How Woodpecker Invented the Flute A creative story by Lesley Parlane It was a bright, clear, sunny day. Everyone was up and going about their

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Randell O’Neal’
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1 How Woodpecker Invented the Flute A creative story by Lesley Parlane It was a bright, clear, sunny day. Everyone was up and going about their business. Birds were flying through the forest. Squirrels were running up and down the trees. Deer cautiously came out of the forest to drink cool water from the pond. A perfect day. Woodpecker was up and about too. He was really hungry. He wanted to eat a whole army of ants. He was that hungry. Where should I look for them? He came close to the pond and looked around. A turtle poked its head out of the water and said; Are you looking for ants? Yes, I am, replied Woodpecker. There are some bugs in that dead tree. Why don t you try over there?

2 Woodpecker said thank you to the turtle and started to make his way over to the dead tree. He was so happy at the idea of getting a wonderful lunch that he half flew and half hopped his way over there. As he approached; he could see that there were tons of ants all over the dead tree! Wonderful! thought Woodpecker, Lunch time! I had better be careful on how I approach them. He slowly tried to creep up on them. He got closer and closer to the tree and with one mighty leap he landed right in the middle of a branch and started to peck at them furiously. He pecked so hard that he broke through the branch with his beak. He had completely missed the ants. I ll just try again. He took another mighty leap up and landed a little bit further up the branch. He tried pecking again but only succeeded in making another hole in the branch. He was starting to get

3 frustrated as he could see that the ants had scattered further up the branch. Woodpecker wasn t going to give up that easily, so he tried again for a third time. He took another mighty leap & landed a bit further up branch. Once again he pecked furiously and this time his beak got stuck in the branch! Woodpecker struggled to free his beak from the third hole he had accidently created. He could hear the ants laughing at him. Woodpecker was getting really frustrated and he was still really hungry. He decided to give it one more try before looking elsewhere for food. He took a big breathe in and took a mighty leap into the air and landed a bit further up the branch. He pecked with all his might and broke another hole into the branch. A sudden noise in the bushes caught Woodpecker s attention. He listened carefully and he knew that a two legged was coming towards the clearing. Only

4 two legged make so much noise while walking around the forest! At that moment the wind started to pick up and strange sound was heard. A strange, whispering, whistling sound. Almost like a melody. It was a new noise that had never been heard before in the forest. How strange where was it coming from? Woodpecker listened carefully and slowly realized that the new noise was coming from the branch that he was sitting on! The wind seemed to enter the branch and it was like it was trying to sing! Wow! What a wonderful discovery I made! The two legged was getting closer and Woodpecker had to decide if he was going to stay or go. I don t want to leave my new discovery. I don t want to lose my lunch either! I know, I ll hide up

5 here in this nearby tree and hope that the two legged keeps going through the forest. The wind started blowing again and more noises were coming out of the ant branch. It didn t sound too bad. I hope the two legged doesn t hear it. The two legged came into the clearing and looked around. The wind started blowing again and the two legged heard it. They slowly started looking around for the source of the new sound. Woodpecker could only watch in silence as the Two Legged quickly found the ant branch and carefully broke it off the dead tree. They examined it carefully and Woodpecker could see that a light had come into their eyes. The Two Legged was thinking that they had discovered something that was new, exciting and magical! They could show this new

6 discovery off to everyone at home! Everyone would be very impressed. Woodpecker watched in dismay and frustration as he could hear the Two Legged and their thoughts. Ha! I invented that magical branch! I put all those holes into the branch. I worked hard on that. I made that, not him! Woodpecker watched sadly as the Two Legged left with the magical ant branch. Woodpecker watched the Two Legged as they left the area. The sun had shifted and would be quickly going down soon. Woodpecker had better get moving if he wanted to get some more food before going to sleep for night. Woodpecker started to laugh to himself as he prepared to leave. Oh well, I guess he can have it.and all the ants too! Now, you know the real story of why Woodpecker pecks so furiously at branches. It s not only because

7 he s looking for food; but he s remembering the lost, magical ant branch! Lesley Palane Story Origin This story was created in May 2013 during a women s retreat near Ottawa. It was a part of a creative writing session where the participants had to come up with a story in less than 15 mines. Everyone was given some suggestions to help them get started and I was given a woodpecker and a branch. I have now taken this story and told it to various Ottawa audience s as a part of my storytelling repertoire. It is my first story that I ve told to audiences as a new Storyteller and it s one that I m proud of and really like.

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