When Ms Owl flew in this morning , I could see she was carrying something that looked like a "trick-or-treat" bag ...only it was carefully fastened shut at the top ; and, when she set it down on the patio table,it seemed to have a life of its own.
It moved,it rustled, and, from time to time, it squeaked !
"That's...an interesting package !", I remarked - as casually as possible.
" Mice", my feathery companion said affably. " Trick or Treat mice, to be exact. Would you care for one ? "
I waved my hand dismissively. "Not for me, thanks. I'm trying to keep my mouse intake as low as possible these days. What are you going to do with them ? "
" Well, some of us collect these little...presents for our Developmentally Disabled Owls and Owlets. You, see, many of them can't go out trick-or-treating, because it's just too much for them. They can't fly very well, they get confused, or they fixate on a street lamp. It's quite sad !"
"Wow ! How come I never heard about this before ?"
"It's quite simple: we hide our Developmentally Disabled owls away-just like you humans do with yours."
"Well...", I said defensively. "We're better about that than we used to be. I mean-well we have Special Olympics, and ...and..."
"...And", I added lamely, " We spend millions and millions on football stadiums,but expect low-paid Care workers to substitute for trained professional Nurses when the disabled folks they care for get sick ; and we ignore the fact that the disabled are very prone to illness as they get older;and we turn overcrowded dormitories into catch-as-can nursing homes;and we have State Inspectors, who come around and give everybody hell because they're not medical professionals-and were never supposed to be - but the Inspectors pretend otherwise..."
Ms Owl stretched her wings. "No sense beating yourself up about it ! If it's any comfort, you aren't any worse than we owls are . When our disabled get too sick, we leave them to the crows."
"Listen, I'd love to stay and chat,but I'd better get out of here before the mice escape."
Just like that, she was off: in a flash of white wings;but I stood there a moment longer wondering: Aren't humans supposed to be better - and wiser than owls ?
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