The Humming Feather

Chapter 1: The Humming Feather

The morning sun sits low over the canal, turning the water to shines of gold and green. A small figure in a red raincoat walks along the towpath beside the ⟨home⟩ Daisy, her eyes fixed on the ground.

⟨Character 1⟩: Feathers here, feathers there, feather for a hat that I could wear. One for the windy day, one for the rain, one for the puddle by the boat named Daisy Jane. But the boat isn’t Daisy Jane, it’s just Daisy. That rhymes with lazy. Daisy lazy. No, that’s not right either.

⟨Character 1⟩: Oh! A grey one! Look at you, all curled and soft. You’re not like the pigeon ones. You’re smaller, and shiny along the edge. Where did you come from, little thing? Did a big bird drop you? Did you float down from a cloud? I’m going to put you in my pocket with the others. Wait. What’s that noise?

⟨Character 1⟩: You’re humming. Like a bee stuck in a jam jar. Bzzzz, bzzzz. But you’re not a bee. You’re a feather. My other feathers don’t hum. I’m sure of it. I’ve listened to them all. This one is special. I think you want me to follow you. Do you? I will. I’m good at following. I follow the ducks all the time.

Tilly walks on, the feather cupped in her hand. The hum gets a little louder, then softer, like it’s pulling her forward. Ahead, a lock gate stands open, and a man in a flat cap is painting it with slow, careful strokes.

⟨Character 1⟩: Hello! Mister Lock Keeper! I’ve got a humming feather. Do you want to hear it? It’s not very loud, but it’s there. Listen. Bzzzz. Like that. I’m following it along the canal. It’s going somewhere. Do you know where?

Lock Keeper: A humming feather? That’s a new one on me. Let me have a listen. Hmm. That’s a low sort of hum, isn’t it? Not like a bee at all. More like a bird. A heron, I’d say. Herons make a funny noise when they’re talking to each other. If you ask me, that feather belongs to a heron. There’s one that lives near the old willow tree, down past the next bend. Big grey thing, always fishing.

⟨Character 1⟩: A heron! I’ve seen one. It stood on one leg for ages. Thank you, Mister Lock Keeper. I’ll go and find it. Come on, feather. Let’s get you home.

Tilly hurries along the towpath. The wind picks up, tugging at her coat. A gust whips the feather out of her hand. It spins toward the canal. Tilly lunges and catches it just before it touches the water.

⟨Character 1⟩: Got you! That was close. You nearly went for a swim. I won’t let go again, I promise. You’re too important to lose. Come on, the willow tree is just ahead. I can see it.

Chapter 2: Home for the Hum

The sun sinks low behind the willow tree, and the canal turns the color of peach skins. Tilly stands on the bank, the feather cupped in both hands. Above her, a nest of twigs sits in the fork of two branches.

⟨Character 1⟩: There it is. The nest. It’s high up. The hum is getting louder. Bzzzz, bzzzz. You really want to go home, don’t you? I can hear it. Like you’re saying, up here, up here. Don’t worry, feather. I’ll get you there. I’m brave. I’m not scared of a fence post.

⟨Character 1⟩: One foot up. Then the other. Hold on with my knees. The post is wobbly but I’m wobblier. There. I can reach now. Easy does it. I’m putting you in the nest. Right in the middle, where it’s soft. Goodbye, feather. Be safe.

The humming stops. Tilly listens. Nothing. Just the water and the wind. Then a big grey heron glides down and lands on the nest, folding its wings like a slow umbrella. It looks at Tilly.

⟨Character 1⟩: You came back! That’s your feather, isn’t it? That’s why it was humming. It wanted to find you. And I followed it all along the canal. All the way from the towpath. I followed it, and now it’s home. You’re welcome, heron. I’m glad I found it.

Tilly climbs down and walks back along the towpath in the fading light. The Daisy waits ahead, her windows glowing warm.

⟨Character 1⟩: I’m so tired. My legs are wobbly from the fence post. But it was worth it. The heron has its feather. I found it, and I followed it, and now it’s home. That’s a good day. That’s the best day.

She snuggles into her bed on the boat, the canal lapping gently against the hull. The water goes shhh, shhh. Her eyes close. Her smile stays.

⟨Character 1⟩: Shhh, shhh. Goodnight, canal. Goodnight, heron. Goodnight, feather.