Hello Grafted In Readers,
Today is a breezy November 4, 2025 in my corner of blog land.
As you noticed from the subject, this post will feature a short story of mine titled, Birds Of A Feather. The setting is a beachfront that goes out into a strait called The St. Clair River here in lower SE Michigan. The characters are the birds who share this property with the public.
One note, reference is made to the United States Government shutdown, which will hopefully be a thing of the past long before Springtime. We have self-centered public officials from both parties here in the U.S., in my opinion.
Feel free to share this story and blog with your friends and acquaintances.
Comments welcome, but do enjoy this little escape from the pings and pongs of life.
Birds of a Feather
David C. Russell
The 50-mile bridge-to-bay trail was
active Memorial Day Weekend. Winter
passed. This spring day offered mostly sunny skies, gentle breeze, a sense of
refresh and hopefulness was significant. Passage of the long federal government
shutdown also added to the newness experienced across humanity. extended hours of daylight, and collective
longing for the outdoors and its social amenities were now in reach. This 72-hour
Holiday weekend had come to be regarded ‘first unofficial weekend of Summer’ across
the nation.
This hiking and biking trail’s
length has extended South from New Baltimore north to Lakeport State Park.
Meantime, a flock of seagulls
returned some weeks ago from winter trips afar to Chrysler Beach in the
medium-size town, Marysville, Michigan. The beachfront had shown stirred
wakefulness as the young frolicked in the shallows of the St. Clair River, walkers
with or without canine companions strolled the beach front, picnicers brought
eats from home or the nearby deli, sandwich shop, or food truck.
A handful of gulls had gathered by
the boat dock to engage in bird chatter the Friday before Memorial Day. “We had
a good Winter, but the next four months will be the best,” said Mrs. Wing,
chairperson of the foraging group.
“I got one complaint though about
this beach,” Hazel Preen began, “This place has become way too friendly for
dogs. It makes foraging a challenge having them bitches here,” she said.
“Does anything make you happy?” cawed
Mr. Crowstead?
“Yeah, good fresh water instead of infested
water mixed with waste product by animal life including human.”
Ms. Robin added, “The fresh water
is the best, especially after a worm appetizer or group sing-and-chirp.”
“I’ll talk to King Charles of the
Spaniel group about the increase in dogs at this beach. He’s pretty shrewd and
can strike a diplomatic deal,” said 20-year-old Chirp Friendly. He was
Ambassador representing Gull government.
So, one mid-summer afternoon, King
Charles had wakened from his afternoon nap to see Chirp nearing. The two
discussed the seagulls concerns about being overrun by dogs at the beach.
“I like your thoughtful proposal,
Chirp. Establishment of a program where certain breeds are allowed on specific
days. Violators will become sick from a smart chemical we can put out here,”
King Charles stated.
“Is the agent only harmful to
breeds not allowed?” Chirp asked.
“Yes. It’s a smart agent designed
to work according to public policy. It cannot be tampered with nor altered by
some mischievous evil-doer,” Charles said. Both exchanged expressions that
communicated general agreement to the proposal.
“Can this be implemented soon?”
Chirp asked.
“Probably after this weekend,
around the middle of next week,” stated Charles.
Chirp reported the summation of his
conversation to the group the following morning. The gulls enjoyed a community
bug feast. The gourmet food-fair included crickets, grasshoppers, and June
bugs.
“Glad you were able to negotiate
something, Chirp. Bet your parents were proud as hell of you,” said Turkey
Trotter, most senior citizen of the beachfront population.
“I think this is a horrible deal,”
began Mrs. Preen. “I like certain types of dogs and not others. The small,
short, yappy brats are okay, but the Retrievers, Brittany Hounds, and Terriers
ruffle my feathers.”
“Mrs. Preen, aren’t you ever
happy?” chimed in Turkey Trotter. She recalled this same question verbatim from
earlier. Her response was a string of gull expletives mingled with character
defamation.
A young lad watching from the shoreline turned about. From his satchel -
he withdrew a small handful of oyster crackers and tossed them toward the gull
gathering. Mrs. Preen responded with eager thanks!
Noticing the exchange, Turkey
Trotter concluded that moments of happiness are possible for even the grouchy,
irascible, snappy forward fowl.
As the summer months passed, the
new regulations took effect. The sector of humanity bent on testing the
regulations were soon convinced by resultant behavior that conformity was in
everyone’s best interest. The public property appeared more clean and less
disorganized with the new regulations in place. Turkey Trotter observed as
Labor Day approached, “Mrs. Preen, you’re smiling more these days. What
changed?”
“People finally started to take my
recommendations seriously,” she chirped.
End
Until next visit, the Lord bless and keep all of us,
Moreover, Thanks to our Military for ongoing service, Happy Thanksgiving, and to Christian/Catholics, happy start to your season of Advent. See you back here in a few weeks!
David C. Russell, Author
Mellow Rock
