Words of Wisdom from a Wiser Owl

-Words of Wisdom from a Wiser Owl-

The Owlery was full, as usual, with owls, whether they were snoozing, or just entering from a night in the air, or getting ready to make a delivery. Hedwig sat on her usual perch in the corner, admiring her feathers, and cooing softly as she buried her head into her chest and tried to doze off...

She didn´t fall asleep at all, though, for a smacking sound and a high-pitched chirping awoke her. Rolling her ears, Hedwig looked up and saw, to her repulsion, the tiny tawny owl she had run across when she was with her owner and his friends. She had even been forced to share food with him once.

The little bird looked up at her, a happy expression on his minute face. Hedwig sighed and made a little clucking sound with her beak and then, in owl language said "Who, who." Which, of course, means: "You´re only making a fool of yourself."

"Who?" was the littler owls reply. Which meant: "I am?" Hedwig took a deep breath, trying to keep her composure. She didn´t have time to talk to a bird much younger than she, and she was extremely tired. Yet, maybe if she instructed this little bird on the ways of owls, she wouldn´t have to put up with the clamor and cacophony he made each night.

"I pity you," Hedwig said, in owl language of course, but that´s what it would have sounded like in English. "Not only are you so tiny someone could squash you with their bare hands, but you annoy all the other owls, and your name is ´pig´."

"That´s what Ginny called me," Pig said. Hedwig look appalled.

"Rule one, to become a well respected and popular owl, is to never call a human by his or her first name unless you`ve been with them for five years or more. It´s either ´master´ or ´master´s friend´ or ´master´s sister´, but never their real name, especially since you´ve only been owned for three years."

"Oh..." the little bird squeaked, bowing his head in shame.

"Now, don´t cry," Hedwig said, unfolding her beautiful wing and patting Pig on the head, almost knocking him off his perch by accident. "You´re still learning. The next thing you must learn is never to draw too much attention to yourself. You deliver the message to your master, perhaps give them a little peck on the finger and leave, unless you are invited to have a crumpet or other."

"Oh..." Pig said again. "Isn´t that what I do?"

"No! You deliver the letter then attach yourself to the persons head and you squawk like a chicken; highly inappropriate." Hedwig was getting very tired and wanted to go back to sleep. She bowed her head, ruffling her feathers. Pig eyed the older, wiser bird and he two did the same, bowing his head to his chest, and he soon made little owl snores that echoed across the walls. Maybe, he thought, if I follow her around and do whatever she does, I will learn how to be a true owl! Pig smiled at the thought, knowing the older bird would approve.

That bird better not follow me around! Hedwig was thinking, at the exact same time. I would highly disapprove.

-the end-