A Hudson's Hope Children's Bedtime Story

Mary Lou Beattie

Susan Soderstrom

    He was one of three babies that broke through their shells on a sunny spring day at six-mile. Mama crow helped her brood break away the hard shells and begin their lives in this same tree that she was raised in.

    As their feathers appeared Mama crow noticed something unusual. One of the chicks had coloured feathers appearing. As the days passed the colours appeared brighter and more colourful. 

    “Just like a rainbow.“ Mama said. And that would be his name.

    Word spread through the crow families and curious crows flew by to see this new addition. They were just amazed at the bright colours and of course there were a few trouble makers who made fun of Rainbow and began to bully him. But Papa crow chased them away to keep Rainbow safe.

    But Rainbow had a more important problem. He wanted so badly to look like his Mom and Dad and his brothers. He felt like he didn’t belong to his own family. 

    Across a rolling green hill and up a winding road a completely different drama was unfolding. Eight year old Jesse was watching the birds from his wheelchair on the back deck. The tall stately spruce trees and the stands of spreading red willows lined the yard. This was spring at six mile, Jesse’s favorite time of year.

    Jesse inhaled the fresh perfumed smell of spring willows and was thrilled to see eight doe deer with six of them nursing fawns. The only thing that seemed out of place was the wheelchair. Jesse had lost the use of his legs in an ATV accident six months ago. His mother had brought him to spend the summer with his grandfather who himself was a great source of information about nature and the great outdoors.

    Doctor Courtenay told Jesse that the chances were good that he would walk again but that it would take a lot of courage and perhaps luck too.

    For now Jesse had food for the birds and he and grandpa had a steady stream of crows intent on a treat. But this morning was going to be different as a series of strange events unfolded. 

    Rainbow the crow appeared on top of the hydro pole and the black crows scattered. His glistening feathers caught the sun’s rays just enough to show off his colours.

     It seemed that Rainbow and Jesse’s eyes connected right away forming a special bond. The crow approached Jesse warily. Jesse talked to him just as grandpa would but did not mention anything about his colours. There was an immediate connection between them and it appeared that both of them felt it.

    Rainbow landed on the railing and Jesse held out his hand with a piece of bun. This was Rainbows first encounter with a human and he found it wasn’t scary at all.