The Little Drummer Bird#1

The Arrival of the Drum

This is a little seasonal serial, some festive merriment, a gift of an advent calendar to you who reads this from this teller, a sculpture and a bit of story each day.

Part#1 , Part#2 , Part#3 , Part#4 , Part#5 , Part#6 , Part#7 ,Part#8 , Part#9

Today is the first, who waits beyond?

The days had grown dark and cold.

Tucked away under his little blanket in his little nesthouse was a little bird. He could be said to be a little fat for his size, but in the winter, it's the fat that survive.

He actually needed to be fatter, as it was, the dark and cold would soon enough take residence of a little home with a little frozen statue.

His only regret was that he didn't get to eat more worm sausage or fresh worms. Some crumbs or crumbpie would have been nice too.

Yet, as he closed his eyes to invite the dark and cold in...

There was a clattering sound, a drumming sound.

He could have stayed in bed, but curiousity overcame him. With stiff wings and feet, he rolled out of bed, and there in his icy livingroom was a drum, a hat and a letter.

A bird never needs a letter opener, he used his break, and warmth spread through him.

"How curious, to be so warmed by opening a letter, am I near the end of night?"

Still his two guests had not knocked on the door, so he read the letter, it went thusly;

Dear Little Bird,

The days have grown short and cold, and you and many others are sorely pressed by winter, so you have been chosen to be my herald, and tell all that the Manor's doors are open for a winter feast.

Yours, the Lord of the Manor.

"Well, that's a very important person, but how did this all get here, and why me, I can barely move my wings now"

"Kehehehe, silly bird, aren't you already feeling more alive?"

He looked here and there, but there was just himself, the hat, a drum and outside Cold and Dark were waiting patiently.

"Birdbrain, it's me, the drum"

"A drum?"

"Your father a parrot or something? That's what I said!"

"Well, good evening Mr.Drum, I'm afraid I've nothing to offer you my larder is empty and I don't know what drums eat"

"It's not drumsticks! Now, aren't you feeling lively?"

"Now that you mention it Mr.Drum, you're right"

"So, you can be the herald can't you?"

The little bird supposed he could.

"Dark and Cold are waiting just outside my door though."

"Put my strap on and drum a little bit"

He looked at the drum uncertainly, he could hold a teacup with a feather, but drumming with his wings?

"I know what you're thinking, just use your feet and beak birdbrain!"

Though not convinced he did as the drum asked and soon a pleasant dumdadadum sounded out, a jolly sound.

There was a scuffling sound from the door, Dark and Cold both eager to be away from detestable merriment, leaving behind just regular dark and regular cold.

"How marvellous and wonderful! Let's be off at once!"

"Hold it, don't forget the hat and stuff that letter inside me, could come in handy!"

Still enthusiastic at driving Dark and Cold off, the little bird did as he was asked.

With his door closed behind him, he flew out, only the moon and stars illuminating the dark...

After flying for a while, he spoke a little worried to Mr.Drum.

"Say, Mr.Drum, where are these all that I should tell?"

"Dunno, I'm just a drum, gotta work these things out for yourself"

Settling on a frosted branch, he looked this way and that, then he caught sight of a bright shining star.

"The guiding star, of course! If I follow it, surely I'll find those I must tell"

Thus, the little drummer bird set off to tell all he encountered that the Manor Lord had opened his doors for a winter feast.

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