Tuesday -Anything Possible – Kreative Kue #433 by Keith Channing

~ John W. Howell

In Keith’s words.

“Using this image (below) as inspiration, write a short story, flash fiction, scene, poem; anything, really. Either put your offering (or a link to it) in a comment or email it to me at keithchanning@gmail.com before the end of the week. If you post it on your own blog or site, a link to this page would be appreciated, but please do also mention it in a comment here. Thank you for taking part.”

Here is a link to Keith’s post. https://keithchanning.wordpress.com/2024/05/27/kreative-kue-433/

The photo.

Fledgling By John W. Howell © 2024.

“Open wide.”

“Gimerglibb.”

“What?”

“Ahem. I can’t get any wider.”

“Sorry. It’s an expression.”

“What is that stuff anyway?”

“A scientific mixture of chick food.”

“No wonder.”

“No wonder what?”

“It tastes so bad. I’m not a chick.”

“You are a young bird. Almost the same thing.”

“To you, maybe. To me, I’m a fledgling.”

“Who taught you that?”

“My Mama.”

“Where is she now?”

“Still at  the nest, I suppose.”

“Why aren’t you there?”

“Like I said, I’m a fledgling. I’m supposed to go my own way.”

“We thought you needed help.”

“What made you think that?”

“You were walking instead of flying for one thing.”

“Oh, that. I was giving my wings a rest.”

“Could have fooled me. You looked all done in.”

“Mama taught me to look weak in the face of an enemy.”

“I’m not an enemy.”

“I didn’t know that.”

“Okay, what now?”

“I have to hoof it back home.”

“Hoof it?”

“Well, I mean fly. Hoof it is an expression.”

“So, you don’t need rescue.”

“Nope. Thank you kindly. And a word to the wise.”

“Yes.”

“Lose the chick food.”

“Noted.”

 

 

60 thoughts on “Tuesday -Anything Possible – Kreative Kue #433 by Keith Channing”

  1. An important lesson there, John. Rescue is only rescue when it’s really needed. Mostly, provided it’s uninjured and not in immediate danger, a chick that leaves the nest early will be taken care of by its parents. And hand-rearing a chick that hasn’t yet developed all its feathers is not a trivial job!

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  5. The old adage, “Never judge a book by its cover” came to my mind since they both got the wrong end of the stick there.

    Well, the Fledgling got a meal, and the person gets points for trying to help. I love a happy ending.

    Liked by 1 person

  10. I’ve always heard one should let wee ones alone, provided they’re not seriously injured, because Nature will take care of them. I guess his heart was in the right place though!

    Liked by 1 person

  14. Wonderful dialogue, John, and spot-on, too! I learned from my mother that some birds will fledge on the ground, usually hiding in bushes. The parents are usually nearby so it’s best to leave the little bird alone.

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  19. People often mistake animals as needing rescue, when they don’t. We’ve learned that the very young rabbits actually do quite well without any help from us (except proving a yard they can eat in).

    Liked by 1 person

  24. Nice story and message from Keith. I thought we had a wounded hawk in our backyard recently until I realized that all the head bobbing and shoulder movement was just the bird enjoying the innards of a recently killed squirrel held tightly in its talons.

    Liked by 1 person

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