Marginalia

It was a nice day for an African safari. It cost Tom a lot of money to even consider this trip, but truly, it was to be. He was in the Maasai Mara, a national reserve in southwestern Kenya, and he had traveled thousands of miles to see as many animals as possible — lions, zebras, giraffes, elephants.

But suddenly, and without warning, he accidentally fell out of the jeep.

He had no idea how that could have possibly happened, but he saw it driving off, the door flapping open and closed. He tried to run after it, but it was too late. So he retraced his steps, hoping for a path back.

On his way, he found a large bird. It was an ostrich, a large male by the looks of it, red neck and legs, black feathers, about 9 feet tall and 350 pounds. And it was staring right at him. And it started walking up to him.

Tom felt very intimidated by this, this... this absolute dinosaur of a beast walking up to him. So he decided to back away, but he tripped.  The ostrich stopped right in front of him, looked down, started waving its wing, and said to Tom in a childish voice, “Hi there, my name’s Ozzie, what’s yours?”

Tom couldn’t believe his ears. The enormous ostrich was talking to him in a high-pitched, childlike voice. He blinked in disbelief, trying to make sense of the surreal situation.

“Uh... I’m Tom,” he stammered, still not entirely convinced he wasn’t dreaming.

Ozzie the ostrich tilted his head, seemingly pleased. “Nice to meet you, Tom! You’re not from around here, are you?”

Tom chuckled nervously. “No, I’m not. I’m here on a safari, but I seem to have lost my way.”

Ozzie’s eyes twinkled mischievously. “Well, you’re in luck, Tom. I know these lands like the back of my wing. I can help you find your way back.”

Tom’s eyes widened in surprise. He never imagined that an ostrich would come to his rescue. “You can do that?”

Ozzie nodded enthusiastically. “Of course! I’ve been exploring these savannas for years. Stick with me, and you’ll be back in no time!”

With Ozzie as his guide, Tom embarked on an unexpected adventure. The ostrich led him through hidden trails and secret watering holes, introducing him to an array of wildlife along the way. Tom’s initial fear transformed into a sense of wonder and awe.

As the sun began its descent, painting the horizon with vivid hues of orange and pink, they reached a clearing where a breathtaking sight awaited them. A family of elephants, majestic and serene, stood beneath a giant acacia tree. The matriarch, her tusks gleaming in the fading light, turned her wise gaze toward Tom.

“This is where I leave you, Tom,” Ozzie chirped, a hint of sadness in his voice. "You’ll find your way back from here. Just follow the path through the acacia grove.”

Tom was filled with gratitude. “Thank you, Ozzie. You’ve been an amazing friend and guide. I’ll never forget this.”

With a final wave of his wing, Ozzie turned and disappeared into the tall grass.

Tom made his way through the acacia grove, the memory of his encounter with the talking ostrich etched into his heart forever. When he finally emerged on the other side, he was greeted by the familiar sight of the safari camp.

The story of his extraordinary adventure spread like wildfire among the other travelers, but none could quite believe the tale of the talking ostrich.

Years later, as Tom sat by the fire with his grandchildren, recounting the story, he would look up at the stars and silently thank Ozzie for the unexpected friendship that had guided him home.