HOMER THE VULTURE WHO WANTED TO BE A PEACOCK

          

In this world there are many people who wish they were someone else.  They are impressed by celebrities or people who have lots of money.  Sometimes they are just a little jealous of a friend they think is prettier or has more things than they do.  Well, the animal world is no different...

Homer was a vulture and not a very happy guy.  He lived out in a desert. The desert isn't a place where many animals live.  There are lizards, prairie dogs, snakes and lots of cacti.  It is so hot in the desert that the temperature is well over one hundred degrees most days of the year.

Iguana lizards are all over the deserts in the southwest   part of the United States.  They are especially heavy near Mexico.  The Mexican people are used to them and the cacti.  The large cacti are like trees to the Mexican people.  They sometimes sit in the shade and nap below large cacti.

The desert lizards and prairie dogs are all fast creatures and Homer had a hard time catching them for food.  Homer like most vultures was left to eat animals that were already dead.  Homer thought his life was less than glamorous!  He wished he could be anything but a vulture.

  One day Homer saw a beautiful peacock   smoothing its feather.  Homer thought he had never seen a more beautiful bird.  Oh my, Homer wondered, why couldn't I have been born a peacock.  People would come from all over just to look at me and I would be very proud.   Homer talked to a falcon friend of his.  "Dive Bomber" as the falcon was known said," give it up Homer you just weren't cut out the be a Peacock."

Homer looked up in the air and was so pleased to see his best friend flying in.  It was Mr. Wizard his genius owl friend.   Mr. Wizard knew almost everything there was to know about the world because he read every book he could get his hands on.  He read all day and...

  most of each night!  If Mr. Wizard didn't know the answer to a question he would research it and try to find the answer.  He usually did too!  Turning Homer into a peacock was a tall order though.  Mr. Wizard thought this just may be one of those things that simply wasn't meant to be but he would give it his best try.  Homer was one of his best friends.

Mr. Wizard had to admit that Homer's life wasn't very exciting.  He spend most of his days flying around looking for dead animals to eat.  Homer was also lonely, he didn't have a family to share his life with and that made the desert a very empty place to live.  It was so hot on the desert even the cacti were sweating.

Homer thought his life would be perfect if only he could be as pretty as a peacock and look at himself in mirrors all day.  He could see himself sitting in a lovely gazebo surrounded by beautiful rose gardens with other small birds flying around.  Maybe there would even be an ocean near by and some pink flamingos.

Mr. Wizard decided this called for some of his special miracle dust.  He   just could not stand to see his friend Homer so sad any longer!  All Homer seemed to do lately was sit on his favorite cacti and let out pitiful sad cries.  Mr. Wizards dust soon spread around the desert and a party started to happen.

Many of the cacti were joining in the party and having    a great time.  There was a even a cacti with a Mexican sombrero playing a guitar.  Two others were doing a jig to the music.  What none of them knew was that at the stroke of midnight, something special was going to happen to Homer.

The moon was up high in the sky and snoring away.  Mr. Wizard's   hat and magic wand were bursting with excitement.  They were so excited about the surprise they were about to give Homer.  Mr. Wizard was sure this special spell he had come up with for Homer was going to make him very happy!

The clock was finally striking midnight.  Mr. Wizard had told Homer to bring a nice sweet card for a lady.  Homer didn't know exactly why but he did as Mr. Wizard told him.  After all, everyone knew you should listen to Mr. Wizard.  He was the smartest guy around! Somewhere in the distance a church bell chimed the stroke of midnight.

Fireworks started going off and everyone knew something   special was about to happen.  Suddenly, there stood Homer with a whole new family.  He would never be alone again.  Homer began to realize he didn't need gazebos and roses to make him happy.  He looked at his little family and knew this was what happiness was all about.

Mr. Peacock might be beautiful but he didn't have the love of Homers family.  Homer decided he wished the peacock lots of luck but he wouldn't trade places with him for all the beauty in the world.  Homer had all the beauty he needed right here with his new family!  Mr. Wizard was so happy his head was spinning!

MANY TIMES WE FIND THE THINGS WE ARE LOOKING FOR RIGHT AT HOME!