Twelve

“The match is about to begin!” the elderly lady’s war cry spread its desired effect through the rallied crowd.

Bets were alive like wildfire and soon the crowd was well over a hundred people.

“I’ve lost money twice on Pecker. But I prefer those odds over the newcomer. Twenty quid says Pecker wins in less than a minute.”

“Twenty-five says one of them dies.”

“Did you want to be specific?” replied a voice.

“No.”

“Alright, I’ll take you on.”

“Seventy-five says the newcomer wins inside two minutes.”

“Two hundred says Norman wins.” Scott offered the bet, and someone quickly snatched it up.

“This is it Norman, there’s no backing out now. Don’t die. Don’t get too hurt. Please win.” Norman gave a sharp response.

“Can the owners please place their roosters within the pen?” Jimmy and Cian each lowered their roosters.

“Go!”

Jimmy and Cian each released their roosters and within moments, Pecker had closed the gap and swung in for a peck at Norman’s chest.

Beak clipped at flesh and Norman let out a startled cry. Jimmy swallowed a yelp and looked away from the fight.

“I know it ain’t pretty, but you owe it to Norman to watch the fight,” said Scott. He stood next to Jimmy, fixated on the fight.

“Is he winning?” Jimmy asked.

“Hard to say. Just watch.”

Jimmy fought against the rusty creaking of his neck and brought his eyes back on the fight.

Blood and feathers were strewn across the pen. Pecker chased Norman around the pen like a rabid animal. The noises coming from the rooster were like nothing Jimmy had ever heard before.

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“Come on Norman!” Jimmy heard himself scream.

“Get him Pecker. That young shit thinks nothing of you.”

Norman tripped over himself, and Pecker seized the opportunity and leapt into the air. He landed on top of Norman and immediately began to peck and pull at Norman’s feathers.

A warbled scream blasted from Norman and Jimmy felt his heart sink. It was over. Jimmy ripped at the crowd to get at the ref; he was going to forfeit. He wasn’t about to let his prized rooster die.

“This thing is more brutal than I thought a fight with birds would be.”

“Yeah, look at them go.”

“This show would put some boxers to shame.”

“Oi, lookit. That new one has just gouged the one eye the skinny one had left. Aw shit, look at the mess.”

Jimmy stopped himself and craned his neck to get a better view.

It was Pecker’s turn to run from Norman. Ooze trickled from where its eye was. Pecker’s body was sticky with blood, and he looked panicked.

Norman pulsed with power and brought himself behind Pecker and ripped flesh from his flank. Pecker stumbled in his steps and Norman closed the gap and drove his beak into Pecker’s neck.

“Ref, I’ve had enough.” Cian vaulted the pen and lifted Pecker into his humongous hands. Norman pecked at Cian, but the giant ignored him and let himself out of the pen.

“And the winner is Norman! You know the rules, pay who you owe, or you may never come back.”

The crowd murmured and yelled with each other and quickly dispersed. Jimmy entered the pen and watched as Norman shrieked and danced around in a fit.

“Congratulations on the win there. Give him a few minutes, soothe him a little. He’ll let you pick him up soon enough.” Cian approached Jimmy and offered a handshake. Jimmy noticed the sorry state of Pecker and felt a twist in his stomach.

“Thanks. Sorry about Pecker there. He looks pretty banged up.”

“Oh, he’s fucked. I’ll see what the vet can do, but I don’t think they’ll be able to save his eye. Think its bout time the little bugger retired, and I train up a new one. Bye.”

“We won, we won.” Scott ran over to Jimmy. He pulled out Jimmy’s hand and slapped the cash into it.

“That you two did.” Aisling joined them. “That was quite a show and a stroke of luck you had out there. Good job.”

“Oh Aisling, is it okay if I pay you back next time?”

“Don’t sweat. Whatever money you have left over from those winnings will be needed to treat him.” They looked to Norman to see the fire had finally burned out in his eyes.

“Okay, thanks.” Jimmy picked his rooster up and gave him a hug and pat.

“What are you gonna do now?” Scott asked.

“Get him sorted. Go home and finally fix my roof then go to bed. I suddenly feel so drained.”

“That’s the relief kicking in. You two go rest, you’ve earned it. I’ll organise another fight for Norman next week.”

“Thanks.”

Jimmy found it hard talking to the vet about Norman’s injuries. He couldn’t help but feel the vet didn’t believe him.

Thankfully, there were no run-ins with Thomerson, and Jimmy was home and fixing the roof before he knew it.

Jimmy cooked a basic dinner for he and his mother and brought Norman to bed with him.