The golden chicken
Umbria - "Beware of running over a neighbor's chicken in the road," we are counselled. Once a contadino finds out you've run one of his over, he'll dramatically complain that you have deprived him of the chicken's future earnings potential, you know, eggs, more chickens, etc…."Gallina dalle uove d'oro guadagno facile" (a hen that lays eggs of gold . . easy money.)
Our friend Tia in Southern Umbria zooms over their strada bianca (white road) on the way to town as one unfortunate chicken attempts to cross. Tia hears a bump, and then realizes what she has done.
She walks up to the door of her neighbor and confesses and asks, "How much do you want for it?" He settles for €20. Later, when her other neighbors find out, they are incensed. "Where is the chicken?" they ask. "We'll march right back to claim it. At least we can cook it and eat it ourselves!"
"Meglio un uovo oggi che una gallina domani". (Better an egg today than a hen tomorrow), implying that it is better to run over an egg today than over a hen tomorrow; eggs usually do not complain…
(hens courtesy of famiglia Gasperoni)