The Quail That Got Away

The Lone Quail

Once there was a mischievous little Quail that wandered away from his bevy. A prodigal one at that that he strayed away while on a mission to pass over the vast Mediterranean Sea. The birds followed their calling as a strong gust of wind directed them near the Promised Land. 

All except for the Little Quail. 

"My dearest creatures take heed and go forth to the place where I am sending you to serve my people," said the Creator. 

But the little Quial did not listen. He got distracted by the beauty of the lush, green fields and wider meadows and so he flew away from the rest of the birds. He didn't mind wandering. He was glad to have the opportunity to explore the world as he sees fit. Finally, he can no longer hear the voice of his Creator.

The little Quail is a very mischievous one indeed. In the fields, he found a cozy, little nest within a tree friend he met that served as his home for the summer. Every day, he would visit every tree and flap his wings overhead over the predators who cannot catch him. He made friends with other little critters as he basks under the heat of a warm, afternoon sun. 

It is plain that little Quail is living his dream of unlimited freedom until one fateful day.

"Little one, why have you gone somewhere else?" The Creator's voice loomed over his head.

The little Quail did not reply.

"Little one, when are you coming home?" The Creator asked him again.

"But it is too early for me to come home. Ask me again at another time."

Life went on in the fields where in one of his many adventures, he met a little boy living in a house by the meadow. The child loved to laugh and play and oftentimes, the mother would give him morsels to eat. The little Quail accepts the meal, whistling a happy little tune before leaving. At the back of his head, he sometimes remembers his family whom he left to embark on his big adventure.

"Little One, why are you alone right now?" A gentle voice said from up above."I am alone because I left. Not today, Creator."

"I will let you live until you decide to come home into my kingdom. Your family is already waiting for you. Until then, little Quail." said the Creator.

After their brief, second encounter, the Little Quail enjoyed every sight the field has to offer. The lone quail had traveled far and wide until he arrived at a little farm in the middle of a barren desert where a farmer and his wife lives along with their little boy. 

Every day, the Little Quail would fly his way to the Farmer's windowpane where the wife sets out crumbs of bread for him to eat. The Quail became grateful for the act and soon enough, he became a constant visitor of the little family of three.

But then one day, a plague arrived and food became scarce. The Farmer's wife could no longer give him crumbs and the land bore no vegetation at all. The Farmer's child became sick and pale with hunger. The famine lasted for a long, long time and even the Little Quail's feathers started to wither one by one."I should leave this place! It is no longer good for me," says the Little Quail.

Before leaving, he decided to visit the human family once more so he perched by the window sill and looked at the sickly little boy. His head was resting on his mother's lap and he was groaning in pain because of hunger.

"Mama, I'm hungry," The little boy weeps.

"I'm sorry, Tommy, but the hills beyond the farm are barren and we do not have meat anymore." the tearful mother explained.

"How about that little bird by the window?" the child pointed to the Little Quail.

"But that is our little friend, don't you remember?" the mother gently reminded her son, Tommy.

Upon hearing his request, the Quail flew away from the house in a hurry and went to his home which was a tiny hole in the attic of the barn. He was getting ready for a few days worth of flying when a flash of light illuminated the dimly lit room.

"Little Quail, you are old now. You can never fly away," a familiar voice said to him.

"My wings can no longer support me to travel far and I have witnessed the wars, poverty, and famine but nothing breaks my heart more than a family about to lose a child because of hunger," the Quail said.

"What is it you seek?" the familiar voice asked.

"I want to be of service to a child of God. I apologize for flying away from my fate," said the Quail. 

The Creator, upon hearing his apology, touched a hand over his chest and said, "Never apologize, my little creature, for this is the plan I had in store for you. Go and make peace with your brethren so you may save my Child in peace."

The Little Quail felt strange as he slowly flapped his wings with so much strength as he never had before. He jumped out of his hiding place and hovered over the tall grass. He visited every tree and alleyway that sheltered him in the past, the friendly predators that tirelessly hunted him down, and the smallest house where he took shelter in from the cold. Next, he flew over the trees and went higher and higher as his wings can take him and, finally, he closed his eyes and pictured his family waiting for him by the gates between Heaven and Earth, singing a happy song of merriment and coming home.

Later that night, the Child had enough food to eat and the Farmer's wife gave her thanks to the Almighty for sending such a wonderful little savior in the form of the flighty little quail. The little Quail was finally home.

The End.