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The Robin, The Lark and The Dove
by Moon Mistress
a/k/a Lisa Beth Darling
Once upon a time where was an old man who loved to feed the birds. Every day he would walk out into his neatly kept yard and refill the bird feeders which he kept in trees, on poles and by his lower windows. Every day he would call to them as he filled the feeders with seed and tossed out bits of old bread.
Knowing there was food around and always eager for a free meal, each morning a Robin and a Lark appeared in the old man's yard to strut around and peck at the bits of bread he'd left on the ground for them. Even though they were fairly ordinary birds the old man was always happy to see them and to watch them eat before flying off together to parts unknown. The bird he loved best was the Dove that came to sing for him as she perched high atop of the pole feeder in the middle of his yard. He would watch her taking in bird seed he'd set out and then flitting off to the nearest bird bath for a cool drink and a dip. The beautiful bird would preen and swim around in the bird bath while singing her own sweet tune which entranced the old man. The Dove never settled upon the ground to eat bits of stale bread. Instead if the Robin and the Lark were there she would watch them keenly from high above while she ate the delicious seed the old man put out for them.
The Robin and the Lark both believed the Dove to be a pretentious bird and they did not like her. They envied her beauty and her lovely singing voice so they banded together through thick and thin and squawked at the Dove whenever she came near. The Dove would only stare at them from her perch.
One day, after the Robin and the Lark had their fill of stale bread and then flew off without offering the old man so much as song for his troubles and his kindness the Dove appeared and perched herself on her customary pole. "Why don't you ever eat the bread?" The old man asked the cooing bird.
"Why should I want to do that, kind sir?" The Dove replied. "The seed is most delicious and the bread is stale and fattening."
"The Robin and the Lark like it."
"They eat it because they do not have to work for it. Believing themselves entitled to the free meal you give them, they take it and never think twice about your generosity." The Dove said. "If I sit up here and I eat the seed you have so kindly put out for me–which is much better for me and of a higher quality than the bread-- then you with your kind old eyes can see me better and hear my song as it echoes through your lovely yard. In this way I hope to repay you for all you do for me without my even asking." She cooed and began eating seed once more cracking them open with her petite beak so the husks fell to the ground while the seed remained in her mouth.
The old man thought about what the Dove said and the next day as he refilled his bird feeders he did not put out any bread from the day before. The Robin and the Lark landed in the yard and looked around for their bread. Finding none they began to squawk and then peck upon the old man's door. When he opened it he found the two birds standing in the doorway. "What are you two doing here?"
"Where's the bread?" The Robin asked in a haughty voice. "We come here expecting bread and today there is no bread. We want our bread."
"Yes," agreed the Lark.
"I have no bread today," the old man explained. "There is plenty of seed in the feeders." He invited.
The Robin squawked and rolled her small brown eyes. "We don't like seed, it's too difficult to get to and too hard to eat. We like bread."
"If I should go to the store, buy you some bread, bring it back here and put it in the yard, what will you do for me?" The old man asked.
"Why should I do anything for you?" The Robin asked.
"Yes, why?" The Lark echoed. "Give us our bread."
"It is not your bread, it is my bread," the old man countered. "If I share it with you then don't you think you should share something with me? A song perhaps?" The old man looked up to see the Dove sitting on a high branch, she sighed as she cooed and sang a sad song for the old man.
"A song?" The Robin huffed and looked up in the direction the old man was gazing to see the Dove and hear her lovely voice. "Why should I have to sing for my supper? I am better than that."
"Yes, we are." The Lark agreed. "Now give us our bread before we starve."
"I have no bread today," the old man said again, "there is plenty of seed and I'm sure you can find a worm or two in my yard."
"A worm?" The Robin cried and cocked her wings to the side. "Do you know how much work it is to find a worm? Why should I go through all of that trouble when I know you have perfectly good bread in there and you're just not sharing it with us."
"Share?" The old man asked. "I just asked you to share a song with me and you refused. Why should I share anything with you?" The old man stepped back and shut the door on the two rude birds. A few moments later the sweetest song was heard in his back yard and he looked out to see the Dove on the bird feeder right next to his window. She was singing the most beautiful song for him and it made the old man grin as he watched and listened to her. Opening the window he held out his hand and the Dove stepped on to it.
"You are a true friend, my pretty Dove." The old man complimented. "You were right about them all they wanted was whatever I was willing to give them and when I stopped they would do nothing for me in return."
"You mustn't blame them," the Dove cooed, "being common birds they know no better but that does not mean you have to continue feeding them." She rubbed her white head against his chin. "I am grateful for all you do for me." She said. "Shall I sing for you now?"
After that day the old man and the Dove spent many happy hours together day in and day out while the Robin and the Lark looked on in envy as they tried to find a handout elsewhere and found none that lasted. The Robin and the Lark spent many years together quietly starving and picking through trash left behind while they complained endlessly about the disservice the Dove had done them.
At least they had each other.
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