HIS
FIRST FLIGHT | SHORT SUMMARY | CBSE, 10th, 11th STUDENTS
Summary
Birds
are the unconscious artists of nature and quite unknowingly exhibit a
systematic and calculated approach toward life. They have their own ways and
techniques of living a happy life. The seagulls we come across in the story
live in well-knit families and are very particular about one another. The
parent seagulls take full care of their young ones. They persuade, upbraid and
even mock and jeer at them. They even go to the extent of keeping them hungry
and alone quite famishing and starving. In the case of the young seagull, the
mother seagull plays trump and succeeds in her mission. To conclude,
birds are wise creatures of nature and live their life according to a settled
and unalterable schedule.
Damocles' sword of hunger and starvation was hanging over the head of the young
seagull. Despite all the efforts of his parents to make him fly, he could not
muster up the courage to take that bold step. His two brothers and a sister had
flown away the day before. He found himself virtually between the devil and the
deep sea.
On
the next day, he felt the scorching heat of the sun when he came out of his
hole. He thought whatever he could think about getting some food but in vain.
He was, in a sense, hopeless, helpless, and friendless. He ran into the hole to
make a thorough search of the straw-built nest. He found some pieces of the spotted
eggshell from which he had been hatched. He bit at it. It was like eating a
part of himself. Cowards die several times a day and it happened so with the
young seagull. He viewed the whole situation. There was a deep and vast sea
below him. There was a great distance between him and his parents which he
could not cover without flying.
He
cast a desperate look at his family. They were busy in preening their feathers,
whetting their beaks, and tearing fish. In order to attract their attention, he
pretended to be very weak and stood near the brink of the ledge and closed his
eyes. But nobody except his mother paid attention to him. His joy knew no
bounds when he saw his flying towards him with a piece of fish in her beak.
When she came near him, she stopped in the air. He was surprised to see this.
However, he was so mad with hunger that he dived at the fish. His mother
swooped up He missed the morsel, lost his balance, and fell down into the vast
space between the ledge and the sea. The master plan of his mother to make him
fly succeeded. As he fell. he screamed in terror. But after some anxious
moments, he recovered his senses. His wings spread out automatically and braked
his fall. He flapped them and started flying in the air. After some time, he was
tired and tried to land on the sea. At first, he thought that he would drown.
but it was plain sailing for him. His family offered him choice pieces of fish.
Conclusion
“What
a beautiful piece of observation!”.
one exclaims with wonder. The story appeals to us because human beings
also teach and train their children in the same manner. They also use similar
tricks and techniques to prepare their children for practical life.
