4 Calling Birds

There were 4 birds, a chicken, a duck, a crow, and an owl. As calling birds these 4 didn’t exactly fit the bill. But these 4 each found a calling. The chicken was scrambling across the road to go to a Christmas party. The duck followed the chicken but was spotted by a fish and wildlife officer, and unlike his pal the chicken, ran a fowl of the law. After a couple of wise quacks he was allowed to go with a warning. The crow followed in stealth mode and managed to not get caw-t. The owl was trying to keep track of whoo was whoo. Each of them had a gift for the gift exchange and each thought he had outdone the other. All were looking forward to getting rather than giving. Even after they exchanged their gifts they would still be preening and competing for recognition. Then they came across a tern who told them they were going the wrong way. The best Christmas party in the town was in the other direction. The 4 birds took the tern at his word and changed direction toward town. When they arrived at the party there was a long line of children waiting. The chicken, duck, crow, and owl added their gifts to Santa’s pile so there would be enough for all the children. They thanked the tern for showing to them how one good turn calls for another.

As we near the end of the countdown, Christmas day, the four birds found their true calling, learning the joy of giving rather than receiving, and calling for peace on earth and goodwill to all.