“Hello, Mr. Crow,” she said softly, “What brings you here?”
The large bird bounced on its tiny legs, cocking its head from side to side. I see you have food, he remarked, Would you mind giving me some?
Sophie glared curiously at the crow, clear surprise marking her face. Perhaps she was stunned by the fact that he was speaking to her. Or perhaps she was only wondering how much food she would have to spare.
The bird swooped off of her windowsill, landing gracefully on the armrest of her rocking chair. Sophie scooted over, holding her plate of cookies possessively. From up close, the crow’s beady black eyes and large beak frightened her.
If you offer me a handful, I promise not to peck your fingers.
Hesitating, she wondered whether or not she should help the bird. However, she sighed, realizing that sharing was the polite thing to do. The princess took a few small cookies from the plate and held out her hand cautiously to the crow. He took the food greedily, snatching up every crumb without a pause. Once finished, she took her hand back, wiping it on her dress. Standing straight, the bird gazed up at her, his beady black eyes showing no emotion. Thank you, he said, and flew away instantly.
Sophie stood in the Royal Changing Room, stripped down to her pajamas as her maid, Diana, took her measurements. She held her arms out like a scarecrow, waiting impatiently for the maid to finish.
“Diana?” Sophie asked. “Why do you have to do this?”
The woman wrapped her tape measure around Sophie’s right arm, taking the number and scribbling it down on a sheet of paper. “We need to fit you a dress for your twelfth birthday party tomorrow,” Diana told her, smiling. “You’ve grown a lot since last year.”
Smiling, Sophie stood on her tiptoes, grinning in pride. “Do you really think so?”
Diana nodded. “You’re much taller. I just hope you won’t grow up too fast.”
“I won’t,” the princess assured her.
Standing up and putting her hands on her hips, Diana smiled down at the girl. “All finished! Now why don’t you go get dressed? Supper should be ready soon.”
“Okay!” Sophie said. “I’ll be right down.”
Diana exited the room, and Sophie threw on her dress. It was lined with delicate lace and ribbons, but not nearly as fancy as the dress she would be wearing on her birthday. Smiling with excitement, and wondering what presents she would receive, Sophie skipped out of the room, down the hall, and into her bedroom. She twirled around the expansive room on her toes, before leaping onto her large bed. Hugging one of her favorite teddy bears, Sophie rolled over onto her back, gazing wistfully up at her ceiling, thinking about her birthday. However, her daydream was interrupted immediately by a familiar tapping on the windowsill.
“Mr. Bird?” she said, sitting up quickly. “What are you doing here?”
The crow had resumed his position on her open window, but today he was not alone. He was accompanied by two other birds, a strikingly red cardinal and a pompous-looking quail. They each stared at her through tiny eyes, but only the crow spoke. My friends are quite hungry. I told them of your kindness, and was hoping that you could spare them a small meal.
“Oh,” Sophie replied. “I’m very sorry, Mr. Bird, but I can’t.”
He cocked his head. We’re very small, and I promise you that we don’t eat much.
“No, it’s not that,” she assured him. “But I don’t have any food today.” She paused, putting her hand under her chin, and decided. “I’ll be having dinner soon,” she said. “Perhaps I could sneak some up for you!”
That would be very kind of you, the crow assured. We will be waiting here.
Sophie dashed out of her room, running through the corridors and down long, twisting staircases. Close to the dining room, she slowed herself down to a walk, and strode into the room politely. “Hello, Mother, Father.” She greeted her parents with a small curtsey and took a seat at the long table. Today it would be just she and her parents. Most dinners were spent with some Duke her father knew when he was young, or a Prince from three countries away.
“Hello, Sweetie,” her mother greeted with a grin. “Are you excited for the big day tomorrow?”
The princess grinned. “Yes, I am! I can’t wait.”
She spoke with her parents idly, but didn’t forget the mission she was trying to complete. Glancing at the plates of food around the table, Sophie wondered how she would sneak some upstairs. A tray of dinner rolls were placed at her side. Sophie waited until her parents were turned towards each other, and snatched a roll from the plate, placing it in her lap. She continued this routine until she felt that she had enough to feed the small animals, and took the hem of her skirt, making a large basket for her treasures.
Finished with her meal, Sophie turned toward her parents. “Mother, may I be excused to the bathroom?”
Her father crossed his arms. “Now, Sophie, you know you don’t ask such things at the dinner table. Where have your manners gone?”
“I know,” she said. “I’m sorry. But can I?”
“All right,” her mother sighed. “Go ahead.”
Needing to be told no further, Sophie leaped from her chair and turned, keeping her stash of bread hidden from her parents, and dashed across the room. Certain that she was safe, Sophie rearranged her ‘basket’ to ensure that the food wouldn’t fall, and slowly made her way upstairs.
“Mr. Bird?” she called into her room, sprinting inside. “Mr. Bird, I have your-“
Sophie stopped midsentence, her skirt dropping from her shaky hands, releasing her storage of food. At least a dozen birds of all kinds and colors were strewn across her bedroom, sitting on her headboard, her lamp, her bookshelf. They turned to her simultaneously as she entered, their tiny eyes staring straight into hers. As soon as the first roll of bread made contact with the wooden floorboards, the flock moved, diving greedily for their meal. Sophie shrieked, a shrill sound that was not heard by other human ears in the vast palace.
She turned around and dropped to her knees, covering herself from the hungry animals. Trembling, she waited for them to finish their feeding. She seemed to be seated on the floor for only seconds, before the animals suddenly stopped, finding no more crumbs to devour. The only partially satisfied birds turned for the window and flapped away, leaving only a few scattered feathers behind.
Quivering, Sophie turned around toward her room, making sure the birds had completely left. The black crow stood at her windowsill, giving the same emotionless stare he had before. Thank you, he told the stunned girl, and left.
Sophie twiddled her thumbs nervously, biting her lip as the servants rushed around the castle halls. She sat at the foot of the main staircase, her eyes cast across the room at two maids setting up decorations, but barely taking in her surroundings. She did not move from her place until Diana reached her side.
“Sophie?” Diana asked her. “What are you doing down here? You’re supposed to be in your room until everything is ready.”
The young princess suddenly looked up, surprised, and uttered a small, “Oh.” She rose from her spot mechanically, nodding a small greeting towards her maid, and stumbled up the grand stairs. The truth was, she didn’t want to go back to her room. She knew what would be waiting for her.
Hello, the crow’s voice sounded as she pulled open her bedroom door.
Sophie stood in her doorway, frozen and afraid, and spoke to the bird. “I have nothing for your friends today.” She stared at her feet, afraid to peer into the room. The only sound replying was a small shuffle of feathered wings. Silently, she wondered how many birds were in the room she refused to look at.
Finally, the crow replied, That is a shame. Why don’t you come in? Perhaps we can work something out.
Holding the ruffled lace of her skirt awkwardly, Sophie lifted her pale face and gazed upon the birds. They filled the room from top to bottom, standing upon any empty platform they could find. The ruffled feather sound came from their hopping back and forth, shoving each other for more room, but stopped immediately when Sophie looked up. They glared back at her, their tiny faces blank, waiting for a response. Trembling, the young girl shut the door behind her, and stepped forward. The birds made a small clear area for her to move her legs, and hopped along as she did. Sophie took a few shaky steps forward and reached the dark crow on her shelf.
It is good to see you again.
Sophie said nothing but bit her lip, her hands clenched at her sides in a poor attempt at making herself more comfortable.
We will not hurt you, he assured. You have nothing to be afraid of.
“You have no point in staying here.” She tried to raise her voice to him, but found that it squeaked in the effort.
I don’t think you understand. My family is a very hungry bunch. We live very close together in a small area that has been largely taken over by your human facilities. I understand that we are a large group, but I only ask for one more meal. You see, I promised that to my family, and I cannot lie to them.
The crow’s eyes never left Sophie’s, intensifying the words that he spoke to her. She stared at her feet once again, avoiding his glance, and felt her legs wobble like she was walking on stilts after a mile jog. Realizing that she could not escape this problem, the girl searched her mind for a solution. The birds crept closer to her slowly, hungrily. Her search came up with no clear plan. Tears seeped into her eyes, ready to spill over, before a cry came from downstairs.
“Princess Sophie! We’re ready for you!” And she had an idea.
Sophie dashed for her door, standing up on her tiptoes to avoid landing on a delicate wing or claw. But the birds made room for her, moving to the sides fluidly, and she reached the door. The crow behind her said something, but was ignored, as she threw open the door and took two steps outside. Turning, she glanced back at the rows of birds, watching their cold expressions, and shouted, “Come on!”
They needed to be told no further. The birds leaped up and flew into a multicolored cloud of bunched animals, colliding with each other in midair and tossing stray feathers across the room. With difficulty, they made it out of Sophie’s bedroom, and she took off running for the stairs. The tall corridors accommodated the hundreds of birds, reaching all the way to the gold-decorated ceiling, flapping their wings madly after the princess. Sophie felt a grin on her face, and was reminded of an extravagant kite soaring after her in the sky, wind rushing under it, lifting high into the air, and trailing behind the girl. These birds truly were the most gorgeous and obedient kite she had ever flown.
Sophie turned and leaped down the staircase, the kite of birds diving down after her to the main hall of the castle. She reached the foot of the stairs and stopped, spotting the numerous full buffet tables laid out across the room. Smiling, she let the animals do their work.
Shrieks of fear resounded in the room as people retreated from the silk-clothed tables, letting the birds get their way. Plates and forks clattered, food fell to the floor in drops and crumbs, and Sophie watched in awe as the animals had their meal. To her, it was a truly astounding site. For the guests, however, the scene was much different. They stood against the walls, mouths agape, hardly believing their eyes. What was going on? How did these birds get in here? Will they leave any food for us?
The little princess smiled, taking a seat at the final step, and gazing out at the display.
Sophie entered her room tired and sore, pulling at the itchy lace collar of her dress. As nice as it had seemed before, gowns like these only left the wearers feeling uncomfortable at the end of the day. Her birthday had not gone quite as planned, but the servants still provided her with a wonderful time. The birds had left with food to spare, and because it hadn’t been brought yet from the kitchen, Sophie’s cake was extravagant and delicious. After a quick bit of cleaning, the party proved to be good fun for all.
Exhausted, the girl took of her shoes and threw them across the room, telling herself that she would pick them up in the morning. After a bit of struggling, she removed her dress, and took a dive onto her soft mattress.
Sighing with relief, Sophie gazed up at the ceiling of her room, letting her tired muscles rest. Taking a long stretch, she felt something soft brush her fingers. Sophie sat up and snatched what she had felt- a long, black feather, pierced through the corner of a note. She read it silently to herself.
ThAnk YoU
Knowing immediately who it was from, Sophie giggled at the crow’s horrendous handwriting, but realized that it was justified. After all, holding a pen in ones claw would be difficult, and you couldn’t expect a bird to be perfectly verbal and literate. She placed the note at her bedside and pulled her covers up to her chin, smiling.
“It’s you I must thank, Mr. Crow,” she murmured, “That was the most… interesting birthday I’ve experienced in all my years.” Although she could not see the bird around her, Sophie knew that he would get the message.
