Chickadee Read Online Free

look. “Don’t you know? Haven’t you realized yet? Small things have great power.”
    Chickadee was struck by this. He sat back on his heels. Small things have great power sounded good, but made no sense.
    â€œBut I am scrawny. I am a weakling. And the chickadee is little too. It has no teeth, no claws. What can it do?”
    â€œThe chickadee stays awake all winter in the cold,” said Nokomis. “He survives on the smallest seeds. He is a teacher. The chickadee shows the Anishinabeg how to live. For instance, he never stores his food all in one place. He makes caches in various places. He never eats all of his food at once. We do that too. The chickadee takes good care of his family. The mother and the father stay with their babies as they fly out into the world. They stick together, like the Anishinabeg. And there are other things. The chickadee is always cheerful even in adversity. He is brave and has great purpose, great meaning. You are lucky to have your name.”
    Chickadee put his hands on his face. “Lucky! Great-Grandmother, I insulted the chickadee! I told the bird he was a weakling. I asked why he had chosen me!”
    Great-Grandmother now looked extremely grieved.
    â€œWhat can I do?”
    She rummaged in her carrying bag and took out three hazelnuts. Giving them to Chickadee, she said, “Crack these into small pieces and place them on this rock. I will put tobacco at the base of the rock. Then, we wait.”
    Chickadee followed her instructions, and just as she had said, they waited. The sun went behind a cloud. The shadows grew cold. The chickadee did not appear. Finally, Nokomis spoke out loud.
    â€œOh, chickadee. Please accept our offering! Your namesake is young and had his feelings hurt. He did not wish to offend you. Please don’t reject him! He needs your counsel!”
    â€œI am very sorry,” whispered Chickadee. “Please come back to me.”
    Now it seemed to him that all of his life he’d heard the chickadee’s call near him. His namesake had always been around, looking after him. It was strange not to hear that voice, strange only to hear the distant cries of humans and other birds. A shadow fell across his heart.
    â€œWhere are you?” Chickadee whispered.
    All of a sudden there was a swift motion, a small flutter, and the chickadee came down onto the rock. It did not peck up the nuts but stared intently at its namesake, then at Great-Grandmother. She stared back just as hard at the bird. They regarded each other for what seemed like the longest time to Chickadee. Then the bird decisively pecked up a bit of the hazelnut, and flew to a nearby twig. It held the nut against the twig with its small black claw, and ate it quickly. Then it flew right back for another piece.

    â€œWe can go now,” said Nokomis, sighing in relief.

FIVE
SONS OF ZHIGAAG

    A s Chickadee and Nokomis walked back to join their family, they passed John Zhigaag sitting on a stump. He leaned on a long, thick stick. As the two passed, he stuck the stick out right in the path of Nokomis. He meant to trip her and his snaggletoothed grin showed that he would enjoy seeing her sprawl at his feet.

    â€œNookoo, watch out!” cried Chickadee. She stepped forward.
    Crack!
    Instead of tripping over the old man’s walking stick, Nokomis used her own. Her walking stick came down on John Zhigaag’s head, smashing down his lumpy, frayed, treasured top hat.
    â€œYow!”
    The hat smashed down so hard that it ripped. Zhigaag’s ears stuck out the fragile sides. The old man looked so comical that Nokomis and Chickadee couldn’t help laughing. Once they started, and once John Zhigaag began to stamp and bray, they laughed even harder. They laughed so hard that tears came into their eyes. Old John Zhigaag raised his stick in the air and threatened to run them down. In his rage, he began to sputter and choke on his own fury. As Nokomis and Chickadee