The Greatest gift: Chapter one
Chapter one: The old crow and the young lark
Darkness was beginning to close in as the three young ones gathered around. All of them had the same question to ask; “will you tell us a story grandpa?” Feeling a bit nostalgic he asked them all to sit down before him. After taking a moment to get himself comfortable he seemed to lose himself in thought. The little ones began getting impatient with him, until a small smile surfaces... “Very well, I will tell you a story that I have never even told your grandmother. This is the story about ‘the greatest gift’…
It was a beautiful summer morning as the lark glided past the old crow who was sitting in his tree. Wanting a word with the lark the crow stretched his creaky old wings, groaned slightly and took flight after him. “Where you going youngster?” asked the crow. “Aw, I’m just out enjoying the sun, what brings you after me old timer?”
“Actually, I wanted a word with you. I have been watching you fly around these parts since you were the size of my smallest tail feather and always it’s the same thing with you. You fly around doing NOTHING. When are you gonna settle down with a missus? The other larks your age have been mating for quite some time sonny.”
“I know, I know…it’s just that I have never found the one for me is all. I mean…. it’s not like I haven’t tried.” At this the crow looked at the lark, snorted, and said “tried…bah! You have not tried sonny. I have seen you at work before; the lady looks your way and you fly the other. I don’t call that trying.”
“Well, none of the ladies around here have caught my eye is all” replied the lark. The crow pointed below them and said “How bout that one on the telephone wire? What’s her name?” The lark looked to where he was pointing and replied “Her? No way, that’s Minnie lark. Nice enough girl but her chirp is so shrill that it makes my feathers crawl.”
“Fair enough, how bout THAT one?” The crow was tipping a wing down towards a female lark sitting on a bird feeder. “Are you crazy? That’s Lulu lark! She never shuts up about herself. I can never get a word in around her!”
“Well, you take it from me sonny; you can’t always go through life thinking the sky is always clearer over yonder. If you do then you will never settle down and enjoy the sky you have. Not only that…. (the old crow leans over to whisper in his ear) but there are certain ‘parts’ that you gotta use while you are young. Trust me sonny…. you better get it in gear soon or you are going to lose out bigtime!” With a wink the old crow turned wing and flew back the way he had come.
As he flew away the lark looked back over his shoulder and wondered aloud “what was all that stuff about ‘parts’ anyway?”
-John Alexander (aka SirJohn)
