Herba and Doris

Herba looked at the damp rock in her beak and felt happy. This is what Herba was content on doing, she was happy just tossing her rock up and down, she would watch it fall and catch it once more in her beak. It was not the best activity, but it was better than sleeping on a Wednesday afternoon.

She walked over to the window and reflected on her run-down surroundings. She had always loved old Townstead with its brief, red barn. The paint was peeling off and the barn doors no longer closed normally, they would open with a shriek and everytime the wind picked up the boards would start chattering together, It was a place that encouraged her tendency to feel happy. It was surrounded by a picturesque forest, wild trees and shrubs grew in abundance. They surrounded a small lake at the opposite side of the barn, the lake was calm, quiet and serene. Not many humans passed through here the occasional horseback rider would and they would take pictures with their large cameras mostly flashing at her sister. Herba did not like to fly all that much away from the barn, she felt safe here and undisturbed.

Then she saw something in the distance, or rather someone. It was the figure of Doris. Doris was a jumpy do-gooder with a round head and wonderful talons. Doris was the Barn owl neighbor, who also happened to be her sister with a white face and speckled feathers. Her wingspan was large and she loved gliding and swooping and basically showing off.

Herba gulped. She glanced at her own reflection. She was a cold, reserved, dirty water drinker with a fuzzy head and ugly legs. Her feathers were rarely neat and tidy like Doris, she felt a little fat and unkept compared to her sister. Her friends saw her as an amused, anxious animal. Once, she had even revived a dying swallow. The swallow had once been caught in the trees and for days it was singing in pain, until Herba decided to approach the poor thing and help it out, the swallow was grateful and from time to time would stop by to see how Herba was doing, but she felt that he was only doing it out of respect and maybe out of pity.

But not even a cold person who had once revived a dying swallow, was prepared for what Doris had in store today.

The fog teased the air as if wanting to rain or snow, but neither of which ever came, making Herba feel sleepy and a little grumpy.

As Herba perched outside the barn and Doris came closer, she could see the pretty smile on her face.

Doris gazed with the affection of shy brainy birds. Doris landed next to Herba and she scuffled her feathers a bit. Then, she said, in hushed tones, "I love you and I want acceptance." Herba was taken aback, she had not expected this coming from her perfect sister. Yet, the last few weeks she had been seeing less and less of her.

Herba looked back, even more sleepy and still playing with the damp rock in her beak. "Doris, I have always accepted you," she replied. Doris smiled at her and was surprised by what she had just heard. “I have actually been a little jealous of you sometimes” she admitted to her.

They looked at each other with warm feelings.

Herba regarded Doris's round head and great talons. "I feel the same way!" revealed Herba with a delighted grin.

Doris looked stable, her emotions blushing like a talented, tall tree.

Then Doris came inside for a nice drink of water.

THE END