Id be careful Julius called as he flew over, his under feathers yellow in the sun, and landed on the gate post. I cant fly and talk at the same time if I were you.
Stanley snorted, Even his horns are small.
Notice anything different today, Stanley? Julius walked up along the fence post to the open gate. I wouldnt want to get his dander up if I were you. Nothing is keeping him from Blaise, Beatrice, or you, for that matter. Julius alighted on Bruces hindquarters. Flapping his blue wings, he folded his golden under feathers behind him in a long plumage of tail. If Bruce wants, Bruce gets. Hell come over there and take Beatrice from you. If he wants, hell come over there and take you.
He can try, Stanley huffed, but Id be too fast for him anyway. End of story.
Bruce ignored Stanley mostly, watching him out the right side of his head. Better move along little doggie, he said.
Stanley, you and Bruce now have full access and your choice of co-habitators. That means nothing is keeping you from Beatrice except Beatrice.
I know that.
Run along, horsey, before you wear yourself out.
Oh, might wear you out. Stanley trotted off in a huff. Wear out, huh? Wear you out, you mean, Stanley said from a safe distance. He saw Beatrice near the pond. She was in the same pasture as him. He ran up alongside her.
Why dont you leave the poor beast alone, Beatrice said.
What? Oh that, nonsense. Were friends, just a little male rivalry.
Julius stretched, flapping his blue-and-gold wings over Bruces hindquarters. This has got to be the finest rump roast Ive seen. Id be careful where you shake that thing. The neighbors might covet it.
Stanley and Beatrice grazed in the same pasture. Beatrice grazed. Stanley paraded about, showing off his prowess to the roar of the crowd. Look, Beatrice, the moshavnik opened the gate so we could be together. So, lets get together. Its only natural. Its something were supposed to do. Listen, baby, look what youve done to me. I cant walk or think straight with this club foot. It hurts when I do this. He reared back onto his massive hind legs to wild applause.
You, foolish horse, she said and walked away.
Baby, please, you dont understand. We have an audience, fans we cant let down. Theyre here for meyou, us, for us.
Beatrice, exasperated, stopped. Would you do me a favor?
What is it? Anything for you, baby.
Would you please please please please please please please stop talking?
Someone might have a camera for just this sort of thing, you know. You know, I could be famous, a star! Come on, Beatrice, dont be shy, please. Please, Beatrice, wait.
Beatrice stopped.
What? What did I say?
Im sure whoever has the camera would gladly get you a girl too. I understand in certain communities, probably this one included, some people like just that sort of thing.
Well, yeah, if shes in a habit.
Beatrice turned and walked away. These people arent here for that though. Theyre here for meyou, us, I mean. She went into the next pasture to graze alongside Blaise.
Blaise said, How do you do?
I do fine. Thank you for asking.
Julius alighted in the branches of the great olive tree where the ravens Ezekiel and Dave were. Along the slopes, a herd of lesser and younger animals grazed along the second-tiered slope of the terraced landscape. Blaise and Beatrice grazed nearby as ducks and geese swam and bathed in the pond near the barn lot as pigs lounged along its muddy banks in the mid-morning sun. Julius moved through the olive tree along one of the lower hanging branches.
I interrupt this program to bring you the following announcement.
Wait, cried a piglet. What is it this time, the earths round? He pealed with laughter and rolled in the dirt.
A gaggle of geese gabbed as usual, The earths flat and thats that. And with that, the knowledgeable hens turned and waddled off, their heads held high on slender necks.
I crack those eggs up every time.
I know, said a young sheep, but a lamb. The earths round and more than 6000 years old! The lambs joined the pigs with laughter.
For such a little lamb that wolf has teeth.
Without Molly and Praline to keep the young sheep on the correct course of inquiry, this was what was had, sheep influenced by pigs.
The sun is the center of the universe and the big, round earth rotates around the sun! Is that it? a duck quacked.
Well, since you put it that way, yes.
Daves feathers were ruffled. He shook his head. He turned to Ezekiel and said, Give them something to think with and this is what you get.
Ignore these animals, Julius, Blaise said. What is the announcement you wish to make?
Pete Seeger is my hero. Where I come from, he was everyones hero until they turned orthodox and emigrated to Brooklyn.
And I suppose youd like a hammer?
And, yes, I suppose I would.
Youre a bird, Beatrice said, a parrot. What can you do with a hammer?
I have claws, and Im not afraid to use them. I use paintbrushes, dont I?
How would anyone know what you do with them? No ones seen anything you do.
Im shy, a work in progress.
Julius, what would you do if you had a hammer, a smallish hammer if you like?
Blaise, if I had a hammer, Id hammer in the morning. Id hammer in the evening, all over this land. Id hammer out warning. Id hammer out danger. Id hammer out love between my brothers and my sisters, all over this land. If only I had a hammer?
Well, will someone please get this busy macaw a hammer?
Were animals. How can we get him a hammer?
Where are those ravens when you need them? Julius said. Oh, there you are. Never mind, I dont need a hammer. Julius left the tree branch and perched on Blaises left shoulder, near her ear. Although he may not show it, not like Stanley anyway, Bruce has great desire. Hes fond of you. Youll see, Julius said and winked. Blaise was unable to see him wink. She didnt need to. She knew from the inflection in his voice.
What are you, Julius, his agent, I suppose?
Hes a friend. Besides, everyone needs love. Everyone needs a friend.
Yes, well, Julius, Im quite aware of Bruces proclivities, thank you very much.
Proclivities, Julius said to the ravens in the olive tree. Shes from England, you know. She even has an island named after her. Its called Blaise.
Yes, well, theres a Guernsey somewhere with an island named after her as well, so dont think too much of it. And its not Blaise, you silly bird.
Modest, too, wouldnt you say?
Thank goodness Bruce isnt a show-off like Manly Stanley, said Beatrice.
Yes, hes more like me in that respect, Julius said. Were more reserved and less showy.
More like you, less showy, you dont say?
Thats not to say we dont have something to crow about, we just prefer not to.
Beatrice nudged Blaise, and they laughed.
Julius flapped his great wings and flew off to rejoin Bruce grazing in the middle of the pasture behind the barn. He landed on the great beasts backside and made his way along his right shoulder.