The flight of fancy becomes a leap of faith

The messenger isn’t as important as the message. Of course Stewart knows this. In fact, he is the one that asked for the message. He watches Clipper leave wondering if he’ll ever see his friend again. Then he thinks about the message and decides it isn’t likely. Furthermore, if it’s true, seeing his friend again is the least of his concerns.

With this in mind, Stewart decides the best thing he can do is prepare. What about the others? His mind locks in on this question. What about the others? Was there really anything he could do? Who would believe him anyway? The questions run through his mind like a runaway train. As he walks back to his car, he studies them, one by one. It is true that no one will believe him. This has been an underlying knowledge since day one.

Even he thought he was crazy that day. Now seven months later he knows he isn’t crazy. However, that doesn’t mean anyone else will believe him. Or his story. Clipper is right about one thing, humans are notoriously stubborn. And they would not listen to Stewart, they would say he was on a flight of fancy.

The Flight of Fancy

Seven Months Ago:

Stewart isn’t the type to imagine things. That isn’t to say he can’t use his imagination. In fact, he is very imaginative when he needs to be. But he’s not the kind to go on a flight of fancy. Therefore, meeting Clipper for the first time changed all of that. It changed Stewart too, but not in a bad way. Clipper was Stewart’s leap of faith. The thing that came along unexpectedly.

It came along unexpectedly in the early morning hours of a Monday. Stewart was on his front porch having his morning coffee. It was just before sunrise and peacefully quiet, as it is in the hour before dawn. And then the voice. It was so unexpected, and startled him so much, he spilled his entire cup of coffee. Even then, it took a few minutes before he could locate his visitor. It had to be a visitor, because Stewart lived alone.

The crow was perched on the porch railing. Stewart almost didn’t see it in the darkness before dawn. Ink black, and large for a crow, it perched unafraid on the railing. Furthermore, it was looking directly at Stewart. It’s going to rain today. That’s what Stewart heard. His eyes strain to search the darkness beyond the porch. Only to return to the crow again. It watches him intently. Then it surprises him, again.

“I said, it’s going to rain today.”

A Leap of Faith

Stewart stares at the crow. He’s sure it’s a crow, because parrots usually have bright colors. Additionally, he didn’t live anywhere near the tropics. Although he feels like he’s dreaming when he hears the crow speak for a second time, he tries to keep his composure. Furthermore, he decides to buy in. Why not? He was obviously dreaming. Fell asleep on his porch and now he’s dreaming.

“Oh? Is that a fact? And how does a crow know anything about the weather?” he leans back in his chair and waits for the dream to end. However, it doesn’t end. It keeps right on giving. The crow answers him with a clever retort. And since it was a dream, or a hallucination, Stewart has an interesting conversation, that lasts well past dawn.

It was surreal. Nevertheless, it was all as real as Stewart. The crow even had a name. Clipper. And in the course of the conversation, Stewart learned more than he could have ever dreamed. And it was the same every morning until the fall season arrived. Then Clipper had some travelling to do, and for a month or so, Stewart didn’t see the strange bird. It wasn’t until mid winter that Clipper returned. When Clipper did return, it was not with very good news.

No News and a Flight of Fancy

That was yesterday. And today, Stewart is still trying to decide what can be done with the news Clipper brought him. He doesn’t bother with the TV. That kind of news is spin only. Bought and paid for before it went on air, it was at best, only theater. No. This is more serious than any TV spin. Of course there was only so much anyone could do about something that could end the world. Furthermore, it put Stewart in an awkward position. Who would believe him?

He studies his options carefully this morning, as he waits to see if Clipper will return. There is some doubt. Clipper knew from the other birds what happened not too far away from here. The TV news might be able to hide things, but it was impossible to hide things from the birds. Stewart learned this from Clipper. The birds had their own network, and their own ways.

Therefore, they were not motivated in the same way as humans. Additionally, they were about the truth. Stewart feels scared, but how could he not be? He is thinking about the end of the world, as Clipper lands on the porch railing. And he isn’t surprised when he hears Clipper’s words.

“It’s much worse than we thought, you have to leave now, before it’s too late.”

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