The Owl

The Owl

Living on a farm you can see the most fascinating events while walking in nature. You see there is a very thick woods near our property. I am so happy that we live in the country and by this amazing stretch of wooded area. I have this small farm where my family grow vegetables for the farmer’s market in town. We have fun doing this and the kids love their sheep and horses that they received as Christmas gifts. My wife and I have five children between the ages of 7 to 17. Ben our oldest will start college next year and he wants to be a lawyer, his inspiration is Abraham Lincoln. Diana our second child is a sophomore and does not know what she wants to be. There is Chad, who is in middle school and is on the football team, he wants to go pro. Sally and Steven the twins, they are in grade school. They love their lambs that they receive for their birthday. Life is hard on the farm, but it is so rewarding.

One day the twins and I were out hiking in the woods by our farm and just minding our business when this barn owl flew up and landed on my straw hat. It just hooted and hooted at us. Steven was laughing, Sally was frightened, and I was just as confused as the bird. Its talons were in the hat and I was too nervous to move. I asked politely for the owl to disembark from my straw hat. I did not want the kids, me or even the owl to be hurt. I love animals and would take care of any that were hurt on the farm. I gently removed my hat and tried not to disturb the owl. “oh, I see now” I said, “the owl hurt its wing.” So, I took out my outer shirt and wrapped the owl in it. I took it to the barn and fixed its wing. I fixed the owl’s wing as best I could and set up a a nest in the barn loft. The owl seemed content. I would go check on the owl with the twins following me. The owl really like our company. Sally named it Mr. Hoots.

Within a few weeks the owl was healed back to normal and could fly. I took it to the spot in the woods where he landed on my straw hat and to see if it would fly into the old oak tree. I sat it on a low hanging branch and watched it fly up into the tree. I wondered if it had a nest up there. Then the darnedest thing happened it flew back down and landed on my straw hat. This time he took the hat and flew back up into the tree. “Well,” I said to the twins as they laughed, “I guess I won’t be needing that hat anytime soon.” We laughed the whole way back to the house and to dinner.

I related the story to the rest of the family and tears of laughter came running down their faces. I said at the end of the yarn, “I loved that hat!” We all busted up and laughed ever harder. Ann, my wife, said “Maybe the owl wanted a souvenir from his adventure with you.”

The next day the owl came flying up to us while we were walking toward the barn. When I opened the door, it flew in and caught a mouse. Ben said, “It must be paying you back by catching the mice now.” We laughed as we all greeted the owl. Ann saw Mr. Hoots and said, “Welcome to the family, Mr. Hoots.”