The Fox and the Bird

The little bird was just pushed out of the nest, first days on his own afraid and alone. The bird was grumbling and scratching around not realizing, before now, how hard his parents worked to feed and protect him until he was old enough to care for himself. However, he was getting an idea (very sadly) with his new awareness "boy this is hard work!!" he exclaimed. The food is not always brought to me, I must now search for my own meals and shelter. Make my own way in this creation world. How did my relatives do this? They must have loved me very much to be so caring. He was very tired the day Mr. Fox found him in the meadow.

Mr. Fox said "Why are you complaining so, you pretty little bird?" The little bird told him how hard it was, finding food and shelter and that he was unaccustomed to being on his own in the big world. "Life is not fair Mr.Fox!!! look how scarce the grain is and the fruit and berries!!!" "Well,well." Mr. Fox said. "Look now you pretty feathered dear, You have so many beautiful feathers and I know how hard it is, working on your own to find food and shelter. Maybe I can help. If you let me. I will be happy to bring you something to eat every day and you can stay in this nice warm little burrow. See it is almost like a nest. Do you think you would be happy here?" said the fox. The little bird looked around and thought?? * this could be quite nice and I wouldn't have to work so hard. I can always fly away with all my beautiful feathers to lift me to the sky if I am in harms way. (It would be quite nice, not to work so hard.)

Mr. Fox looked at the little bird admiring his beautiful feathers. "Oh my sweet little bird, a small price to pay, just one of your beautiful feathers. Look how lovely they are and you have so many!!!" I will bring you food every day and you will let me have one of your beautiful feathers. This way we both will get what we want. Do you agree?" Well, the little bird looked at his shining and beautiful feathers, I do have many of them,(thinking) if something happened I could always fly away* and it is hard work hunting everyday, yes I will except your kindness Fox, (what harm could it do?) So daily the Fox brought the bird food. The bird was happy in the nest almost like the one he was born in (at least he convinced himself).

Yes, so it was, daily the Fox would bring the food, Daily the bird gifted a feather in return. The burrow / nest was a warm place to be, lucky for me said the bird. (and I can always fly away!)

One by one, day by day, the Fox met the Bird, until the day. The day that was sure to come,the day when the Bird had no feathers left. The day when the Fox brought no food, the day when our little bird was not able to Fly away because he gave all his feathers away. The day the Bird was the Fox's Lunch.