It was during a lull in the conversation and a slight sense of peace and tranquility had entered the regular coffee drinking event on that Saturday when the pipe smoker asked whether anybody had pondered about the abilities that birds have.
Immediately a whole lot of questions were raised, but the one that was the one about the ability of birds to fly over an expanse of water and not fall in!
The cigar smoker raised his eyebrows and asked “What prompted you to spend some thinking time on that subject?”
“Well, came the answer, “I had the good fortune to visit my friends who live near the estuary of one of our smaller rivers recently. He suggested that we take a walk along the banks of the river and watch the different birds that fly over the river and even some that fly way out to the sea.”
“Well, that is what one would expect to see but why the question?”
The pipe smoker did not need any further prompting and remarked that one can see birds fly anywhere and it does not have to be at an estuary. But, the special event that buzzed through his head was “Why does birds have the ability to fly very close to the surface of the water, and sometimes it looks as if their wing tips touch the water, but they do not fall into the water? I have not noticed that they have special wings or something else that helps keep them just a small distance above the water and they do not fall in! “
“Come to think of that capability” added another coffee drinker, “have you also noted that weaver birds can build their nests in such a way that they hang over the water of a river or a dam and then when their eggs are hatch there are no drownings of these newly born birds!”
It was one of the other members who entered into the discussion by explaining “ The fact that the newly hatched birds do not fall out of the nest is because it was built in such a way that the hatchlings are protected from falling!”
“In addition the nests are built in such a way that a snake could not slide along the branch and then poke its head into the nest without falling off the branch and into the water!”
Not one of the other coffee drinkers had observed these phenomena at all and expressed thanks that their knowledge had been expanded at no cost at all !
“But, the pipe smoker started again, “How come nobody can even venture an explanation, and added that when they fly to any of their next destinations the should ponder how the airplane remains in the air and can fly at a level that does not even spill the coffee that was served!”.
The barista the cleared his throat and enquired whether another round of coffee would be welcomed. A loud “Yes” satisfied every one.