Herman the Unselfish Seagull

Written and Photographed by

Victoria Easter

For Phillip, Sarah-Ann, and Miranda

Everyone knows that seagulls are the most selfish birds in the world. And if you didn’t know – I just told you.

Seagulls fly from this beach to that beach, greedily flapping their wings and demanding a crumb of bread or a bite of fish.

Every seagull that is, except Herman - who flew opposite to his kind.

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No matter how hungry, or thirsty, or tired he was, Herman would always offer up his share to others first. Naturally, his flock thought this behavior was very unusual, and it was, for a seagull.

They never missed an opportunity to tease poor Herman.

“Herman you silly bird,” they jeered, “never looking out for yourself. Why, you’re a disgrace to the seagull race!” And with a humph of displeasure, the flock scuttled over to a nearby sand dune.

Herman was very upset. Being un-selfish was Herman’s life and he had never tried anything else.

“If my friends can’t appreciate my ways, then I’ll have to change.” Herman thought, “I want to make them happy.”

At dawn when the seagull flock set out for their breakfast, Herman began his transformation. Instead of politely waiting for the other birds to fly past, Herman pushed and shoved his way towards the front of the group. “Move it!” He squawked. “What’s wrong with Herman?” the others wondered.

At lunchtime the other birds expected Herman to share his pile of fish, just as he always did. Surprisingly, Herman gulped down every last bite and snarled at any bird that came near his tasty treats.

During the flock’s daily swim in the tide pool, Herman didn’t allow even one bird to set foot in the cool water. “I found this tide pool first!” Herman screeched, “Go away!”

By the time the sun hung low on the horizon, the flock was very confused. Herman was not at all the nice, kind, sharing seagull he had once been. Finally, even Herman couldn’t take his meanness one second longer.

“That’s it!” Herman announced suddenly, “I’ve tried to be selfish like a seagull is supposed to be and I feel miserable! I have bruises from bumping into you this morning, my tummy aches from all that fish I ate by myself, and my feet are exhausted from guarding my tide pool all afternoon. I would much rather share with everyone.”

And the flock of seagulls couldn’t have agreed more.

“Whenever people are jealous or selfish, they cause trouble and do all

sorts of cruel things.” James 3:16 CEV

The End

Original studies of Herman by Sarah-Ann 2009©

The next time you read this book,

try to imagine your own pictures of the characters!

Victoria Easter is a developing writer and English Literature major. She lives in North Carolina, but spends some of her time at Berea College in Kentucky. She enjoys good cups of tea and even better books. This is her first completed piece, and she hopes to write a few more stories! Victoria thanks her family and friends, especially her siblings, for their constant love, support, and

suggestions. She would also like to thank George Nye – the first person to call her an author and put his money where his mouth was.

Victoria A. Easter, her work

2009 ©

Photographs taken by the author at Sunset Beach, North Carolina and Folly Beach, South Carolina

Photographed with a Canon PowerShot SD750