One said to the Other, "I really can't unnerstand why they do it?"

The Other said to the One, "Can't unnerstand what?"

"Why they keep puttin' that good corn inna the ground."

The Other stared blankly into the corn field for several minutes, then he said, "How old are you?"

"Six months."

"No wonder."

They sat there for several more minutes waiting for the corn ears to grow. Finally the One asked, "No wonder what?"

"No wonder your so ignorant."

"Oh!"

The sun set and darkness came over the corn field. The Song Birds became quite, except for a few who had insomnia and felt like keeping everyone else awake. The Night Insects crawled out of their hiding places and joined the insomniacs with their noises, but the loudest noise came from a TV set in a farmer's house. The two Crows had flown to a nearby tree and roosted there for the night.

Morning came, like clockwork, and a Rooster fluffed his feathers before he mounted the fence. Just as he was about to "crow", the two Crows came flying down from their roost and sat on either side of the Rooster. The Rooster didn't get his crow off. He looked on One and then the Other. The Rooster was quite perturbed.

"Do you mind," he said, like a true artistic snob, "getting away from me while I bring the sun up?"

"Hell no, Ol'Roost, ol'Boy!" said the Other and the two Crows moved about one inch away.

"I had envisioned that you would retreat to your hovel, ol'Chaps, leaving me alone to preform my sacramental duty."

The Rooster's feathers were beginning to stand on end. The Other Crow looked at the One and smiled a cocky grin.

"Whatchew think? Should we fly away or stay to help ol'Roost?"

The One though a moment.

"I dunno."

"Yeah, we should reflect awhile. We can't learn nothing if we don't observe up close and ya need that after yesterday."

"Yeah!"

"Go ahead, Roost, bring the sun up."

The Rooster let a great sigh escape.

"I say, dear Boys, I'm not used to having anyone breath over my neck during this momentous occasion. You must leave!"

The Other Crow looked at the One as his grin grew bigger and then looked into the Roosters eyes.

"Yeah! Why?"

The two Crows crowded toward the Rooster. The Rooster's eyes opened wide and his red comb grew deeper in color.

"Because," he screamed, "I have to do it alone!"

"Tsk, tsk, ol'Roost." said the Other, "Calm dow. Now why do you have to do it alone?"

"Because," he replied as he grew angrier and redder, "it's always been that way!"

"Oh!" said the One.

"Oh!" said the Other.

The two Crows looked at each other and shrugged their shoulders, but continued to sit on either side of the Rooster. The Rooster finally jumped down and walked to another section of the fence and remounted. He looked at the two Crows, then gave a huff and a sigh. Just as he inhaled a deep breath to crow, the two Crows settled on either side of him and looked him square in the face, waiting for the great ritual sound.

The Rooster clamped up and slowly let the air steam from his nostrils. Then he said very slowly and very precisely, "Get the HELL out of here, you IDIOTS!"

The two Crow looked away with hurt feelings, but they remained beside the Rooster.

"Hey!" said the Other, "The Sun's coming up, the Sun's coming up! Hey! Ol'Roost, ol'Boy, hurry and crow. Whatchew waitin' for? CROW!!"

The Rooster stared at the Sun in amazement. He couldn't say a thing as he watched the Sun rise above the horizon.

"Hey!" said the One as he punched the Rooster in the ribs with his elbow, "Whatchew not crow for?"

The Rooster flapped his wings wildly, raising his feathers on end.

"YOU MADE ME MISS!" he screamed, "The Sun came up without me! YOU IDIOTS! THE SUN CAME UP WITHOUT ME!"

He leaped down from the fence and staggered toward the barn, muttering as he went, "The sun came up without me!"

The One Crow looked at the Other in bewilderment, then they both looked at the Sun.

"So what's the fuss?" asked the One.

The Other remained still, looking at the Sun. Finally he asked, "How old did you say you were?"

"Six months."

They remained silent for awhile. then the Other said, "It figures!" and then he flew off.

Copyright 2007 by C.D. Goosen

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Then maybe you really don't.