A story
Tonight you shall hear a story, inspired by my experience tonight (well the characters)
Once upon a time, on the wild, dry african landscape, there was a a very special giraffe named Corey. This giraffe was unique in the fact that he had wings. Genuine, feathery wings, specialized for flying. Unfortunately, Corey had never been able to fly.
Like the penguin, kiwi, and ostrich, he just never used his wings for flying. It's not like he needed to use them, however, he was still a giraffe, with an incredibly long neck, which gave him easy access to the leaves in the trees, and a good view to spot unwelcome predators that might be approaching. He went on like this for his childhood, adolescence, and even into adulthood, ignoring his wings, and behaving as much like a giraffe as either of his ordinary parents and all his long-necked siblings.
Corey was a very Solitary giraffe. He spent most of his time alone, to avoid the uncomfortable reality that he was different than his the rest of his family. Often times he wished he didnt have his wings. He longed to fit in with his peers. Most of the time, he just accepted his wings, and went off to graze among the acacias, his personal favourite, when it comes to eating off trees.
On one of these many private and peaceful outings, Corey ran into one the most peculiar creatures he had ever seen. He was getting his mouth around a new bunch of leaves, when he realized a bird of some kind was staring at him from just up the branch of where he was eating. He paused, waiting for the bird to react to him.
He was ready to run, in case it got hostile. But he wasnt going to run now, he was curious as to what this bird actually was. He let go of his mouthful of leaves and slowly backed away form the tree, never breaking eye contact with this mysterious, but colourful feathered fauna. The silence that had arrived with the confrontation was broken with the friendly words of salutation spoken by the new bird.
"good day to you, sir."
'Woah, a talking bird' thought the giraffe, before realizing he should be polite to this potential new friend. "Good day to you." He replied.
"How are you today?" asked the bird.
Corey decided to continue with this line of conversation, the small talk may lead to a discovery of what this type of bird is called.
"I'm quite well, thank you, and yourself."
"Oh you know, same old, same old."
"I havent seen you around before, are you new here?" asked Corey.
"Oh, yes, excuse me, I have yet to introduce myself. I am Layla, the Petoia bird."
"Good to meet you layla, my name is Corey, the giraffe. May I enquire as to what a Petoia bird actually is?"
"A bird, obbviously. Haha, but I think your asking what kind of bird I am. Haha, yes, us Petoia birds are just a type of african parrot. Just really exotic and really colourful."
"Oh, a parrot, I see. I guess thats normal, almost. Most parrots around here are grey."
"Yeah, well we're a rare breed, and your not so normal yourself. You've got a nice pair of flappers going on for you there."
His wings! He had completely forgotten about them. No wonder this bird, Layla, was staring at him. He had wings!
"Say, can you actually fly with those things?" The petoia bird asked.
Corey felt the blood rush to his face. "Not so much as in actually flying." He replied, very conscious of the fact Layla could see his sensitivity on the subject.
"Well how about I teach you. I can fly real good."
Corey's heart warmed as he watched her take off, complete a double barrel roll into a loop, finishing with dive that nearly made her hit the ground, if it wasnt for her pulling up at the last second to settle back on the branch she had started on.
Corey was impressed with this display, but feeling incredibly lucky to have got this obviously skillful little bird offering her talent to him. He conveyed as much of this feeling toward her as he could.
"Wow, you ARE really good, and you'll teach me to fly like that?"
"Well, I'll try my danged hardest."
And try they did.
For the next few months, Layla and Corey worked together, in an attempt to get Corey to fly. There were many exercises strengthening Coreys wings, as well as a strict diet of leaves he was to follow. Actually, the only real difference was that Corey now had encouragement to use his wings.
All the time, he tried to keep his wings working. Layla was always there, with encouragement and support, whenever she noticed his wings begin to tire and slow down. At the beginning of his training, he could only muster a few flaps, but he kept working at it, and would only break if there wasnt enough strength to lift them anymore.
The constant use quickly strengthened his wings. He was beginning to feel his heels lift off the ground during his training.
When 10 weeks of training had gone by, Layla came to Corey with the announcement that she had to go visit her mother, and that she would be returning after 1 week. She also told Corey that she had complete confidence in his ability to train without her, and that he was getting very close to full use of his wings.
After she left Corey thought that it would be a great surprise if she came back and saw him flying, so he trained extra hard the week she was gone. He was sure at one point, he actually took all four hooves off the ground, even if it was only for a brief period of time.
The day Layla returned from visiting her mother, Corey was having an exceptionally good day. It only got better. Layla saw him take off, and have all 4 hooves clearly leave the ground, hover for a couple seconds, but eventually drop to the ground.
It was time for that little extra boost. She went over to him, and grabbed his back with her claws.
"What're you doing?" Corey asked.
"Just Trust me. On the count of 3, Flap as hard as you can. We're going to fly. One. Two. Three."
As she said her last word, both her and Corey flapped as hard as the could, and to their amazement, they began to fly. Corey began to fly.
"Keep flapping." Layla cried.
Up and up they went. Corey was amazed by the new, improved view he had from the air, but he did not stop working his wings.
"Now try to go forward." Layla instructed.
They leaned forward, and forward they went, picking up speed in the process. Corey couldnt believe it. He was flying! He wished he could do this forever, but he felt his wings tiring.
Layla felt it too, so she worked to get them safely to the ground.
As his feet came into contact with the ground, Corey began to think to himself. What a blessing he had been given, and how ironic it was that the one thing that set him apart from everyone else was his one most valued and favoured asset. He didnt need to be embarrassed about being different, he needed to be proud.
So proud is what he was for the left of his life. But not too proud. He used his ability to fly to help the other animals. He would carry the other animals, or make deliveries to those in need. He was admired by his peers now, and they accepted him. He knew who he was, which in turn allowed the other animals to know him, and appreciate him. Not just gaze in curiosity at the odd winged giraffe. Corey was mad very happy for the rest of his life, all thanks to a young Petoia bird named Layla.
If only we all had wings.
I hope you enjoyed this long, incredibly long post. Seee y'alls later.
Once upon a time, on the wild, dry african landscape, there was a a very special giraffe named Corey. This giraffe was unique in the fact that he had wings. Genuine, feathery wings, specialized for flying. Unfortunately, Corey had never been able to fly.
Like the penguin, kiwi, and ostrich, he just never used his wings for flying. It's not like he needed to use them, however, he was still a giraffe, with an incredibly long neck, which gave him easy access to the leaves in the trees, and a good view to spot unwelcome predators that might be approaching. He went on like this for his childhood, adolescence, and even into adulthood, ignoring his wings, and behaving as much like a giraffe as either of his ordinary parents and all his long-necked siblings.
Corey was a very Solitary giraffe. He spent most of his time alone, to avoid the uncomfortable reality that he was different than his the rest of his family. Often times he wished he didnt have his wings. He longed to fit in with his peers. Most of the time, he just accepted his wings, and went off to graze among the acacias, his personal favourite, when it comes to eating off trees.
On one of these many private and peaceful outings, Corey ran into one the most peculiar creatures he had ever seen. He was getting his mouth around a new bunch of leaves, when he realized a bird of some kind was staring at him from just up the branch of where he was eating. He paused, waiting for the bird to react to him.
He was ready to run, in case it got hostile. But he wasnt going to run now, he was curious as to what this bird actually was. He let go of his mouthful of leaves and slowly backed away form the tree, never breaking eye contact with this mysterious, but colourful feathered fauna. The silence that had arrived with the confrontation was broken with the friendly words of salutation spoken by the new bird.
"good day to you, sir."
'Woah, a talking bird' thought the giraffe, before realizing he should be polite to this potential new friend. "Good day to you." He replied.
"How are you today?" asked the bird.
Corey decided to continue with this line of conversation, the small talk may lead to a discovery of what this type of bird is called.
"I'm quite well, thank you, and yourself."
"Oh you know, same old, same old."
"I havent seen you around before, are you new here?" asked Corey.
"Oh, yes, excuse me, I have yet to introduce myself. I am Layla, the Petoia bird."
"Good to meet you layla, my name is Corey, the giraffe. May I enquire as to what a Petoia bird actually is?"
"A bird, obbviously. Haha, but I think your asking what kind of bird I am. Haha, yes, us Petoia birds are just a type of african parrot. Just really exotic and really colourful."
"Oh, a parrot, I see. I guess thats normal, almost. Most parrots around here are grey."
"Yeah, well we're a rare breed, and your not so normal yourself. You've got a nice pair of flappers going on for you there."
His wings! He had completely forgotten about them. No wonder this bird, Layla, was staring at him. He had wings!
"Say, can you actually fly with those things?" The petoia bird asked.
Corey felt the blood rush to his face. "Not so much as in actually flying." He replied, very conscious of the fact Layla could see his sensitivity on the subject.
"Well how about I teach you. I can fly real good."
Corey's heart warmed as he watched her take off, complete a double barrel roll into a loop, finishing with dive that nearly made her hit the ground, if it wasnt for her pulling up at the last second to settle back on the branch she had started on.
Corey was impressed with this display, but feeling incredibly lucky to have got this obviously skillful little bird offering her talent to him. He conveyed as much of this feeling toward her as he could.
"Wow, you ARE really good, and you'll teach me to fly like that?"
"Well, I'll try my danged hardest."
And try they did.
For the next few months, Layla and Corey worked together, in an attempt to get Corey to fly. There were many exercises strengthening Coreys wings, as well as a strict diet of leaves he was to follow. Actually, the only real difference was that Corey now had encouragement to use his wings.
All the time, he tried to keep his wings working. Layla was always there, with encouragement and support, whenever she noticed his wings begin to tire and slow down. At the beginning of his training, he could only muster a few flaps, but he kept working at it, and would only break if there wasnt enough strength to lift them anymore.
The constant use quickly strengthened his wings. He was beginning to feel his heels lift off the ground during his training.
When 10 weeks of training had gone by, Layla came to Corey with the announcement that she had to go visit her mother, and that she would be returning after 1 week. She also told Corey that she had complete confidence in his ability to train without her, and that he was getting very close to full use of his wings.
After she left Corey thought that it would be a great surprise if she came back and saw him flying, so he trained extra hard the week she was gone. He was sure at one point, he actually took all four hooves off the ground, even if it was only for a brief period of time.
The day Layla returned from visiting her mother, Corey was having an exceptionally good day. It only got better. Layla saw him take off, and have all 4 hooves clearly leave the ground, hover for a couple seconds, but eventually drop to the ground.
It was time for that little extra boost. She went over to him, and grabbed his back with her claws.
"What're you doing?" Corey asked.
"Just Trust me. On the count of 3, Flap as hard as you can. We're going to fly. One. Two. Three."
As she said her last word, both her and Corey flapped as hard as the could, and to their amazement, they began to fly. Corey began to fly.
"Keep flapping." Layla cried.
Up and up they went. Corey was amazed by the new, improved view he had from the air, but he did not stop working his wings.
"Now try to go forward." Layla instructed.
They leaned forward, and forward they went, picking up speed in the process. Corey couldnt believe it. He was flying! He wished he could do this forever, but he felt his wings tiring.
Layla felt it too, so she worked to get them safely to the ground.
As his feet came into contact with the ground, Corey began to think to himself. What a blessing he had been given, and how ironic it was that the one thing that set him apart from everyone else was his one most valued and favoured asset. He didnt need to be embarrassed about being different, he needed to be proud.
So proud is what he was for the left of his life. But not too proud. He used his ability to fly to help the other animals. He would carry the other animals, or make deliveries to those in need. He was admired by his peers now, and they accepted him. He knew who he was, which in turn allowed the other animals to know him, and appreciate him. Not just gaze in curiosity at the odd winged giraffe. Corey was mad very happy for the rest of his life, all thanks to a young Petoia bird named Layla.
If only we all had wings.
I hope you enjoyed this long, incredibly long post. Seee y'alls later.