(the true story of Craven Canary)

~In the words of a dear friend..... 

There was a forest, where every day was Sunday, and sleepy and tired.
And in this forest, dwelt a lovely, lovely Canary, who had never felt herself to be so lovely.
All of the other birds would sing all day long. They would see who could sing loudest and longest, and pride themselves on competition alone.
All the while, Craven Canary did not sing a note. She was frightened her voice might not be as lovely as all the other birds'! Canary thought, "These birds do sing so beautifully, but I've not a note to say." And so, she sang nothing.

Craven Canary did not fly so much, so as to evade notice(she was such a pleasantly shy bird, you see). One day Canary was out for a stroll, when a Fox came into view on the very path on which she was walking. This particular Fox was very elusive, and appeared right before her eyes! She could not fly away- the Fox would certainly catch her! She could not call for help- she didn't know how to use her voice! She had never been so mortified in her life, the poor bird.

The Fox crept closer and closer, leaning his head so that his eyes were level with hers. What eyes, such as Canary had never seen in her entire life! They were filled with horror, as if the whole of Fox's blood running through his body was the colour of malice! He stepped, stepped, stepped closer. Fox was only inches away. Canary had never been so afraid. She shut her eyes, tight, TIGHT, and suddenly, a SCREEEAM!

Where had it come from? Certainly not Craven Canary? The fox stepped again, this time backward! And all he did was sit. He sat! Fox was dazed by the beauty of this birdsong alone. It was Canary! Her very own song! All the birds in all the trees had stopped singing. Nothing. Where did they all go? The fox did not move. He had stepped so far back, Canary could fly away easy! She flew to the trees. Here were all the birds, staring straight at her. What for?

"Why have you stopped singing?", said Canary. The birds burst out in song, every single one! What were they saying?
Canary asked them. "I cannot understand you when you all sing at once! What are you saying?"
They had stopped again! They had stopped singing whenever she sang, they had stopped singing for her! Everybird had not expected such beautiful birdsong from Craven Canary, and what's more, Canary herself.

She flew far, far above the trees, and sang as loud as she could! Craven Canary had the most beautiful singing voice in the world. Everybird wanted to be Craven Canary, and every day that felt like Sunday was filled with her song.
She was not so Craven anymore.