Humans Can Learn A Thing Or Two From Animals & Birds!

By Chinku & Dolcy

“These humans are going crazy, really crazzzzzzzzzzy!” buzzed Haffy the hummingbird, flapping his little wings and chirping loudly as he landed on the ground, next to Kingston, who was fast asleep.

Kingston, a handsome tom cat with emerald green eyes, was king of Chirpy Kingdom, where cats, dogs, donkeys, ducks, squirrels, tortoises, butterflies, parrots and many other animals and birds lived in harmony, in a lush green forest far away from the city of the humans.

Haffy was the chief information officer of Chirpy Kingdom. Periodically, he flew into the city where the humans lived, gathered news from the human kingdom and shared it with Kingston and the other creatures in Chirpy Kingdom.

Haffy’s loud humming woke Kingston up. “Oh, Haffy, you’re back, safe and sound, from the land of the humans. Thank God for that,” he said, a smile spreading across his face. Then, loud enough for everyone else to hear, he meowed, “Haffy, now, tell us all more. Why are those humans going crazy?”

The animals and birds in the forest gathered under a giant tree to listen to Haffy.

Clearing his tiny throat and tucking his wings in, Haffy began: “Friends, the humans in the city enjoy many facilities that we wouldn’t understand: big houses to live in, comfortable vehicles to travel in, all sorts of food. But hardly any of them, I noticed, thank God for all that He had blessed them with. They lack gratitude, you see. And, you know how shabbily they treat us animals and birds, but did you know that they behave quite the same with the poor of their own species too? Many of them are driven by greed and jealousy and want to rule over the world. And because of their antics, life on Earth for all species, including humans themselves, seems to be becoming just impossible.”

A collective gasp went up from among the creatures gathered in the assembly.

“I think we animals and birds ought to teach them some wise lessons about life. What do you say friends?” Haffy continued. “That might make them mend their ways before it is too late for all of us.”

“That seems like quite a good suggestion,” remarked Kingston, curling his tail around him to make himself warm.

“I’ve got an idea”, squawked Tattle, the tropical parrot. “Let’s start coaching classes for those human folks. Each of us can give them lessons on various virtues.”

“That’s a wonderful idea, Tattle!” exclaimed Kingston enthusiastically. “I’d like to add a suggestion here. Maybe we should have online classes for the humans so that we don’t have to meet them in person. I must say—and I hope all of you will agree with me –that we birds and animals really don’t revel in their company, to put it politely, and we never know how they may behave with us, no matter how sweet they may sometimes seem.”

All the creatures assembled agreed that the idea of online classes, which obviated the need for the animals and birds to physically interact with humans, was a very sensible suggestion.

“I’d like to add something here,” added Rufus, the rabbit, somberly. “We could charge the humans fees so that we can buy goodies for kitties, bunnies and puppies with that money.”

“That’s a great idea,” Kingston noted and the rest of the animals shook their paws or flapped their wings in approval.

Just then, Oliver, the owl, swooped in and announced that he would like to take coaching classes for humans on the virtues of waking up early in order to be healthy and wise.

Oliver’s suggestion motivated others in the gathering to come up with other, very practical, ideas.

Lorie, the little lamb, bleated that she’d like to organize classes for humans on kindness, gentleness and the benefits of a healthy vegetarian diet.

Socrates, the bushy squirrel, squeaked that he would train humans on how not to squander their God-given wealth on unnecessary frivolities and to save their nuts—oops! their money—for a cold wintry day.

Agatha the ant murmured that she would teach humans the art of talking less and working more—and doing only that sort of work that conduced to the general good.

Leo, the lion cub, roared that he would like hold classes on how not to run after pawful—oops! powerful—people!

Polka, the puppy, woofed that he would teach humans how to be happy and playful and the virtues of gratitude and loyalty.

Swinging from a branch above, Mable, the monkey, chattered about taking classes on the virtue of not gossiping (“I might improve my own ways that way,” she helpfully added).

Minty, the mynah, tweeted that he would like to share tips with humans about living life with joy and freedom.

Dolly, the elderly donkey, brayed that he would like to teach humans the virtue of being humble and modest (He had worked very hard all these years and had always kept his pretty head low, never bragging about his achievements as many humans do, and so you can see why he was perfectly suited for the task he had offered to undertake).

“Wuppy! This is all so wonderful!” meowed Kingston as he stood up to announce the end of the meeting and proceeded to his bowl to munch his lunch.

“Haffy,” said Kingston, wiping the milk that had gathered on his whiskers with his little paw, “Will you please proceed to the human kingdom right away and chirp out the news about the online remedial classes we intend to conduct for the humans there? And, do please come back as fast as you can. We need to begin the classes very soon, because imparting those lessons in virtues to those humans is really a very urgent task, as you will agree.”

“Hurrah!” cried the animals and birds as Haffy spread out her little wings and swam into the air, heading towards the kingdom of the humans on her very important mission.