Another Chapter on the “BB” Saga by Pat Chadwick

I was busy working on this month’s issue of The City Observer when I was stopped in the middle of my tracks - literally. Realizing “BB” is bullheaded enough to walk down the middle of the street as if she’s following the yellow brick road (i.e. the yellow lines); I was driving slowly and watching out for her. As I drove around the corner, I was brought to a stop as there were five Sandhill Cranes in the road. Matter of fact, several cars were stopped watching these cranes.

I should remind you that about a month after “BB” was released by Sea World, she became a “foster mother” to two baby Sandhill Cranes who had “lost” their parents on Lemon Ave. “BB” stayed with them on Lemon for three days waiting for the babies’ parents to return for them but they never came, so she became their “foster mother.” She took them to all of her stops for food daily showing them the route and also how to walk in the middle of the road. My guess is she thinks that’s an important rule to follow.

So, there I was, watching all these cranes milling about in the middle of the road and crossing the road. It took me a minute to realize what I was watching and here’s my conclusion. The parents of the babies (since named Barbie and Bubba) finally found them but “BB” didn’t want to give them up. After all, she had been their “foster mother” for months. Whenever those active babies would disappear on her, you could actually see her fretting as she looked all over for them.

And there she was fretting again. The parents of the babies seemed to be telling the babies to come with them and “BB” seemed to be telling them to follow her - down the middle of the road, no doubt. Of course, the babies seemed confused by all of this. Finally, the parents convinced one of the babies to follow them to the south side of the road and “BB” convinced one to follow her to the north side. By the following day, both Barbie and Bubba were back with “BB.” This means that now. . .

“BB” is a home wrecker.