Around and Around

A children's story from deep, deep in the desk drawer

There was once a flock of birds that lived on a wire. Everything they did they did together.

When one bird flew up, they all flew up. When one bird came down, they all came down.

When it was time to look for food, they all looked for food.

Around and around, left and right they flew — and no one knew who was leading and who was following.

It was perfect, and they were happy.

Except…

There was one bird.

He wondered why all the birds had to do everything together.

Why do we all fly left at the same time? Why do we all fly right at the same time? Around and around, left and right we go, and no one knows who is leading and who is following.

And one day he sat further apart from the others.

Then further.

And even further.

And when all the birds flew up…

He stayed.

When he wanted to fly this way, he flew this way.

When he wanted to fly that way, he flew that way.

Around and around he flew, left and right, and there was no one to lead and no one to follow. It was perfect, and he was happy.

Except…

He needed to share it.

And he met a bird exactly like himself.

Everything they did, they did together. When she wanted to fly up, he wanted to fly up. When he wanted to come down, she wanted to come down.

Around and around, left and right they followed each other. And neither knew who was leading and who was following.

It was perfect, and they were happy.

They had children.

And their children had children.

And together they crowded on their wire. When one bird flew up, they all flew up. When one bird came down, they all came down. When it was time to look for food, they all looked for food.

Around and around, left and right they went, and no one knew who was leading and who was following.

It was perfect, and they were happy.

Except…

There was one bird, and he wondered why all the birds had to do everything together.

The End

— 2003

Thank you, Karen Dacek. You tied off one end of the fine thread that connects this story to this site.