Each morning at sunrise, two starling birds soared through the zoo and perched near the flamingo pond to watch the elegant birds eat breakfast.
“I heard,” said the first starling, “they feed the flamingos shrimp to keep them pink.” He watched the bright birds for a while and sighed. “They attract so many people with their beauty. I would love to be admired like that.”
The second starling was struck with an idea. “Why don’t we try it? Let’s eat nothing but shrimp and maybe we’ll become gorgeous creatures to be adored!”
The starlings agreed to attempt the change. A week later they met again at the Zoo. The second starling waited and paced, disappointed in his unchanged coat of dark feathers. Suddenly his friend appeared, gliding in on sweeping pink wings. He had become a flamingo!
“Incredible!” said the second starling. “I stuffed myself with shrimp all week and nothing happened. But look at you! Beautiful!”
His friend beamed. “I am amazed myself, and it happened so quickly!” He eyed the flamingo pond, “Now, for the true test.” He flew over the fence and landed among the big pink birds. They welcomed him immediately, as if he had been a flamingo all along. The second starling looked on, stunned by his friend’s transformation.
Weeks passed as the starling-turned-flamingo enjoyed his new lifestyle. He was photographed often, even in the most mundane of moments, and people admired him all day long. He couldn’t roam about as he used to; no zooming around the park or his old haunts. He stayed safely fenced in with the other flamboyant birds. But he enjoyed the company of his new flamingo friends, and found camaraderie within the group. He could hardly believe his new life; it was a dream come true.
Meanwhile, the second starling darted about freely and began to appreciate his camouflage. He realized the flamingo life was not for him. He relished his simple day to day adventures, and took comfort in knowing he was just himself.
One sunrise, the starling went to visit his old companion at the flamingo spring. “Well, it seems we are both happy with the outcome of our experiment. I see you admired for your beauty, but I am grateful for my anonymity. I can do as I please.”
“And I,” said the new flamingo, “have found a new point of view from these tall legs.”
The starling cocked his head and looked perplexed. “There is one thing I still don’t understand, though. How come the shrimp magically turned you into a big pink bird and not me?”
The flamingo giggled and leaned in to share his secret. “The magic is in the desire, my friend … I never ate the shrimp.”
