On a recent Sunday morning I pulled into the church parking lot, got out of my car, and found it lying right there at my feet.
A white feather.
Just one. No others anywhere in sight.
Now, I know there are legends about solitary white feathers and loved ones and guardian angels…I really didn’t have time to think about all that just then. Choir practice was starting and I had a Bible lesson to teach. No time to waste… I am not going to over-spiritualize this. I’ll figure out later where this feather came from…and I hurried into the church.
I promptly forgot about the feather.
Until, several Sundays later, when I was leaving the church and there, on the sidewalk right in front of me, was another white feather.
Now, I know there’s a law about not picking up bird feathers…but I couldn’t help myself.
I needed to know.
I took it to my husband, pastor of the church.
He was sitting at his desk in the study.
“Have you been seeing white feathers like this around here?” I asked, holding out the feather in my palm.
If he said no…I might have to consider those legends. Was I the only person finding a white feather — on two occasions now?
If he said yes…what kind of bird is shedding these feathers around the church? And why?
My husband barely glanced at the feather.
“Yes,” he said, finishing a note he was writing. “It’s from Mr. H.’s feather duster. He shakes it outside after he’s done cleaning on Saturdays.”
Glad I didn’t over-spiritualize…
with thanks to Two Writing Teachers for the March Slice of Life Story Challenge
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lit bits and pieces 
You had me on the edge of my seat, wondering what this feather could mean. The ending was perfect and very unexpected!
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Ah shucks, Fran, you had me hooked at your second sentence with ‘at my feet.” I thought, maybe it’s from an egret, a swan, or a sand crane. Does she even have sand cranes where she lives? I thought, I love when Fran writes with suspense leading the reader on with clues. You have a law about not picking up bird feathers in NC? Huh? I don’t think we do. Maybe we do because of the bird flu.
“My husband barely glanced at the feather.” Hm, why wouldn’t he look at it? Maybe he’s too busy rehearsing his sermon or…. Or maybe…. Yes, this is where I wondered. Something didn’t seem right.
You got me. Sneaky, sneaky, Fran. Thank you for the fun. 🙂
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So glad you enjoyed the story, Gail. Ii was great fun to write. As for the bird feather law: it’s actually federal. From the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service: “The possession of feathers and other parts of native North American birds without a permit is prohibited by the Migratory Bird Treaty Act (MBTA). This protects wild birds by preventing their killing by collectors and the commercial trade in their feathers, and extends to all feathers, regardless of how they were obtained. There is no exemption for molted feathers or those taken from road- or window-killed birds..Exceptions do exist for the feathers of legally-hunted waterfowl or other migratory gamebirds, and for the use of feathers by Native Americans.” -I wonder if I should get a permit! Not for these white feathers, of course…although I have yet to check that duster to see if they did, in fact, come from there…
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I understand the law for people that would hurt or kill birds for their feathers, but I’m surprised it extends to finding a random feather on your lawn. I had no idea about this law. Years ago, when I saw a beautiful undamaged feather on my lawn, I would pick it up and admire it. Then, I would wash it and save it for my poetry summer enrichment classes for when I would read a poetry book about birds, and we would write poems about birds. I only have a few feathers. It’s a good thing I wasn’t caught. One time my oldest daughter found a large feather that we thought was from a wild turkey.
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But signs are for the people who notice them… although I guess it’s far too clear that a guardian angel wasn’t the source of your feathers. The interaction between you and your husband made me smile– you captured it perfectly.
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Agree re: the signs. One of the greatest advantage of the writerly life is being an intense “noticer.” Now that I think of it…I haven’t even checked the duster to see if the feathers actually match…if they did, indeed, come from there…
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This is hilarious, and I’m so glad you shared the humor this morning. The feather duster strikes again! I was already spiritualizing with you (love that word), wondering who was sending messages your way. If I know you, you will be comparing those feathers to see if they are the same.
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This is a great story that not only had me at the edge of my seat but also left me smiling for that duster that has the power to get us all thinking. A great story
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I still think it could be a sign…..This slice is well written. Love the ending!
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Fran, I sure was not expecting the end to your feather incident. Why is it not allowed to pick up a bird feather? I’ve never heard of such a thing.
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Fran, I love it when my day begins with a chuckle! You told this story perfectly. Your last sentence is perfect, but truly, I did expect some spiritualizing from you this morning.
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I cracked myself up writing today, and BAM, now you did it to me reading a slice! Well played!
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Oh, I laughed out loud when I got to the ending! Great story, Fran!
(But don’t stop your stories with spiritual thoughts- they mean so much and encourage others in our spiritual journeys!)
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I love the twist at the end, totally not what I expected. I don’t know the significance of finding a white feather, so I need to do some research.
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Such a great slice with such an unexpected ending. I love collecting feathers if they’re unusual, so I’m not aware of any feather laws here. I had no idea anyone still used feather dusters!
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You enticed me with this take, Fran. You built in suspense and hit me with a humorous ending I didn’t expect. Great job!
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