The Guy in 3C and Other Tales, Satires and Fables

by R.P. Burnham

  One time during a drought a flock of sparrows was having a difficult timegetting by on the meager food available. The three bully-boy leaders of the flock were the only ones who ever ate their fill. Some of their lieutenants also got enough (just barely), but most of the flock were on the verge of starvation. Growing desperate, the starving birds talked it over amongst themselves and elected a spokesbird to represent them. She flew over to where the three honchos were and waited politely for them to notice her. After several minutes during which they hardly deigned to favor her with a glance, she got the picture and said impatiently, “Say listen, you guys, in case you haven’t noticed you three are as plump as Thanksgiving turkeys while we’re all starving. Wouldn’t it be more fair if we shared everything equally? What d’ya say?”

  The three leaders looked at each other in amazement and then back to the elected spokesbird. Their eyes narrowed in displeasure. “No,” said they in unison, “the poor will always be with us. It’s the natural order that some get more, and we deserve it because we’re smarter and stronger than all of you. So a word to the wise, my friend. Clam up and stop trying to make trouble or we’ll be forced to go hard on you.” Just to make sure she got the message, one of them gave her a sharp peck on top of her head.

  Just then a scout came back and announced he’d found a field full of seeds. “Okay,” yelled the three bully-boys, “everyone get into pecking order and follow us.” They did what they were told and soon arrived at the field where the three honchos ate their fill, then the lieutenants, and finally, the others got to scratch around for the few seeds left. The bottom fifteen percent got nothing.

  While the three bully-boys and their lieutenants dozed off the effects of their pig-out, the other birds held a pow-wow. “Believe me, we’ll get nothing from those three. Leave them behind,” advised the spokesbird. “Let’s fly away and promise to share equally.” The others were at first hesitant, but their growling bellies finally convinced them. After that every member of the flock got the same amount, no matter how meager the food supply, and collectively they managed to get through the drought and all eat well when the good times returned.

  Moral: the poor will always be with us until the social structure is changed.

 

  Birds of a Feather