There once was a great flood that sweep across the prairie. Amongst the waters floated a hawk nest that been torn from a fallen oak. The nest and the sole egg that it carried, came to rest in a clump of grass where prairie chickens had laid a clutch of eggs. When the adult prairie chickens returned to their nest they looked briefly at the hawk egg and then pushed it into their own nest. The hawk egg was considerably larger than the other eggs but prairie chickens are not known for their powers of observation so they thought the egg to be one of their own.

Soon all of the eggs hatched and the little hawk took her place beside the prairie chickens. Many days passed and the hawk learned quickly how to live life as a prairie chicken. Much of the day was spend scratching in the ground for grubs and worms or running after a grass hoppers or crickets. The rest of the day was spent hiding deep among the clumps of grass.

The prairie chickens faced many dangers from coyotes and the birds of prey. Their only defense was to keep a sharp eye out for the predators and rush for their hiding places before they were seen.

As the chicks grew the little hawk soon was twice the size of the other chicks and looked very different. The prairie chickens took little notice that the hawk was different even though it clearly looked like one of their predators the so greatly feared. Prairie Chickens are not known for their powers of deduction.

One day the hawk stopped scratching in the dirt and looked high into a clear blue autumn sky. Far above it could see a pair of hawks gliding on the currents of air. The hawk sat motionless on the ground so it would not be seen; but then the hawk did something it had never done before. It wondered what it would be like to soar so high above the earth. The hawk began to dream of a life where it was a powerful bird, gliding across the prairie and over the peaks of the mountains.

Then a grass hopper jumped onto a blade of grass in front of the hawk and the dream was gone. Prairie chickens are not known for ability to follow their dreams. The End.

You're not made of the same stuff, so don't let the prairie chickens around you set your standards. Dare to dream and dare to follow your dreams. --Doug J