jml297

‘You’ve got to be kidding me. An emu?’

‘That’s right.’

‘No way is an emu your favourite animal. What about your dog, your cat, and the chooks? You call them ‘the girls’ and they all have names, or should I say, titles? No-one else I know has a chook called Madam Layalot.’

Gary shrugged. ‘They’re my pets, and I love them all in their own way. But you asked me what my favourite animal was, and it’s the emu.’

Mick shook his head in disbelief. ‘I don’t get it. Why would you pick an emu? They’re not the smartest birds.’

‘Now that’s where you’re wrong. Emus are a lot smarter than people give them credit for. Haven’t you ever heard of the Great Emu War — the emus outsmarted the army.’

‘Now you’re pulling my leg. And talking of legs, how can you like a bird that can be nearly two metres tall?’

‘What can I say? I like a bird that can look me in the eye. Did you know that they can run up to about 50 kms an hour when they have to? What’s not to like about a bird that can reach that speed?’

‘Can’t fly though,’ said Mick, shaking his head.

‘True. But there’s something about them. They’re head and shoulders above most animals.’

‘Now I know you’re having me on.’

Gary shrugged. ‘They’re a bit different. And that’s why I like them.’

I’m participating in this blogging challenge for the month of January, which supports starting the year on the “write” track. You can find other posts with #bloganuary and join in the challenge.

Photo: emu spotted in the Hartley Valley, near Lithgow, NSW