Story Part 1

The Origin Of Crows Have Black Feather

Yore, every bird in the world had white colored feather. The difference was only on their body and beak shape, the length of their tail and their voices. If all birds came together on a place, then, from distance they’re looked like a white cotton heap. If they flew together in sky, they’re also looked like a white cloud. Even though from close distance, it’s difficult to differentiate which is the sparrow, cockatoo, parrot or kutilang.

At that time, often happened funny incidents experienced by birds species. Pipit urban chick backed home to pipit pinang nest, because the pipit pinang was thought as his father. Parrot bred cockatoo’s chicks because he thought they were his chicks.

Someday, they realized that their same colored feather instead brought many problems. Then, they discussed each other, find out the solution. “in order to face this problem, we can’t act separately. We have chief in our village,” Crow suggested. They went to uncle cockatoo that was the chief of their village. One of the birds explained their plan. Uncle cockatoo agreed that the same colored feather would bring problems. “now, I want to hear your cockatoo said.

The crow that was only kept silent from early then spoke, “Each of us should change our feather color. Because, with the different colored feather, it’s easy for us to differentiate ourselves. “What’s your reason?”.

“Look, human also has different skin. European has white skin. Chinese has yellow skin. Indonesian has dark brown skin and African has black one. It’s easy for them to differentiate,” Crow suggested.

“We should like them,” he continued.

Many birds agreed with the Crow suggestion. However, many of them resisted it. “I don’t agree, because since our ancestor, our clan has feather like this,” Strok said.

“This white feather is clean, then, why it must be changed,” other protested. Strict debate happened between the agreed clan and resisted one.

Cockatoo as the chief couldn’t make a decision. “I hear you debate strictly about the father color. Well, I give you a week for all of you here to propose what color you ask for your feather”.

“what is the requisite to choose the color?” the parakeet said.

“the requisite, color choice between you must be different.”

Cockatoo continued, “I will perform a test. Who pass the test, then his clan deserves to get the color they propose. If every bird species pass the test, then I will bring it to King Wicaksana?”.

“yess, we all understand..,” they answered jointly.

The next morning, crow collected his clan to perform meeting. Everyone completely submit the crow to determine their color. “then, since this day, I will roam to find idea about what color is suitable for our clan’s feather,” Crow said. The Crow started to roam. His intention was only looking for idea to determine suit and beautiful color, as well as having a meaning. At the beginning, he came by a village. Coincidentally, it was manggosteen season. He saw a squirrel eating a black mangosteen.

“hi, squirrel. Why do you like mangosteen?” Crow asked a question.

“it’s delicious. Do you want to try it?” squirrel said.

The crow tried the fruit. Eeemmm, correctly. It was so delicious.

However, he wanted to know the secret, why the black mangosteen was delicious. Suppose that the mangosteen tree cloud speak, Crow will ask about it. The crow continued his journey until he came to a graveyard. He saw everyone wore black clothes. They surrounded their family that was passed away.

“why do they all wear black clothes? There must be a reason?” he thought deep in his heart.

He flew low and alighted at their roof. Then, he asked a question, why they all wore black clothes. However, none of them answered. Perhaps they didn’t know the crow’s language.

“exactly, black has a meaning,” the crow said and noted it. Then, he flew again to continue his journey.

He arrived at a village edge. He saw a woman lighting fire. There was earthenware on the hearth. After several moments, she lifted it and put outside it’s content. Oh, she was cooking rice.

“aunty, why do you use a black container, what’s the meaning?” Crow inquired.

However, the woman said nothing. Perhaps, because she didn’t know the Crow’s language. Finally, Crow only convinced himself that black has many meaning.