As usual, he shifted to the side and turned away. Once again, she moved closer and this time, tried to kiss him and entice him into making love to her.
Impatiently, the cock grunted, "I'm tired. It's late. Maybe tomorrow," then moved over even more and covered himself tightly. The little red hen knew, however, that "tomorrow" was like "later" and as always, would never come.
The little red hen tip-toed quietly out of the room and into her thinking place where the cock could not see or hear. There, she cried from all of the pain in her heart and loneliness in her soul. Hours later, she had finally cried herself to sleep and awoke in the morning with swollen eyes and a hole in her heart. She knew he would never feel for her the way she felt for him, and so began a new plan for her future and for the happiness she knew she deserved.
One day, while the cock was stretched out napping from a day of doing absolutely nothing with his wife, there was a knock upon the door. Just as he was getting up to answer it, his wife bounded across the room - a smile lighting up her face and dressed in the prettiest thing he had ever seen. As the door flew open, a handsome rooster stood waiting with flowers cascading across his well-groomed wing and a broad grin widening upon his beak at the presense of the hen before him.
"What's going on?!" Demanded the cock, standing rigid and angry and quite confused.
The little red hen turned toward the cock and replied, "This is my date. He's taking me on a cruise to a glorious little island on one of those brochures I tried to show you. There are no phones or computers, so you won't be able to reach me even if you wanted to acknowledge me for once. We will be spending all of our time playing those games that have gathered dust and cobwebs and making love beneath the warm sun and starlit sky. Don't wait up for me, for when I return, I shall be too tired to talk and too happy with my new love to even know you are around."
As the little red hen revealed all to her husband, his eyes became wide in anger and his blood boiled with jealousy over this rooster who dared give the little red hen the attention the cock never did. "If you walk out that door," the cock growled, "I'll divorce you!"
The little red hen only smiled sweetly and replied, "The divorce papers are on the bed. All they need is your signature." And then she was gone.
Moral of this story: If you and your cock don't appreciate your wife, someone else and their cock will.
