Shiny Black Crow

Already in my seat on the plane, waiting for the crew to close the door, I glanced out the window. It was a lovely day, the sun high in the blue sky: the perfect weather for flying.

While I was dreamily looking out, a black crow popped in to my line of sight. This can’t be good, I thought, for, after all, everyone’s heard of the stories in which planes have crashed because birds were sucked into their propellers, ruining them. Not really the perfection I’d envisaged for my long-awaited trip home. I decided to keep my eyes on the bird, just in case.

It hopped about right next to the plane’s wing, sometimes on it. My heart was racing as I heard the captain announce that the door was now closed and advising the cabin crew to be seated for take-off. The crow was still there, mocking me, jumping around even as the propellers gained movement. I saw that shiny black crow look up to my window, and I looked it straight in the eye, attempting to warn it it was time to leave. Not taking much noticed of my unease, it hopped close to the propeller and picked up a cracker someone must have tossed out when boarding the plane, and just like that, flew away.

I watched this scene, incredulous, before starting to chuckle to myself. I couldn’t believe I’d made such a fuss when all the poor crow wanted was a measly cracker.