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Voices by Jack Linton Thirty-five years ago, Jacob McLoy lost someone very dear to him. He longs to find her through the voic... [1,315 words]
My Message Of Caress by Jacqueline Anel Sheppard This story is about the depth of a daughter towards life and how her existance leads to he... [452 words]
Sincerely, Michelle White by Shelley J Alongi A prominent recording executive realizes her relationship with a band manager has bee... [2,207 words]
Lessons
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How I Talked My Brother Into Digging by Matthew Dean How I talked my brother into digging up the septic tank. [430 words]
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A Better Place To Be by Steven R. Kravsow Bennie Dean is a tiny little man with a crooked little smile who marks the passage of his ... [788 words]
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TITLE (EDIT)
Lessons
DESCRIPTION
A short foray into minor philosophy and perhaps a little amusing.
[1,359 words]
AUTHOR
Albert Davis
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
-
[June 2005]
AUTHOR'S OTHER TITLES (8)
A Darker Night (Short Stories) I think that in this world people all have dual identities and what you see is seldom the truth of the matter. This is a brief look at another side. [1,507 words]
A Story Of Warriors Rev1 (Short Stories) This is a revised edition of a short story I submitted several years ago. [3,373 words]
Billy (Short Stories) Life has possibilities and options and the possibilities sometimes don't follow our options. [2,061 words]
Cold Eddie Kane (Short Stories) Just a situation that I thought of. Please read it and tell what you think. [4,803 words]
Eye's Of A Bad Man (Short Stories) In a world of violence why are we so surprised by the violence we encounter? This is a depiction of violence. [5,180 words]
Satan Smiled (Short Stories) - [3,737 words]
Shadow Walker (Short Stories) This is a short story for the warrior in you or anyone, the mentality needed to be a destroyer and the confidence to walk the line. [837 words]
War (Short Stories) A short story. [4,483 words]
Lessons
Albert Davis

I have found that throughout life we come across circumstances and situations that afford us lessons. Many of the things we learn are taught to us by experience, like that perfect cough we develop for calling in sick on the job. Some lessons we learn by pure chance, such as while playing with your fathers lighter when you burn your fingers and discover that fire is hot and when you know instinctively to burst into tears and tell the fireman that you don�t know how it started. Then there are the times when someone tells us something so profound that we just can�t forget it. The lessons that are derived from the knowledge of others, the wisdom of Socrates to Plato to Aristotle, you know that crap we still don�t have a clue about. I would like to be able to claim that this little tale is an original of mine; alas that cannot be, a friend of my wife and I was the person that told it to me. Regardless of its origin, I believe, this story to be very entertaining and amusing; I further hope that you will find it to be so as well. But, it does contain some small pearls of life lessons, read on and see if you don�t agree.
At the end of the story I will relate to you what little life truisms that I garnished from the telling. You may discover lessons of your own that did not occur to me, or you may enjoy and agree with what I have ascertained from this story. We will see. Now I will begin this tale in the fashion of stories as they have been passed down through the ages.
Once upon a time, there was a young bird and as the young are prone to be, this little bird was shall we say flighty. The little fellow was rambunctious, enthusiastic, eager, and spirited and therefore susceptible to errors in judgement. In any case the little bird was having a wonderful time, the days were gentle and peaceful, there was food a plenty, and peace was upon the earth. He spent his days flitting through the forest laughing and singing; he flew around all the older birds that were so stern and serious, laughing and playing. It was a beautiful life and he was enjoying it immensely.
As time passed, as time has a wont to do, the older birds become even more solemn and serious and they spoke together in muted serious tones. But our little bird didn�t let their grave faces and worried words bother him, no he continued to merrily romp and play through the forest. Then one day the old graybeard, the oldest bird in the forest, called all the birds together for a meeting. When all the birds had gathered around, the old bird said, " it is time," and all the other birds nodded their heads sagely. Our little bird was confused and he asked, "time for what?" The old graybeard said, "It�s time to leave this place and fly south. The weather will be changing soon and we cannot wait any longer." "Fly away! Are you crazy?" Our little friend cried. "Why the weather is beautiful and the food is plentiful, we would be crazy to leave this place now." The old bird looked at the youngster and explained, "Yes little one it does seem that we are leaving much, but we have learned that things change very quickly and it is better to be safe than sorry." The little bird laughed and said, "You old guys worry too much, there�s plenty here and I have plenty of time. I am not going." The older bird just shook his head.
The next day all the other birds left the forest and headed south. The little bird flitted around the forest singing and playing and all was right in his world. He did miss the company of the other birds though, but the weather was nice and the food was plentiful, so he stayed on. One day turned into two, then into three and four and so on. Soon a week had passed and the little bird laughed to himself every time he thought about how all the others had left so early.
Then one morning the little bird woke up and he was trembling; the day was gray and cold, and the wind was like ice on his little body. The little bird became nervous and afraid. He decided that now would be a good time to follow the others. So the little bird took off and headed south, as he flew the weather became colder and bitterer and the little bird became more and more afraid. He flew faster and still the air became colder and colder and he trembled more and more. Faster and faster he flew but he couldn�t out fly the wind and he began to tire; as he began to slow down his little beak was chattering, his body was trembling and his little wings started to freeze. Still, he flew on. Lower and lower in the sky he struggled on, until exhausted and freezing he landed in a barnyard.
The little bird lay in the middle of the barnyard and knew his time was short. He would have cried but he was far too cold for that and his little heart was slowing down. If only I had listened he thought none of this would be happening he moaned to himself and now he was going to die, cold and alone. As the little bird lay in the barnyard freezing one of the farmer�s cows wandered out of the barn, she went to the trough and took a drink. The cow then walked across the yard; she came and stood over the little bird. The cow looked back at the little bird and immediately dropped a huge pile of poop right on top of the little bird then walked back into the barn. Damn, thought the little bird, I�m going to freeze to death and now I�m going to freeze to death in a pile of shit. The little bird had never felt so bad in his short life. Then as he lay there in the pile of cow poop, a strange thing began to happen. His little body stopped trembling and his wings thawed out, he became warm all over. His spirits brightened considerably and he thought to himself maybe I�m not going to die today. As he lay there warming and getting stronger, he began to chirp and sing in happiness. The little bird began to hope, as his hopes built up and his strength rose with his hopes he sang a little louder. The little bird was warming up and planning on flying out of this mess as quickly as he could get himself together and he sang a little louder. Pretty soon the little bird was singing happily away.
Well it just so happens that about this time the neighbor�s cat is passing through the barnyard on his way back to his house when he hears the little bird singing away. The cat stops in his tracks and listens very carefully. He slowly follows the sounds of the singing to the pile of manure. The cat stands and listens. Yes, he thinks, the noise is coming from the pile in the middle of the yard. The cat decides to investigate further and begins to dig in the pile of cow poop. After digging for a second or two the cat uncovers the little bird and delighted at his discovery he promptly ate the little bird up. That is the end of this little story.
Now as I promised, let me tell you the life lessons I learned from this story.
First: In life you must always remember that everyone that shits on you is not your enemy.
Second: Remember, just because someone digs you out of a pile of shit that doesn�t mean their your friend.
Finally: If you should happen to find yourself warm and content in a world of shit, keep your mouth closed.

 

READER'S REVIEWS (2)
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"This is a really good short story, I like it a lot. I liked the way the words came in one breathe, like every word was important, and it gave me a distinctive look at it's story type, and I sometimes write my poetry that way. If you didn't mean for it to be so, still, know that a lot of people like it. Me in line # 1." -- Kimberly.
"Thank you Kimberly, I don't often get the time to respond to comments concerning the things I write, but I do appreciate any and all comments that are given. I also enjoy a number of the stories that I find aon this site. I am just beginning to explore the poetry entries. peace out!" -- Al Davis.

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COPYRIGHT NOTICE
© 2000 Albert Davis
STORYMANIA PUBLICATION DATE
August 2000
NUMBER OF TIMES TITLE VIEWED
2558
 

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