At a recent Portland City Council meeting, Councilor Letticia D’Gooder pushed for a declaration that food is a fundamental right and should be guaranteed to all. At that point D’Gooder was challenged by the Little Red Hen, who approached the microphone in her picketty-peckitty fashion, to share her own experience.

“I found a grain of wheat and asked who would help plant it, but the pig said ‘Not me,’ and the rat said, ‘Not me,’ and the cat said, ‘Not me.’ When it was time to harvest the grain, I again asked for help; the pig said ‘Not me,’ and the rat said, ‘Not me,’ and the cat said, ‘Not me.’ When it was time to mill and bake the bread, the pig said ‘Not me,’ and the rat said, ‘Not me,’ and the cat said,‘Not me.’ So I did it myself. Then when I asked who would help me eat the bread, the pig said, ‘I will,’ and the rat said, ‘I will,’ and the cat said, ‘I will.’ “

“Now I say to the Council, what I said to the pig, the rat, and the cat, who did not help me plant, nor reap, nor thresh, nor mill, nor bake. Stuff it! My chicks and I will eat the bread.”  

Then in her picketty-peckitty fashion, the Little Red Hen took her seat. Next to speak was the Ant who wished to share his experience with Grasshopper, his recently deceased neighbor, who was a musician and dance enthusiast.