Quick Story

Okay, here's a quick one:

Elara the pigeon wasn't like the others. While they pecked at discarded crumbs, Elara watched the old clockmaker, Mr. Fitzwilliam, through his dusty shop window. One blustery Tuesday, a gust of wind slammed the shop door shut, locking Mr. Fitzwilliam outside with his keys inside.

He sighed, looking defeated. But Elara, perched on the windowsill, noticed the small transom window above the door was slightly ajar. With a determined coo, she fluttered up, squeezed through the gap, and landed neatly inside.

She hopped onto the counter, nudged the heavy ring of keys with her beak until they tumbled onto the floor near the door's mail slot. Then, she squeezed back out the transom window.

Mr. Fitzwilliam stared as the keys appeared right by his feet. He looked up, saw Elara preening on the ledge, and chuckled. "Well, I'll be," he whispered, unlocking his door. "Thank you, my feathered friend."

From that day on, a small, shiny dish of the finest birdseed always sat on Mr. Fitzwilliam's windowsill, just for Elara.