I’m a man in rural America, does that mean I have to kill wild animals?

The old chicken coop on the left. My own photo.

“There was a murder in the red barn, a murder in the red barn” — Tom Waits

What does it mean to be a man?

I wish I knew.

I have a possum story I used to tell to my Junior High students. Back then, the story had me as a hero, protecting the school’s chickens. I did what had to be done. I don’t…