Leo's Song

July 13 2022; people 114

Written in 2019.

At the beginning of this story, our dear friend Leo walked into the park. Strolling down the concrete path, he whistled a merry tune. Suddenly he broke into song. Leo's solo went something quite like this;

Strolling through the forest,

doing it for rest,

I consider myself,

as merry as an elf,

singing my very best!

It must be admitted that this is not a very good song, but as he tried his hardest, we must forgive him. Now you may be wondering what this has to do with anything at all and I shall now tell you. As fate will have it, there happened to be a brown speckled, heavyset, quick-footed hare with less than average rabbit intellect in the holly bushes next to Leo. After this sudden outbreak from Leo, the rabbit gave a start.

“O me, o my! I must go tell the others about this new form of bird. It is simply so large that it must be the be the king of the birds. And a lovely song too,” The female rabbit muttered. It obviously had not heard of an ostrich, or a roc for that matter. “I just knew that Nightingale lady was an usurp. Just because she can sing and all, doesn't mean she should be queen.” Being a rabbit, she could not sing and so could not be expected to appreciate or be an impartial judge of music. Just like that, she was gone. Leo continued to warble, quite oblivious to his surroundings. Could he have seen the future, he would have fled in fear. But as he could not, our story continues.

*******

The rabbit sped toward the royal palace of the birds where the Nightingale perched on the royal throne. She only stopped three times on the way; first to catch her breath not being used to running for long distances and the other times to gossip with a couple of her friends that she happened to meet on her way. When she arrived at the palace, she greeted by her husband, who a castle guard.

“O Lottie, dear! Whatever is the matter?” He called out, for normally she only ambled along at a slow pace.

“Henry! I bear news worth millions. The Nightingale is an usurp. The true bird ruler is on the edge of the forest. Singing like an angel, he is. Better than the old Nightingale for sure! And he is big!” She collapsed into his arms.

“Lottie, dear, you dream. You fell asleep and dreamed it up. Go back home.”

“I did not! And I will not!” She struggled to stand up. Henry had never seen Lottie so riled. “I demand to see the Nightingale!” She screamed.

“No, dear. This is not the wa-” She ripped her foreleg out of his paw. She pushed her way to the door.

“Nightingale! I seek your presence.”

“Come in,” A musical voice answered with a quiet laugh. “Let her through, Henry.” Henry silently watched as his wife marched triumphantly into the dark palace. After her eyes adjusted, she saw the gray Nightingale perched upon the throne.

“I bring news.” She stated importantly.

“Do tell then.”

“You are a usurp. The true king is on the other side of this forest and singing better than you ever could.”

“You don't say.” This was not the response Lottie expected and it made her mad. It was like the Nightingale didn't believe her. In truth, she didn't.

“You don't believe me, do you? I can prove it.” Her voice's pitch was rising. “Let me take some of your most loyal subjects to cloy tidings back to you of the king of the birds.”

“So be it. Mary, Nobin, and Boral, you will go with Harry's wife to find this king of the birds.” A yellow canary, a red breasted robin, and a noble, but chatty gray squirrel walked into the throne room and bowed to the Nightingale.

“Your wish is our command.” They solemnly stated. Lottie led them out of the palace toward the direction of Leo.

******

After some time, the strange foursome had reached the place where Leo leaned against the tree, whistling.

“O me! He is large!” Uttered Mary, the yellow canary.

“O my! He is huge!” Exclaimed Nobin, the red robin.

“O me! O my! He is monstrous!” Shouted Boral, the gray squirrel.

“What shall we do? What shall we do?” They wondered. Then Boral asked;

“Can he sing too?” Lottie nodded.

“Just listen.” She replied. And sure, enough Leo began to sing again. Leo began to sing this:

If I were the Marshal,

I'd be so impartial,

that the crooks would quake,

their limbs would shake,

and they would turn themselves in,

before they did the sin!

Another awful song after which Leo began whistling again. The birds and the other mammals had loved the song immediately.

“How wonderful. How lovely. What a great king he would make!” They vehemently declared. But the noble squirrel asked;

“But don't all birds have feathers?” Lottie smiled divergently.

“He does. Look at his head.” For our friend Leo was wearing a cap and, in that hat, there was a long purple feather all akimbo.

“What an adorable plumage!” Mary yelled.

They warbled along with Leo for a while with Lottie watching smugly. Then Lottie spoke.

“Shouldn't you go tell the Nightingale that her regency is over? That she has been replaced?”

“Of course! Of course!” They sped off with Lottie trailing behind just a little, for she couldn't wait to see the look on Nightingale's beaked face.

When they arrived at the palace, Henry ushered them in. When they told Nightingale the news, Lottie was severely disappointed. The Nightingale didn't even look fazed.

“The King? Well, bid him come and take his throne.” She murmured melodiously. I think the reason Nightingale was queen is because she is very generous, and it is a very good thing to have generous ruler.

“We will!” They streaked out the door. Lottie and Nightingale were the only ones left in throne room. Nightingale hummed cheerfully.

“Where will you live after you are thrown out? What will you eat?” Lottie asked spitefully, hoping to diminish Nightingale's sunny spirit.

“I shall live in the old oak tree and eat bugs and berries like other birds. Which reminds me, we shall lite supper now so. Do you care to join me?”

“Yes,” For Lottie was ravenous and that made her extremely spiteful. Nightingale led the way to dining hall, where she left Lottie and called to the cook to make a feast for King's homecoming. Then she had the finest grasses and mosses be brought to Lottie. But as for herself, she had only tea, as to not curb noble hunger, which she would need for the banquet. Lottie smacked thoughtfully as the Nightingale sipped her tea. Meanwhile Nobin, Mary, and Boral had reached the clearing, after amassing a large group of different animals which included a small green garter snake, two finches, nine wrens, five red squirrels, six frogs, three yellow beetles, four rabbits, an eagle, a weevil, a young osprey, and three vultures. The rabble of animals poured into clearing, frightening Leo, stopped him mid-chorus. The creatures covered Leo giving the look of a strange and grizzly animal with fur, feathers, and snakeskin. When Leo finally found his voice again, he gave a shout that would have frightened a lion. The animals scattered and then formed a ring around him. Leo was terribly afraid, so he did what he liked to best. He sung, sort of.

Back all you as one animal!

Weren't you told I am a Cannibal?

Flee you snakes,

before I bake you into cakes.

Fly you birds,

before I cook you with my words,

For you are all evil,

especially you there weevil,

Run you Vultures,

and you of other animal cultures,

Lest I make all of you fellows,

Stuffing for my pillows!

After this screamish singing, Leo was gasping for breath. The animals howled and scowled.

“How in insssulting. Bake me into cake!” The snake hissed.

“Cook us with his words! That would be an infraction upon our rights.” The birds twittered angerly.

“Me evil? Never!” The weevil protested, while he slyly plucked a feather of an unsuspecting wren.

“Run! As if we couldn't fly. Perhaps our feathers are a little thin, but still...” The vultures carried on.

“Pillows indeed!” All of the rabble exclaimed together.

“I say we revolt and put the Nightingale back on the throne. At least she never insulted us!” Somebody yelled.

“I agree!” Several voices mingled together.

“Everyone in favor, say Aye!”

“Aye!”

“Then the vote is anonymous! To the palace!” The mob left the clearing in a frenzy. The snake was the last to leave. It stuck its long red tongue out at Leo and then slithered away. Leo finally found his breath.

May on you fire rain,

the most among you is barely sane,

you are all ambiguous,

you are all conspicuous,

Especially you who live on my lane!

After the melodious outburst, Leo turned around and fled to home. When the animals got to palace, they set the Nightingale back on the throne and then feasted together. They toasted to the queen and never again tried to get a different monarch. Leo ever afterward was in fear of all animals, but he did live to become a famous singer.

The End