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Previous Challenge Entry (Level 2 – Intermediate)
Topic: Write something suitable for CHILDREN (05/31/07)
For Sam, his first day was his worst day. He was working so hard trying to peck his way out of the egg that he bounced himself right out of the nest. He fell, hit a branch, fell some more, hit a few more branches, and finally landed on the ground with an egg-shattering jolt.

Sam looked around. The world was so much bigger and brighter than the inside of his egg. He sat there blinking and feeling hungry until a strange-looking creature walked up to him.

“I’m Gabby,” said the creature, staring at Sam with a curious expression. “You look funny. Where’s your feathers? Where’s your wattle?” Gabby tipped up her beak, proudly displaying her bumpy red wattle.

Sam frowned, feeling very uncomfortable. “I don’t know. I just hatched.”

Gabby looked Sam up and down one more time. “I guess we can be friends. Would you like something to eat?”

“Yeah. I’m starving.”

Gabby led Sam to a nearby bush where she began to peck at the small red berries. “These are delicious,” she announced.

Sam ate a couple berries, but didn’t like them at all. Gabby suggested some acorns, nuts, and even small insects, but Sam didn’t like any of them.

“You’ll learn,” said Gabby, happily filling her stomach. “My family will teach you.”

For the next few months, Sam lived as a part of Gabby’s family, running from place to place and eating whatever the ground had to offer. As he began to grow, Sam noticed that he looked nothing like his adopted parents. He was much smaller with fewer tail feathers and without the slightest hint of a wattle.

One day, Sam wandered away from Gabby and her family. He wanted to be alone. He stared into the treetops, feeling as if he belonged up there somehow. While he was staring up, he spotted an old owl staring down at him.

“Whooo are you?” asked the old owl.

“I’m Sam.”

“What are you doing down there on the ground? You should be up here, like me.”

“I can’t climb all the way up there.” Sam lifted one short leg for the owl to see. “I can barely even run.”

“Those legs aren’t made for running. They’re for catching meat. What do you think those wings are for?"

Sam seemed to notice his wings for the first time. “I don’t know. I guess I never thought about it.”

“You’re made to fly, Sam. You’re not a turkey. You’re an eagle.”

Sam watched the owl fly away and wondered if he could follow. He unfurled his wings, focused all of his thoughts on the sky, and flapped. In a thrilling moment he felt himself lifting off the ground. Then he was soaring up, up, up, into the treetops, into the sky. For the first time, he felt at home. For the first time, he was free.
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This article has been read 862 times
Member Comments
Member
Date
julie wood
06/07/07
I enjoyed this story! It reminded me a lot of "The Ugly Duckling."

Great use of descriptions and dialogue. The characters came alive and I felt as though I knew them. Interesting title, too! (Makes one curious about how the turkey is a misfit.)Good job!
Dorothy Purge
06/07/07
Enjoyable story, with a deep meaning: "We should know who we are."
Kristen Hester
06/08/07
Very well written. Nice.
Dee Yoder
06/11/07
This is very well written and a lovely story! The message is just right for children and the characters quite appealing.
David Butler
06/11/07
I heard it once said: "If you're meant to soar with the eagles, what are you doing running with turkeys?"
Is that the inspiration behind the story? What a great idea, introducing that principle to kids like this. Well done.
Esther Gellert
06/12/07
Wonderful story. I loved that last paragraph, especially this bit: "In a thrilling moment he felt himself lifting off the ground. Then he was soaring up, up, up, into the treetops, into the sky."