Post by musicboxdancer on Feb 24, 2010 16:21:31 GMT -5
LADY BIRD
Once upon a time on a lovely island lived a bird who called herself lady Bird.
She was very different than all of the others birds on the island.
All the other birds were exotic, beautiful and vain.
They treated Lady Bird terribly unkind. They were constantly telling her how ugly and mean she was. They made fun of her long stick-like bony legs. They would say how ugly her long scrawny neck was and that it served no useful purpose. Further they stated that the feathers hanging from her neck, looked more like long hairy spikes; than like their beautiful neck feathers.
The other birds often told her she was so ugly, she would never have a mate. They convinced her that she was only good for tending other bird's young, as she would never have any of her own. Finally, they also, assigned her the task of looking after the elderly birds of the island and providing food for them. Lady Bird was able to do that quite easily as she was the best on the island at fishing.
The other birds had her so busy at times, that she would become tired. They told her then, that she was just lazy and heartless. At other times they would tell her she was just out and out mean.
Once Lady Bird had asked the island Queen bird, if she could have a name, like all the other birds? Instead of just being called Lady Bird. The queen laughed at her and said, "You are lucky that we don't call you Ugly Bird. Be grateful for that, you ugly thing you."
There was a knoll near the beach with several tall trees on it. When Lady Bird was not busy watching over the other bird's babies or doing other chores, she would fly up and perch in one of the trees. There she would day dream about a mate and young of her own, as she gazed out over the sea.
She had noticed sometime back what looked like another island, off in the far distance. When she had mentioned what she had seen to some of the other birds, they laughed and scoffed at her. They told her there were no other islands. Their island was the only one that existed.
One day while perched in her usual tree, Lady Bird saw something so amazing that she nearly fell from her tree. Down below her walking on the beach was the most handsome bird that she had ever seen. He was not like the other birds on the island. He looked just like her!
She closely watched as he gracefully dove into the sea, bringing up a large fish. He flew to the beach with it and ate his catch. Lady Bird was so overcome with curiosity and excitement that she just could not contain herself. Without thinking about what could happen, she flew down to the beach. When the other bird saw her, he was stunned by both her beauty and her presence. He asked her, "Beautiful lady, where did you come from? Why are you here on this island?"
Surprised, she told him. "I live here; I have for as long as I can remember." He said, "But our kind do not live on islands. A few similar species do, but not us."
Amazed, she asked, "We don't? " He replied, "No, we don't." She asked, "Then why are you here?" He then told her he had been out fishing when a terrible windstorm came up and caused him to be blown way off course.
As the two of them started to stroll down the beach side-by-side; Lady Bird, continued to ask him questions. She queried, "If we don't live on islands where do we live?" He told her, "We live on the mainland and wetlands of a huge continent."
“Oh!” She said, "Is that what I see in the far distance, when I am perched way up high in the trees?" "Yes, I am sure it is," he replied.
Just about that time several young fledglings came bobbing up towards them. As soon as they noticed Lady Bird and the new stranger bird; they circled around them. They quickly began pointing and saying, "Now there are two ugly birds on our island. Two ugly birds, to do our bidding."
Soon, they became bored with their little game and bobbed off somewhere else to play.
After they left, the stranger bird, ask Lady Bird, "Why were they doing that? Do they often do you that way?"
"Yes, all of the time," sadly replied Lady Bird. "How can they call you ugly?, Cannot they see your beauty?" he asked. Lady Bird softly blushed, and said, "but I am not beautiful, it is all of the others here that are beautiful."
"Not in my eyes;" said the stranger bird, "you are exquisitely beautiful."
Again, Lady Bird blushed, even more deeply this time.
He asked her, "What is your name lovely lady?"
"I have no real name," she replied, "I am just called, Lady Bird." What is your name?" she timidly asked him.
He told her, "My name is Prince Payton; Payton means royal, in the language of the people of Scotland."
"Prince Payton, she whispered, "You are a Prince?"
"Yes, on the mainland in my small flock; yes, I am a prince," he told her.
This made Lady Bird feel very humble in his presence and even more shy than before.
"Do not be concerned lovely lady, so fair. It is but a title and I am of no more importance than you." That put Lady Bird more at ease.
Next she asked him, "What is a Scotland?"
Prince Payton replied, "it is a small country where the people speak with a quaint sounding speech."
"People?" she questioned. He smiled and answered, "They are really tall birds that have no wings nor feathers and cannot fly."
Lady Bird looked at him in a puzzled way. “No wings or feathers and cannot fly?”
As Prince Payton and Lady Bird continued strolling together, more of the other birds became aware that there was now two, ugly birds in their midst. Soon word of the strange bird being on their island reached the ears of the Queen bird. She sent 3 messenger birds to demand that both Prince Payton and Lady Bird appear in her court and immediately.
The Prince did not take kindly to being commanded. Lady Bird, pleaded with him, "Oh please, do not displease the queen, for I live here. She can make my life much more difficult than it already is." Thus, for Lady Bird’s sake, he agreed to go.
Upon their arrival, the Queen appeared to be most unfriendly. She said to Prince Payton, "Explain your presence here on my island and where do you come from?"
He explained to her that he lived on the mainland of a large continent, several miles from her island. He further told her that a heavy windstorm had blown him in the direction of this island.
"I think you lie," screeched the Queen. “There is no other land, besides my island.
The Prince replied, "Have you not seen the outline of my continent's shore, on the horizon?"
"All that I have seen," said the Queen, "are the shadows from the clouds that sometimes covers the sea. There is no other land, just shadows."
"Then explain my presence!" said the Prince.
Beginning to have doubts in her own narrow-mindedness, she shouted, "I think the very gods of where you were, could no longer abide both your mouthiest and your loathsome ugliness. Therefore; they banished you from there to here. As, you are here, I must decide what to do with you," said the Queen. "Until I make that decision, as you are so much uglier than Lady Bird, you will be her servant. You will follow her directions in your duties. She will help you in learning to care for both the young birds and the elderly birds. Make sure that you do not cause any disturbances."
"As I am momentarily at your mercies, I will do your bidding," the Prince agreed. He could have easily flown away right then, but his attraction for Lady Bird had already overwhelmed his heart. He wished to remain on the island with her until he was able to persuade her to leave with him.
During the day, the Prince followed the directions of Lady Bird. As each day passed, his love for her grew. In a short time, Lady Bird began to sense his magnetic attractiveness more and more. During the nights the Prince was confined to the single male birds place of roost.
One morning after Prince Payton awoke, he was unable to locate Lady Bird. As more time passed and he couldn't find her; he became very concerned. He started asking all of the other birds with whom he came in contact if they had seen her. One of them mentioned that she had seen one
of her ugly feathers; near the tree that Lady Bird sometimes perched in. The Prince found that to be odd, for he knew how careful Lady Bird was of her feathers. He quickly departed for the tree.
After arriving there, he started looking around the area to see if he could find any other signs of her. Soon, he came across a second feather. A short distance Farther on, he came upon a third feather. Now, he was really becoming concerned. Not only because of her loss of the feathers, but also for her safety. He continued to follow a trail of feathers that lead to the entrance of a cave. He looked into the cave, but could see nothing for the darkness within it. When he called into he cave, he heard a muffled sound.
As his eyes adjusted to the darkness, he began to look around. There in a far corner he saw Lady Bird tied up. He rushed to her and released her bonds.
He questioned her, "My lovely Lady Bird, what happened? How did you become tied up here in this cave?"
Still, some what dazed she replied, "One of the meaner male birds stole me away. He said that he was planning to make me his mate, as I would be more like his slave and do his bidding. He had started to fear that you would want me for your mate. He said that he thought with me gone, you would soon give up and leave the island."
"What a brave prince you are" Lady Bird exclaimed, "Coming into such a dark cave, with no fear of danger to yourself."
Prince Payton replied, "I could think of nothing but the possible harm that you might have been in. I would go into a thousand such caves," he declared "to rescue my lady love for my heart belongs to you. Will you come away with me and be my princess mate?"
As a tremor went thru her very soul, she hesitated. In alarm she declared, "I cannot be your mate or princess without a proper name!"
"Worry not, dear Lady Bird; for I know the perfect name for you," was his reply. "You will be my Princess Kayana, for Kayana in the language of the people who dwell in England, means: keeper of the keys. You hold the keys to my heart and I will give you the keys to my small kingdom," Prince Payton proclaimed.
At that Lady Bird sighed and was complete delighted. A loving mate and a new splendid name! Prince Payton beckoned to her, "Come take my wings
and before the night, we will be forever together.
Leaving the cave and side by side, they took flight; heading towards the horizon. There on the continent and with the Prince’s flock, they lived happily ever after!
(C) Joyful Jan
Jan 31, 2010
