Bird Legs

Once upon a time a King, who ruled a small kingdom, controlled everything around him by bullying. Never sharing a kind word, the ruler demanded attention to this needs.  Eating became his favorite pass time  His cook worked night and day to prepare meals but never received praise.

One day the King whined that he needed variety in the preparation of meals. He told his cook to accompany him while hunting. A gourmet of tastes and textures, the ruler wanted a new flavor. They searched through the castle grounds for pheasants until they came upon a Blue Heron by a pond.

"Why does the heron stand on one leg?"  the cook asked.

"I can make him do what I wish, I'm the king." The king clapped his hands and the second leg appeared and settled on the ground.

As they wandered, the King clapped at each bird he noticed until both legs came down.  "See, they do exactly as I command."

"See my power, " he clapped and the next bird flew.  The cook just shook his head.

The King finally decided upon a pheasant and took it with one shot. He smiled and said, "Now you will prepare this one to perfection."

The cook injected the breast with Chardonnay wine and rubbed the bird with spices. Cinnamon, clove, nutmeg and curry filled the air. He tasted and experimented for hours. Scents swirled the kitchen to make him salivate. When he removed the delight from the oven, the cook could not help himself.  He had to taste his delicacy. He plucked a leg and munched with vigor. The juices ran down his chin. The cook saved a portion for later.

When he served the King, the cook surrounded the pheasant on its side with potatoes, carrots and asparagus so the monarch wouldn't notice the missing leg. The cook returned to the kitchen to savor his leg.

Yells exploded from the dining hall.

'Where's my other leg?" shrieked the King.

The cook's stomach churned as he hurried into the dining hall. He approached the angry monarch and stook tall.

The cook took a deep breath, "Just clap," he said.  "It will come down. Only you have the power."

Creative Write:  Write a bird story.  What would you write about a bird standing on one leg?