|
"Hum. Hum. Hum. I love to hum!" said
Olivia. The tiny bird flew from flower to flower, sipping nectar with her
long beak. Hum. Hum. Hum."
Nellie, a wise old owl, was sitting
on a chimney of an old croft house watching the hummingbird. "My, you’re
certainly fast. I can hardly see your wings move. You’re very tiny too."
Olivia landed next to Nellie. "What
sort of bird are you?" she asked.
"I’m an owl. I sit here and watch
the croft," Nellie answered.
"Why? What are you watching?"
"I keep my eye open for mice and
snakes and such things as that. Normally I come out at night but I heard
your humming and wondered who was making such delightful music," Nellie
said.
"I didn’t know there were snakes in
Scotland. What do snakes eat?" Olivia wondered.
"They eat mice too, but they also
eat birds, like yourself," Nellie warned.
"I’ll watch out for them. I’ve got
to go now. I’m thirsty and wanting some nectar. Cheerio for now," Olivia
said and flew away. The owl stayed on the chimney watching the hummingbird
as she fluttered around the flowers like a butterfly.
Soon Olivia’s feathered tummy
started poking out. She was full from sipping so much nectar. Springtime
in Scotland is beautiful. Flowers of every sort blossom and fill the air
with their fragrance. "I think I’ll rest for a while," the bird said and
landed on the branch of a flowering tree. She sat among the blossoms,
enjoying the beauty around her.
Slithering up the tree trunk was a
garden snake. Its long, scaly body wrapped around the branches as it made
its way higher up. It spotted Olivia and was attracted to her because of
her colorful feathers. It moved closer and closer to her. Olivia didn’t
see it coming as it was the same color of the branches. She was too busy
humming. "Hum. Hum. Hum. Hum." It was just about to snap its jaws around
the poor little bird when Nellie came screeching towards them, her talons
out in front of her. "Watch out, Olivia," she shouted.
Olivia turned around and saw the
snake. She flew away just in time. Nellie grabbed the snake in her talons
and flew off with it. She dropped it in a field outside the croft and flew
back to the chimney.
A while later Olivia joined Nellie.
"Thanks for saving me. I’m glad you sit up here and watch for snakes."
"It’s my job."
"What can I do to repay you?" Olivia
asked.
"Just keep humming your little
tunes. They brightens my day and make me feel happy," Nellie smiled.
Olivia flew away and headed for the
flower garden. Daffodils were trumpeting and tulips were dancing in the
gentle breeze. "Hum. Hum. Hum."
Nellie smiled. |
