Minerval McGonagall stared pensively out the window, while birds of loneliness made nests in her mind. She watched longingly as a group of her peers laughed comfortably with each other.
"Ms McGonagall!" snapped the formidable Mr. Hurston. It seemed like he had been calling her name for some time.
"Yes Mr. Hurston?" she answered, suddenly alert.
"I have written a letter to your parents describing your impertinent behavior. I expect this to be signed and returned by tomorrow," he ordered as he handed her a scarlet envelope. It weighed heavily in her hand. She knew there was a tirade awaiting her when she delivered it at home.
As she turned to leave, she heard him mutter, "Owls at the window indeed!"
But she had seen an owl at the window. Furthermore, it had been carrying a yellow envelope with green writing. It was while she was trying to read the writing that Mr. Hurston had called on her to answer a question. She told him what she had seen, but by then the large, snowy owl had fled. He scoffed and told her to stay after school.
The rest of the children had dispersed by now. Nothing but a stray cat remained in the empty schoolyard. She pondered on the owl on the walk home. She began to doubt if she had actually seen it. After all, owls were nocturnal. And besides, she doubted if there were any local breeds that had such brilliantly white feathers.
By the time she reached her front door, she had convinced herself that she had daydreamed the entire scene. That thought perturbed her greatly, since she was the sort of person who always tried to please the teacher.
With dread, she turned the handle to the front door of the comfortable, two-story house.
"Ms McGonagall!" snapped the formidable Mr. Hurston. It seemed like he had been calling her name for some time.
"Yes Mr. Hurston?" she answered, suddenly alert.
"I have written a letter to your parents describing your impertinent behavior. I expect this to be signed and returned by tomorrow," he ordered as he handed her a scarlet envelope. It weighed heavily in her hand. She knew there was a tirade awaiting her when she delivered it at home.
As she turned to leave, she heard him mutter, "Owls at the window indeed!"
But she had seen an owl at the window. Furthermore, it had been carrying a yellow envelope with green writing. It was while she was trying to read the writing that Mr. Hurston had called on her to answer a question. She told him what she had seen, but by then the large, snowy owl had fled. He scoffed and told her to stay after school.
The rest of the children had dispersed by now. Nothing but a stray cat remained in the empty schoolyard. She pondered on the owl on the walk home. She began to doubt if she had actually seen it. After all, owls were nocturnal. And besides, she doubted if there were any local breeds that had such brilliantly white feathers.
By the time she reached her front door, she had convinced herself that she had daydreamed the entire scene. That thought perturbed her greatly, since she was the sort of person who always tried to please the teacher.
With dread, she turned the handle to the front door of the comfortable, two-story house.