Ungrateful Sea Gulls

by Samantha Q.

I remember a time when I was younger that involved a SPLAT! And a sticky mess. I’ve never seen or been bothered by a grackle before, but I did have an experience involving sea gulls.

My town receives many sea gulls each year--they would be lounging in parking lots, in school yards and at the top of buildings. They would often feed on dropped food on the sidewalk, which is where my story starts.

My mother liked to feed the sea gulls, though it was illegal to do so. She would throw a plastic bag filled with expired biscuits and cookies, and the sea gulls would honk and thank her graciously.

One time, she had just thrown another bag, and was rushing back into the passenger side of the car to avoid getting a fine.

Instead, she got a thank you present. One sea gull had been so grateful that it pooped on her jacket. She was talking happily while in the car, not suspecting anything, until she touched her upper right arm. Then she felt the sticky mess, and made a disgusted sound.

My sister laughed hard and long when she realized it was bird poop! It was a sticky and smelly mess, and my dad complained about my mother ruining the car seat. We drove home quickly because my father couldn’t stand the thought of staining his beloved car’s leather seat.

It was quite memorable, and from then on my mother NEVER fed sea gulls ever again. Grackles seem just as charming as these sea gulls!