Sprout lays an egg; it’s small and weak. She wonders if it will be her last egg; she isn’t eating and feels weak. She resents that all her eggs are taken from her by the farmer and his wife.

A hen outside the coop runs around with her chicks; Sprout envies her and wishes that she too could keep an egg and hatch a chick.

She looks at the acacia tree outside the coop and longs to be free. Sprout thinks about how the acacia tree grows leaves and fragrant flowers, dropping them in fall, and then they’re reborn the following spring; she considers this process amazing and inspiring. She names herself Sprout because of this.

The farmer comes into the coop and collects the hens’ eggs. Sprout’s egg is soft and shell-less; the farmer concludes that she must be sick and throws it onto the grass, where the dog eats it. Heartbroken and disgusted, Sprout vows never to lay another egg.

The farmer grabs Sprout, discussing with his wife whether it’s worth keeping her for her meat or whether she’s too sickly. All Sprout understands is that she’s finally being taken from the coop; she’s thrilled until she’s put in a wheelbarrow with other hens who are close to