Introduction

It all started early one morning when the narrator and his brother Kiko were in their
cornfield and were busy driving away chickens and stopping them from digging their new planted
seeds for food. Then from there, in a sudden moment, they saw two chickens fighting. The sight
was blurry from the violent rush of feathers and dust.

They decided to catch the chickens while they were so busy fighting and struggling. Kiko
dived through and caught one by the legs.

Beginning

As soon caught, the narrator declared it was a hen. His brother said otherwise. The
narrator argued it was a hen for it has no comb or wattles. But the way the chicken fought made
Kiko confident it was a rooster. Kiko added that no hen has spurs or tail like that. Obviously, the
two brothers could not agree on determining the real sex of the chicken. No one wants to be
defeated.

And this disagreement even continued throughout the morning, even until on their way home
when they were about to have their lunch.

Middle

The peculiar chicken caused more trouble as the two brothers seek opinions from the
elders. First, they sought answers from their parents. Their mother said it is binabae or a rooster
that looks like a hen. Their father, who has handled fighting roosters since he was little, disagreed.
He said it is a binalake or a hen which looks like a rooster. Before the two boys finally realized,
their parents were arguing all by themselves. Their mother even cried as she always does when she
argues with her spouse. Father put his arms around their mother and called her some corny names.
The two boys felt embarrassed and escaped lunch.

They looked for another person to settle the question. It was Tenienteng Tasio, the head of
the village and was the barrio philosopher. Though stranger things get stranger as he explains, they
chose him because they believe that anything said always carries more weight if it is said by a man
with grey hairs. The same question was raised: ‘Is it a hen or a rooster?’ The chief said that he had
seen neither a rooster nor a hen like that. He concluded that it could be another kind of bird. The
two boys were not satisfied so they went to the town of Alcala and consulted Mr. Eduardo Cruz. He
studied poultry husbandry at Los Baǹos.

After Mr. Cruz took his siesta, they consulted him immediately. He admitted he cannot
distinguish one from the other at one look. But the feathers may help determine a chicken’s sex
according to him. If the ends are round, it’s a she. If it’s pointed, then it’s a he. However, the very
peculiar chicken had both. Mr. Cruz suggested he could kill it and examine its parts but Kiko do not
want it to be killed.

Ending

Disappointed, the two walked back silently to the barrio. Suddenly, Kiko had an idea! He said
he knows how to prove that the chicken is a rooster. The narrator asked how. Kiko made an
understanding with the narrator that if the chicken will fight in a cockpit and wins, then it is a
rooster.

That Sunday, they picked the red rooster which is a veteran of the pit whose picture had
once graced the cover of the gamecock magazine Pintakasi and which also is known for once
escaping to the forest and had lured all the hens away from the surrounding farms as the opponent.

The match was arranged. Sharp steel gaffs were tied to the chickens’ left legs. Kiko bet
eight pesos while the narrator bet only two. Then, the fight began. The two ‘fighters’ confronted
each other. Knowing the background of the rooster opponent, the narrator expected theirs to die
out of fright. But something happened strangely. A lovesick expression escaped from the red
rooster’s eyes followed by a love dance. The peculiar chicken took the opportunity and rushed to
the opponent with its hackle feathers flaring and then it buried its spur in its adversary’s breast.
The fight was over.

A riot broke out. The crowd, particularly those who had stakes on the red Texas rooster,
complained that the match was a fixed fight. The two boys had to leave through the back way; the
narrator, holding the chicken under his arm. They run towards the coconut groves until they were
far enough from the crowd.

The narrator was then convinced that the chicken was a rooster. But the chicken finally
answered the long-argued question. It quivered and bear something warm, something round --- an
egg! It was a binalake, a hen with the looks of a rooster.

Conclusion

We should be rational in deciding on things whether what’s good and what’s not, whether
what’s right and what’s wrong. Think twice of the possible consequences of your decisions especially
if it can step on other’s ways.

But sometimes, we don’t need to seek for answers. They simply come our way. Patience is
the key. Don’t conclude hastily. It does make waste.