Chapter Eleven Synopsis of Discussion
Week of September 16, 2007
Chapter 11 – Miss Hickory Takes To The Air
In this chapter Miss Hickory learns that not everyone is all good,
but chances are they are not all bad either. Crow spends the first part of the
chapter running amok, but the second part being kind to Miss Hickory. At first
she wasn't quite sure how to react when she realized he was the Crow running
around creating havoc and discontent. Finally, she just accepted him for who
he is.
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I think Crow really wanted to be a friend to Miss Hickory.
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It is now March and spring is in the air. Miss Hickory felt it in her twigs as she watched the doings of Old Crow Week. Miss Hickory knows Crow just couldn’t be among the other crows bullying and stealing from others. They had quite a system set up for knowing where corn would be planted. They had young crow scouts to watch for the first planting and to report when the vegetables could be nipped. The head crow of the committee urged them to map more fields and gardens, cawing commands and never doing any work himself, and he obtained the best of last season’s nests in the top of a great pine in the orchard. Miss Hickory deems him ‘undoubtedly a gangster.” Much to her horror, she discovers that Crow, her Crow, is the leader of the Old Crow Week celebration. He led the raid on the Ladies’ Aid Society, stole corn, directed mapping of the cornfields and now, without doubt, was going to commit murder as he lands haphazardly on the side of her nest!
Miss Hickory tells him to vamoose. She is sorry she ever met him – a “thief, dastard, disturber of the peace.” However, Crow persists. I think he is very attached to Miss Hickory. He has come to take her for a flight. All of a sudden Miss Hickory is excited. She has always wanted to travel and has not been able to. He puts her on this back, tells her to hold close to his neck and off they go.
Crow chastises Miss Hickory for being the “same old Nut, making no allowances.” He goes on to explain his behavior and that he has good qualities. He gives her a wonderful ride and she is able to see the entire Old Place from the air. She was so comfortable she finally let go of Crow’s neck and stretched her arms in delight. She has decided during the flight that since her clothes were scraggly she would make some new clothes. She will clean house. Crow told her not to bother. He is hale and hearty, has never tidied his nest or even washed all his life. Miss Hickory did notice mud on his feet and dust on his wings. He is living in last year’s nest instead of a well-built new one. But then Miss Hickory realized this meant very little weighed against Crow’s kindness and courage. I believe there is a lesson here.