Pat finished buying her groceries. Leaving the store, she was carefully threading her way through the parking lot and was being careful not to bump into any cars. She heard a strange noise overhead. It sounded like the clucking of a chicken. That, being a far-fetched idea, was discarded, and she decided it must be one of her crows. Being worried about a misstep causing a fall, she decided not to look up. “Safety first” is the motto of old folks. Pat continued to hear the strange noise as she put the groceries in the car and headed out. Going down the street, she suddenly had a crow flying right in front of her. The crow changed speed and elevation in what appeared to be an effort to make sure that Pat noticed it. This continued all the way home. When Pat pulled into the driveway, the crow landed in a nearby tree. The crow started talking immediately, and when Pat was able to get a word in, she thanked it for escorting her home. Then, as further thanks for the thoughtfulness, she put out some food. The crows extend favors, and she tries to recognize them and reward the good deeds.

Dave Thomas

8/15/2024