The Talking Pelican

The Talking Pelican

By Paul McCann

It was the last weekend in August just before the tourists came and Mr Fields went to meet his friend Terry in their usual spot at the bench seat there on Sunbury Walk near the sea . It was the place where they had always met to talk about life and escape for a while walking by the sea .

Terry was patient in listening and spoke with a forgiveness in his voice that sounded older that he was and much bolder than brass ,

Terry shared some stones from the past when life was much different that it was  today . Back then on Sunbury Walk the pathway was overgrown weeds and covered with pebble stones . There were no poles to perch on but now things had changed for the barefooted pelican who had met his friend Mr Fields . Back then times were much harder and Terry had blisters on his feet and not enough food to eat nut now things were much better since Mr Fields came with his little treats and rewards .

As Mr Fields walked towards the tall pole at the end of Sunbury Walk Terry had already spotted him and the greyish pinkish looking pelican glided down from where he was perched on top of the pole to the ground almost at the feet of Mr Fields who spoke first ,

“Hello Terry, Lovely day for some Tai Chi , what do you say ?

Terry kept both eyes fixed and scanned a total three hundred and sixty degrees before speaking ,

“Why of course Mr Fields , I’m happy to try something new. Sounds a little Asian dish to me , Sure old chap . So, tell me exactly what kind of food Tai Chi is ?“

Mr Fields cleared his throat and checked out the proceedings before speaking and said ,

“ It’s not actually food Terry; Tai Chi is like an exercise that helps your balance ?”

The pelican waddled a little closer and walked like a drunken sailor all at sea with nowhere to go and kept his eyes fixed in a stare that made you aware of his uncomfortable feelings and then he spoke .

“So Tai Chi is to help with keeping your balance ?”

Mr Fields replied ,

“Exactly Terry “

The pelican said .

“But there’s nothing wrong with my balance.”

Mr Fields cleared his throat again and replied .

“I know that Terry , its more for my balance so if you wouldn’t mind helping me out with this, I’d appreciate it and then after we can enjoy the food I have brought in my bag ?”

 

Waddling in a circle to make sure no one was around,  Terry responded ,

“Well, I guess I can help you out with some Tai Chi . So, what kind of exercise se we need to do ?

“Well first things first Terry , now follow me down to the beach to a quiet spot there on the sand and I ‘ll show you the Tai Chi exercise “

It was deserted so they walked and they talked as no one was around to interfere .

Then Terry made a comment .

“You know that I’m like the keeper here Mr Fields with my own pole . My role is to  protect and achieve the goal I have set as a pelican which is to observe and obey the rules that all pelicans have been given here and everywhere to watch the sky keep in the air as well as on the ground and to sit silently on the rocks and in the other places we belong “

Mr Fields nodded his head in appreciation and said,

“Of course, I know how important you are Terry and may I congratulate you on the great job that you do “

The pelican stuck his beak proudly up in the air and said,

“Mr Fields you are not like all the other humankind who think they belong however I can tell they do not belong and as a matter of fact I can tell you here and now that they are only here to poach the domain that is here for birds like myself to fish and even thought it makes me angry sometimes I must remain calm and welcome them here to Sunbury because we pelicans have rules to observe and obey :

Mrs Fields again cleared his throat a few times and then he said ,

“ Of course, Terry I am very aware of those who come with selfish ways to trespass on your watery table in their boats and even those who stand on the land on rocks with fishing rods and their lines and floats trying to poach what is really yours “

Terry responded , 

“Mr Fields how amazed I am that you can understand all of that . Imagine if we failed to observe the rules and went on the attack from our high poles diving down with our wide-open beaks filled with pebble stones and bombed those intruders but no , you see we pelicans are peaceful by nature and we glide gracefully in the air as we fly through the sky . We would never dream of dropping objects on the heads of those who pass by below .”

Mr Fields gently patted the pelicans head and said . 

“Terry you are indeed to be admire for your peacefulness and to tell you the truth is we humans who always try to dominate as the aggressor into other people’s space, so we need to become more like you and be friendly and welcome everyone into our persona space .”

 

The pelican came to a stop and said ,

“Mr Fields, have we walked far enough , is this spot ok for us to do Tai Chi ?

;Well I guess so . I am going to instruct you how to do Tai Chi on the beach””.

Terry nodded his head and said.

“Ok go ahead then Mr Fields , I’m all ears if you know what I mean .”

Mr Fields began the instruction ,

“Let me teach you Tai Chi  on the beach Terry , as I gently reach my hands to the sky , try to stretch your wings out as if you’re going to fly . Then open your inner eyes wide and imagine that you are a butterfly  “

 Mr Fields I cannot imagine being a butterfly I’m mush to big and heavy “

Mr Fields said ,

“Terry try not to interrupt please , just do your best and follow what I do and listen to my voice , imagine that you are a butterfly and gently rest your wings now and I lower my hands down by my side . Stand on the tip of your feet as if you are a leaf resting on the top of a rock pool then imagine the wind lifting you up into the air and bringing you out to the waves on the ocean and there float with a gentle motion as you gaze out to the sea towards the horizon in the direction where utopia can be seen and then in quiet reflection m let us be still in that place where no one can see us there performing Tai chi on the beach ‘

“Is that it Mr Fields , are we done with the Tai Chi ?’

Terry asked and Mr Fields smiled and said.

“Well, I suppose we can make some noise now and eat what I’ve brought you from the city that employs chefs to cook barramundi with moray and sea perch with beer battered skin . I have sardines from a tin and lots more treats for us to eat in the sunshine here today at Sunbury :

As he joined his hands , Terry also crossed his wings and after moments silence, they began to eat everything in reach and what a beautiful lunch they had shared .

When it was almost time to say goodbye, they looked at each other and the pelican said ,

“ Why can’t some people share their wealth , all they seem to do is take things for themselves and never give anything in return , ?”

Mr Fields replied

‘How do you know all these things Tery ?

Terry said ,

“Remember pelicans have a role to observe and obey , All the things we see we cannot try to change , We are just like forgotten monuments there to be seen ..
Pelicans on pillars on the edge of seashores we see a lot and pass on that to others who carry our reports to the time fillers and master controllers who monitor what we observe “

Mr Fields smiled and said

“I’m  thinking the human race needs to take up sitting on poles for a while Terry ?’

They laughed and parted company

“See you next week then Mr Fields ,

‘See you then Terry “

The End

 

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