Answering the Call

Wilbur looked around at everyone gathered for the meeting he had called. He knew everyone was curious as to the purpose of the meeting . He had heard the different ideas that were flying around. Some thought he was getting ready to resign as their faithful leader, but that was far from the truth. Even if his white hairs were showing, he wasn’t ready to step down from his perch yet.

He took some deep breaths as he wasn’t even sure how to tell everyone exactly what he was thinking. Some may think he was wise, but right now, he was even having problems at knowing exactly what to do. All he knew is that something had to be done, even if he had to ruffle the feathers of some. He was sure that Old Clarence wouldn’t be too keen on his idea. Clarence didn’t like change, but Wilbur couldn’t help that, change was in the air.

Wilbur waited for all to be quiet. He could still hear Clarice chirping away. The only time she seemed to have her beak closed was when she was eating!  Wilbur shook his head as everyone turned toward Clarice. She was not happy, as you could tell by her whistling sounds.  Apparently Fiona had given her a little peck trying to get her to be quiet. Clarice gave one more shrill as she flew away. Wilbur watched her go, he was sure she wouldn’t go far. Her curiosity wouldn’t let her.  She wouldn’t want to miss what this meeting was about. It would drive her batty not knowing what had been discussed.

At last, everyone settled down once more and Wilbur began to speak.

“Thank you all for coming! I know this is not one of our regularly scheduled meetings but I felt like this could not wait. I feel that the time has come for us to make a very important decision. We have flown around here for a couple hundred years. We have been admired by many and we were given the status of “National Bird” to this Country. They obviously were thinking straight when they made that decision, for we are a majestic bird! Whistling and shrills were let out in agreement.

I have been proud of this honor, but lately things have been appearing to go crazy around here. I have always been confused by humans but it just keeps getting worse! You would think that the “Dodo bird” was their National bird, with the way some of them act. Not all of them, Oh No! There are quite a few wonderful ones that I have seen! Its just that lately some of them have had me questioning my own sanity. I have been curious if this is just a problem with the humans in this land or is it an epidemic among all humans?

I have thought long and hard and I am asking for 4 eagles from among us to volunteer to be our Eagle Scouts. I would like to send them far, far away to scout out other lands and see what they think of the humans living there.  I believe we need to do the best we can to have a land that is worthy of having us as their “National Bird”.

It will require courage and bravery,  you will need to fly high to soar over mountains, oceans and possibly a wall to get to these other faraway lands.”

The crowd was silent as Wilbur penetrated them all with his steady gaze.

He silently asked himself, would any rise to the call? Would they agree with him, would anyone want to go? Would they all think he was cuckoo! One by one he looked at each eagle, some meeting his gaze, and some turning away. He continued going from bird to bird and at last he had completed the circle. Still all remained silent.

Then he heard it. The fluttering of wings. 4 brave eagles were flying towards him. They all landed in front of him and said, ” We want to be Eagle Scouts, we will go!”

Wilbur puffed up with pride. He knew they wouldn’t let him down. He would send them out and wait with much anticipation to hear what they  would discover in the other lands. In the meantime he would continue to try his best at figuring  out the humans who lived here!