Things that fly and the Strawberry Fox.

Mary said, “Why are you collecting feathers?”

And I said, “It’s a secret Mary. Something I am working on.”

Mary said, “Are people sending you feathers?”

And I said, “Yes. Some people are sending me great bunches of feathers and others send one, from a hawk tail or a parrot’s wing. Most of them are beautiful. Some plain. Some soft gray. Some look black until the light catches them and they shine with purple and green. Some are from ducks, some from doves. Owls have special feathers that are soft and silent. Swans wings whistle. When it’s quiet here you can hear the air in raven’s wings.”

Mary said, “Do all things that fly have feathers?”

And I said, “No.”

“What flies?” said Mary.

“Well, insects and birds, but not all birds. Penguins don’t fly, nor ostrich nor emu.”

“Flying fish?” said Mary.

“Yes. But they kind of leap out of water and open their fins and glide. Sugar gliders, they glide too. And flying squirrels. Dragons flies.”

“And dragons. And flying foxes”, said Mary.

“Ah yes, bats.”

“Bats and flying foxes,” said Mary.

“Flying foxes are bats,” I said.

“No they’re not,” said Mary. “They look like this.”

“Can bears fly?” said Mary.

“I don’t think so,” I said. “But we are going in a plane soon to Scotland. So I guess you will fly.”

“That’s not what I mean,” said Mary. “Can bears fly?”

“No.”

It was quiet for a while then,

“Can bears fly?” said Mary.

“Ok. Yes,” I said.

And they did.

( With special thanks to all at Strawberry Fox for the glorious parcel that arrived on the doorstep full of fruit, chocolate, wine, whisky and inspiration.)

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