I think she’s trying to be sympathetic, but she’s laughing so hard she can’t actually stand upright

A

chicken goes streaking by my leg; I shriek and grab on to Shan, who’s standing next to me, a big peaceful smile on her face.

She looks at my hand desperately clutching the front of her sweatshirt.

“Uh, Naomi?”

I remove my hand and place it gently by my side. “Yes, Shan?” I say demurely.

She squints at me. “Are you afraid of chickens?”

I draw myself up to my full height and sniff haughtily. “Am I afraid of chickens. Am I afraid of chickens? Shan Davis, I am terrified of chickens. Like, I can’t remember the last time I felt this unsafe.”

I think she’s trying to be sympathetic, but she’s laughing so hard she can’t actually stand upright.

Another chicken goes flying by me in a mess of wings and feet and wiggly red things and I run so fast, I am a blur.

Shan finds me behind a tree. Her green eyes are glinting with suppressed laughter.

I’m glad she thinks me almost dying via chickens is so funny.