Tawny owl (image from Wikipedia) Almost the first night we moved here, we heard owls screeching. In the autumn, they like to call to one another after darkness has fallen. I soon grew accustomed to falling asleep to their eerie screams.
One night, not so long ago, we had friends with a young child to stay. Just before midnight I was woken by the sound of their son crying. I lay awake in bed, not wanting to interfere... but really, weren't my friends going to get up and look after their little one? He sounded really unhappy.
Eventually, worried that something was wrong, I tip-toed down the corridor and listened at his door. All was silent... perhaps the poor dear had fallen asleep again. Back to bed for me.
A few minutes later I heard his cries resume. Once again, I listened; once again, I could not hear the parents getting up; once again, I tip-toed down the corridor, only to find that he had settled. Odd. Then, all of a sudden, I heard an owl screaming. Fooled by a bird! I couldn't help chuckling. Back to bed I went once more, this time with a pillow over my head. Soon the owl quietened, and I managed to fall back to sleep.
You can imagine my reaction when I woke again later that night to the sound of the owl screeching. I lay in bed, thinking dark thoughts about the local wildlife. This time, though, I was surprised to hear my friends getting up and trying to soothe their little one. Had the owl fooled them too? No. The owl's screeching had awakened their son, and now bird and baby were united in their cries, indistinguishable from one another.
Peace, my feathered friends, oh peace...
One night, not so long ago, we had friends with a young child to stay. Just before midnight I was woken by the sound of their son crying. I lay awake in bed, not wanting to interfere... but really, weren't my friends going to get up and look after their little one? He sounded really unhappy.
Eventually, worried that something was wrong, I tip-toed down the corridor and listened at his door. All was silent... perhaps the poor dear had fallen asleep again. Back to bed for me.
A few minutes later I heard his cries resume. Once again, I listened; once again, I could not hear the parents getting up; once again, I tip-toed down the corridor, only to find that he had settled. Odd. Then, all of a sudden, I heard an owl screaming. Fooled by a bird! I couldn't help chuckling. Back to bed I went once more, this time with a pillow over my head. Soon the owl quietened, and I managed to fall back to sleep.
You can imagine my reaction when I woke again later that night to the sound of the owl screeching. I lay in bed, thinking dark thoughts about the local wildlife. This time, though, I was surprised to hear my friends getting up and trying to soothe their little one. Had the owl fooled them too? No. The owl's screeching had awakened their son, and now bird and baby were united in their cries, indistinguishable from one another.
Peace, my feathered friends, oh peace...
RSS Feed