A Pigeon Takes a Taxi in NYC
Lew's New York City adventure continues as he is greeted by a family of unfriendly fellow birds...
Before today’s story, I just wanted to offer a big welcome to all of the new subscribers! Thank you for joining!
Today’s bedtime story is the third story in the Lew series — a series about a lost pigeon named Lew in New York City. I’ve added some links to the first two parts just below:
Also, if you know someone who might like Story Whale, hit the share button and send this story through!
It was a daunting feeling as the boat approached the big city. I looked up at the gigantic shiny skyscrapers. I had never seen anything like it.
The boat then pulled up to the docks and all of the humans onboard began to file out. I gave my wing a wiggle and it still buzzed with soreness. But what choice did I have?
There was a little park just nearby where we docked. I took off into the air and flew towards a tree. Landing on a branch, I took in the surroundings.
There were several groups of humans sitting around on the grass below. It was only a small park. Beyond it there was a bike path and then a street with cars. That was where I needed to be if I wanted to find one of the yellow cars that that pigeon had told me about.
Before taking off, I noticed a chirping sound just nearby. I looked along the branch I was on and spotted a little nest. The chirping continued. They sounded desperate. I wondered if something was wrong.
I made my way along the branch to the nest and looked into it. Inside the nest there were three tiny baby birds, all looking up at me, chirping away.
I didn’t recognise what type of bird they were. I hadn’t seen birds like them before.
“Where are your parents?” I asked.
They just went on chirping.
I then heard a piercing bird’s caw behind me. Before I could even turn around, I felt the sudden and painful sting of a chomping beak on the back of my neck.
I felt a flap of air on me as the attacking bird fizzed past me.
I turned around and they had disappeared.
Then came another blurred figure diving through the air. Whatever it was, it was a lot smaller than me but its speed was vicious.
I ducked my head and the bird dug its beak into my back, pulling out a chunk of feathers.
The little birds in the nest were still chirping. At least their parents were back…
I saw another little bird swooping in and this time I was able to dodge out of the way. Already, the next one was on the way.
There was a group of four or five of them, flying in from all angles, chomping at me, plucking my feathers.
I bailed off the tree branch and started flapping, flying low, only just above the grass of the park. The birds chased after me, still pecking and biting. I tried my best to knock them away. I just had to keep going.
I was only just staying in the air. Suddenly, I was having to weave between a group of humans having a picnic, only just able to dodge an arm swinging for me.
Past the picnic, the chasing birds continued to strike at me.
I made it past the grass open and was just coming up to the bike path. I could see a bike charging along. I didn’t have enough time to lift up above them. I knew I had to go for it. I clenched my beak and flapped my wings with everything I had.
The bike zoomed by just behind me. I was close enough to feel the wind. I looked back and I felt a shiver of despair when I saw the birds still flying after me.
I was now at the road. My injured wing was excruciating. I didn’t hesitate. I went straight for the first car I saw and landed on its roof. I ducked down and pulled my wings over my head, making myself into a ball in an effort to protect myself. I closed my eyes and held my breath, bracing for the impact of the pecking birds. But the next peck never came.
Still, I held my stance, head ducked down, muscles tensed, eyes closed, waiting.
They were gone. I was free. I let out the longest exhale of my life. I felt like I was in a bath of relief.
Finally, I opened my eyes.
My head still ducked down, all I could see beneath me was a yellow car roof. It took a second for everything to click in my head. When it did, a massive smile took hold of my face. I couldn’t believe my luck!
I raised my wings so I could stand up properly and was immediately reminded of all my injuries. I felt a bunch of hot spots all over from where the birds had pecked and bit me, plus my wing was worse than ever.
I took a moment to catch my breath. At least I had made it to a yellow car. I just had to stay calm.
Only now could I fully take in my surroundings from the car. And, let me tell you, there were a lot of surroundings to take in…
There were cars everywhere, crammed in. The greasy smell of the vehicles filled the air. Beyond the road, the sidewalk was a fast-flowing river of humans.
So much movement was overwhelming. My eyes darted from place to place. I didn’t know where to look.
I had to tell myself to stop and focus. What I needed was food. That was my priority. So I tried to not think about the pain and focus on searching for food.
That was when I saw one of the greatest sights for any pigeon – a trash can.
Hunger cut out any hesitation. I took off and flew straight to the trash can. I didn’t even stop on the edge of it. I just flew straight inside it. Now that was a smell! Way better than nasty cars. I immediately started to furiously peck around, scoffing my face with anything even half-edible. A bit of hotdog, some yogurt, the stems of a few strawberries. There wasn’t a heap of food in there, but it was still more than I had eaten in a long time.
Once I had pecked up every last edible morsel, I climbed out of the trash can and stood on the edge of it. What now?
I then noticed the window of the building I was standing outside of.
In the window was a smorgasbord of meats and cheeses. Right there, the greatest feast I had ever seen, staring at me.
My tummy informed me of what I had to do next.
Here is the next part in Lew’s story:
Thanks for reading!
Subscribe to not miss the next part in Lew’s journey!