Legacy

Billy Blue Bird was seen by Nosy Skunk beating the living tar out of itty bitty Willy Wren, only a fourth of Billy’s size.  Nosy Skunk went running to report this to Carl Porcupine, the sheriff of the local woods.   Carl promptly arrested Billy Bluebird and threw him in the clink.

The next day Billy Bluebird was brought before Judge Scowly Owl and was asked, “How do you plead?”  Billy Bluebird replied, “Defense of home and children your honor.”  The prosecutor said, “Phooey, that’s a great big lie.  I have a witness, Nosy Skunk, who saw it all.”

Nosy Skunk took the stand and told all kinds of mean things about the activities of Billy Bluebird.  The jury hissed at and boo’ed Billy Bluebird.  Judge Scowly Owl was looking angry, but he asked Sweetums Canary, the defense attorney for Billy, if there was any testimony she wished to have presented to the jury.   Sweetums said, “Yes indeed!”  She brought bird after bird to the witness stand to say that Willy Wren, like almost all wrens, was notorious for getting into the nests of other birds and pecking holes in their eggs, thus killing their children. And that, being the good father Billy was, when he caught Willy about ready to do it to his eggs, he took action, and Willy was lucky to still be alive.

The court room grew silent. Someone hollered, “I think there’s a skunk in here.” Judge Scowly Owl banged his gavel and said, “Case dismissed.  Free the prisoner.”   The jury cheered.  Judge Scowly Owl then told Sheriff Carl Porcupine to place Willy Wren under house arrest for mass murder, and to bring Willy in for trial as soon as he recovered.  There was more cheering from the jury box.  Somehow Nosy Skunk managed to disappear. All goes to show what a difference one important piece of information can make in determining the truth. And that thing’s aren’t always as they appear.