"Gather round kids" said the storyteller loudly from the garden.
As he sat on his little brown stool, he could hear the pitter patter of little feet on the ground below. As the kids grew near, he encouraged them to take a seat.
As the kids sit crossed legged, the story teller pulls a book out from under the stool. The kids sat in amazement as they thought he performed magic because the book was not seen before.
He held the book, in his right palm, turning the pages with his left, indicating his dominant side. He opened the cover, and a subtle hush fell over the crowd.
He read aloud the first sentence of the book " Swallows, what beautiful creatures fly through the sky so freely. Straying so far away from where they were first nested. Yet, while they can be miles away, they always seem to know where they came from." His kind voice, carried the words from ear to ear of each child, transporting them into the story as if they were living it.
The storyteller continued on. " Althogh small in size, their wings spread far and wide, giving them endless possibilities as to what they can do. Swallows, while they may not be big and ferocious protectors of the sky like eagles or nector collecting humming birds, they are special in their own way. They have a special characteristic that makes them the bird that they are. Swallows, are independent and help to guide the other birds on the right path."
Page after page was read and the kids listened to the words in awe. Picturing a beautiful swallow, with brightly colored feathers soaring at great heights, with its beak held high.
With this image forming in their innocent little minds, the storyteller finished off the final page. " As the swallow lands gently back in it's nest, resting is lightly coloured wings by it's side a single raindrop falls on its beak. The rain picks up and it is now storming. The swallow remembers, that its family, miles away is in danger. So, the independent homestead swallow, sets out on its journey to reunite with its roots. It sits on the edge of the nest, spreads it wings and takes flight. Leaving a single feather behind, that falls down the the people below the sky. As those people look up, they see a lightly coloured feather falling before their eyes as it lands gently in the palms of their hands. Not knowing where it came from or why it fell, they proceed to just "let it go". But then, they see the swallow swoop down and drop another. That is when, they realise the swallow is leaving a piece of itself, to where he rightfully calls home." The storyteller finishes and closes the book and puts it back under the stool where it disappears.
The children cheer and say they want more. The storyteller explains to them that the only way they can get more, is if they cup their hands together and close their eyes and only open once they feel something in their hands. The children do as told and are anxiously awaiting for what comes next. They feel something soft land and all open their eyes to find a single lightly colored feather floating in their palms. Once all eyes are opened, they look to the story teller but all that is seen is an empty stool, where he sat. Until, a swallow swoops down and places a feather where he sat with its left wing and winks at the children then spreads its wings and takes flight. Preparing for the next group of people who need a good old story.
