Years ago, a grey practitioner who had a family of ravens living nearby was amazed at how one of the ravens took to me. The bird started observing me as soon as I arrived at her familys Chesapeake estate, watching from the window when I was inside, getting closer every time I went out. The bird followed me around for three days. By the second day we were hanging out together, it would take food from my hand, we would talk, play fetch, it would listen still as I played guitar. One of the land hands was a bit of a space cadet and the bird and I would taunt him mercilessly, the bird would take his gloves or goggles and I would hide them. Once it took his keys and hid them without my knowing. I believe the land hands name was Mark. He was pissed, looking all over the property for them. The bird and I watching it all transpire with honks and snorts and laughs. Finally Mark came to sit down. Exasperated. The bird came closer as well, doing a little dance nearby. I took pity on the guy and looked to the bird. Hey Raven, I said, give mark his keys back. I swear it shook its head no. But I repeated, Raven. Be nice. Mark rolled his eyes as if to say you are loony toons, and left to continue his search. As soon as he was out of our line of sight, the bird flew up to the gutter above the patio table rustled around a bit in some leaves, leaves Mark was supposed to have cleaned out that day, picked up the keys in its brilliant beak, and tossed them down to me, as if pissed, then flew away. When Mark returned I gave him the keys, saying, you dropped them in the drive... By the way Bel (my host), wanted me to remind you to clean the gutters later. To which he replied, oh. Yes. I meant to get to that today. Mark left for town to get supplies, I called the bird. It wouldnt come. I said, Raven, Im sorry, let me apologize. Raven croaked from behind me an instant later. Im sorry, Raven. I ruined your joke... That was a great joke. Wait here Ill bring you a hunk of meat. The bird waited took the meat, flew off. I went inside to find Bel. And this is what it was like. Me sharing my time between Bel and Raven, neither of them making a fuss about the other. The last dinner we had, Raven brought the family to meet me, (and eat) they were very close for several hours, my friend, Raven was seldom less that an arms length away. Bel and Raven seemed to get along, over the next several years I would hear from Bel, and she would always make mention of how much more friendly Raven had been since my visits, and how things dont seem to disappear quite as frequently. It was foggy, early the next morning as I was going to the car to drive back into the city, and there the bird was sitting on the roof of the car to see me off. Raven greeted me with a great honk. From my pocket I revealed a semiprecious stone, a very pretty piece of deep blue something I kept in my guitar case. I presented it to the bird, who looked quizzically at me and it and me and it, until I gestured more specifically that it was for the bird to take. The bird took it in its beak. Flew a couple of acrobatic sweeps in jubilation and plopped back down on the roof of the car. Raven put the stone down, croaked its appreciation and flexed its wings. I could sense it wanted to give me something in return and was looking around thinking what. Thats okay, Raven. Youll think of something... Next time. There was a beat, then it tilted its head and dropped a turd on my windshield. We laughed hysterically for a good minute. Then I said, it was great to meet you. It bobbed its beak up and down in agreement. You have a beautiful family, thank you for letting me meet them. We stood there looking at each other for a minute then I said, I have a long drive ahead, I should get going. It flexed its wings again and nodded once, then picked up the stone to show me its appreciation again and hopped off the car as if to help me with my bags. Take care of your family and look after Bel while shes down here. I started the car and drove off. The bird flew with me for the mile drive to the road, always in plain sight from out the windshield view. As soon as I made the road Raven was gone. I heard one last honk in the distance. That evening, after I dropped my thank you letter in the mail, I called Bel, and started to thank her for a beautiful weekend and to plan our next time together, when she interrupted.. Baz, I watched you and the raven this morning. I have never seen anything quite like that... I always knew you were a witch.. And now we know who your familiar is.
Posted on: Wed, 10 Sep 2014 12:56:57 +0000
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