Previous Challenge Entry (Level 2 – Intermediate)
Topic: ODD (10/06/22)
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TITLE: Pen and Heron | Previous Challenge Entry
By Jennifer Champion
10/07/22 -
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“Oh, white heron, please come this way.” Pen called out.
She made her way to the beach and took off her shoes. The wet sand felt good to her toes. Soon she saw the heron again; it had circled back and was flying towards her. She stepped into the shallow water and waved again.
“Oh, white heron, please come to me. I want to see you.” She called out even louder this time.
The heron heard Pen and turned with a wide swooping motion and headed straight to her. Pen watched as the magnificent bird landed a few feet in front of her on an oak tree that had fallen in the river.
The heron stretched its long neck up towards the night sky and flapped its wings. They made a whooshing sound and stirred up the water below.
“Well, you called me here, girl. What is it that you want with me?” The bird asked Pen.
Pen sat down, pulled her knees up to her chest and wrapped her thin arms around her long legs. She thought for a few moments before replying. She had not expected the heron to speak to her.
“I wanted to see you up close because you are so beautiful. I’ve never seen anything so pretty before.” Pen answered.
The heron stepped off the log and walked with a lanky stride to Pen until he was in front of her and peered down into her face.
“That is funny.” He said to her.
“What is funny?” She asked.
“Well, you said you had never seen anything so pretty before. Yet, I assume you have a mirror. Surely, you have seen yourself. You are beautiful too.” He cocked his head back and forth as he spoke to Pen.
Pen had never thought of herself as especially beautiful. She wasn’t comfortable in her own body and felt like something was wrong with her. She wanted to be different. She felt strange most days about who she was and who God created her to be.
The heron angered Pen when he said these things to her. She did not want to hear that she was beautiful.
“Go away, bird. I don’t want to talk to you again.” Pen tucked her head into her arms and began to cry.
The heron poked gently at her soft brown hair and then whispered in her ear. “We do not have to talk. Let’s go.”
“What do you mean, you crazy bird? Go where?” Pen was aggravated but the heron was persistent.
“Climb onto my back. I will take you for a ride.” The heron lowered its massive body and Pen got onto its back, her long legs dangling on each side.
“Hold on,” The heron told her as he stood up and flapped his giant wings.
As they flew over the water that night, Pen held her head up high to see the stars and felt the breeze of the wind go over her face. As they flew, the heron would make notice of things he saw like a man sitting by a campfire on the shore, a boy throwing rocks in the water, and couple kissing in a small boat. Pen saw fat fish swimming in the water, a mother alligator burying its eggs, and a turtle pair mating.
When the heron landed and let Pen off, he said, “Tonight you have seen many things. Never forget that God created them all, just like he did you. You are not strange at all, just beautifully made in His image.”
Pen hugged the heron before he flew away. She waved to the river bird as he flew into the darkness. She felt at peace with God and with herself for a change. It had indeed been a weird and wonderful night.
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Well done.
Blessings~
Well done.
I loved it. Thank you!
Nicely done,
Blessings~