A "Murder" of Crows & Other Stories

Chapter 4 - A "Murder" of Crows

Having eaten the last of the cat food, the crows of the yard started to discuss the issues of the day. They speculated about the comings and goings of the people of the house within the yard, why some seemed to be nocturnal and others not, why seagulls were so annoying and crass, and when the weather would clear up.

Out of nowhere, Blacqui asked "Why do the humans call us a "murder" of crows? So negative. We don't murder anyone."

"Well, actually dear," replied her mate Aswad, "That's not completely true. I remember my great uncle telling me a story from back in the days when there were not so many humans here. There was a nasty hawk that used to attack his family and steal the eggs."

"How horrid!" interjected young Agnes.

"Yes, quite." continued Aswad, "As I was saying, this nasty hawk was stealing their eggs. One day they all hid near a newly laid nest of eggs and attacked in mass as soon as the hawk came close. There wasn't much left when they finished."

"But that was self-defense and revenge for the little ones, not straight up murder." replied Blacqui.

"Completely respectable," added Agnes. "Not murder at all."

"Agnes is right," Dorian remarked. "As far as I know we have never murdered anyone."

Yet Dorian was not so sure. He pondered this murderous question and it weighed on his mind. Eventually he decided to ask his brother Calvin, who had been out in the world and was rumored to have belonged to a gang before he became best friends with a peacock and went to live at the Peacock House.

The next day Dorian went to visit Calvin. The Peacock House grounds were as lovely as usual, lush and green with flowering vines and draping willows.

After greetings, introductions, and catching up was out of the way, Dorian asked his brother, "Do you know why they call us a "murder" of crows? Have we actually murdered anyone?"

"Well, I don't know how widespread this is, so I can't answer as to why we were given such a dreadful moniker, but I have witnessed a murder." replied Calvin.

"Really? Oh my God, you never told me that!" Pervez the Peacock exclaimed, swaying his tale feathers from side to side.

"Well, my dear friend, I will tell you both now."

So Calvin began. "It was back when I was flying with the Main Street Gang. It was late at night, the fast food places were closed, and there weren't enough humans out to make it worth the trip to go try to steal food from them at the all-night outdoor cafe."

"Our leader Lars had perched himself on a lightpost and spyed a large rat. It had probably come from the back of the tea shop that had shut down to make room for the new pharmacy, you know the one?"

"Yes, you mean the long one with the star shaped windows and many balconies?" replied Dorian.

"Exactly," continued Calvin, "Well, as you know, rats don't see so good. So this rat asks Lars if there are any cars coming, just as a car is rounding the corner. Lars says, "No, the coast is clear." And... splat. Lars announces "Dinner is served.""

"How revolting!" declared Pervez. "I never eat fur creatures."

"But you are afraid of the fur creatures," replied Calvin.

"That is true," Pervez admitted, so he said no more about it and soon forgot.

"And what happened then. Is that why you left?" Dorian asked.

"That was a big part of it." said Calvin. "Lars tried later with a cat, but the cat was too clever to fall for the same ruse. I was disgusted with the dishonesty and tired of stealing my dinner and then I flew by and met Pervez here."

"Now it makes more sense, and it was murder for sure, but I still think labeling us all for one murder is a bit uncalled for." Dorian stated decisively.

"Of course," agreed his brother, "But you know, they also call us a muster of crows."

"Much better." Dorian declared. "A muster of crows it is!"