"Edwin's Christmas" a short story by Craig Zimmerman

 Edwin the crow didn't know what Christmas was, but he did remember a special time during the cold season when the treats became more plentiful in the Walmart parking lot where he lived.

Some of the humans even went out their way to bring a little comfort to the birds in the parking lot. One day an older human brought all sorts of treats and several different species of birds crowded around.

Edwin was annoyed at all the pigeons that flew in. Crows and pigeons had been competing for space and food in the parking lot for as long as he could remember.

The pigeons greater numbers overwhelmed the smaller number of crows and Edwin sensed a fight coming. Just then something miraculous happened when Esther, the leader of the pigeons instructed her group to make an opening for the crows and other birds.

All of the birds had a great time chatting and eating. Tomorrow it would go back to the old rivalries, but for a few moments there was peace in the Walmart bird kingdom.

"A Dust Bowl Christmas" a short story by Craig Zimmerman

Over the sound of the constant wind, Laura thought she heard something and she went outside to investigate. A tall thin man with a bad limp was walking down the road in front of her home.

Since the banks failed, A lot of men were on the road looking for work...any kind of work.

Laura felt a stirring of pity for the man and called to him. As he came closer, she could see how truly exhausted he was.  

The tall man sat heavily on the bottom step of her porch. "Been looking for  a job, but there is nothin' the man said wearily.

Laura shivered in her house dress and imagined the man must also be very cold. "Would you like some hot coffee?" she asked. The man nodded "that would be great."

"Do you happen to know what day it is?" the man asked after gratefully receiving his coffee. "Why it's Christmas Eve" Laura answered.

The man shrugged. "I've been on the road for months. I guess I lost track of time." The man took another sip of coffee and in a deep voice began to sing "Silent Night." Laura soon joined in as the cold wind  blew the remains of her fields across the prairie.

"Edwin and the Epidemic" a short story by Craig Zimmerman

Sometime in early Spring, Edwin the crow noticed a change in the Walmart parking lot where he lived. The Humans that came and went looked afraid and some of them covered their faces.

Edwin's usual snack route was also impacted by the unknown crisis. Most of the people that used to give him food just ignored him and walked away.

One day Edwin saw two humans arguing over a shopping basket filled with white paper. Edwin often had scraps with other birds over food or something practical, but he had never fought over paper. Humans could be very strange.

Julie was Edwin's only close human friend and he was good at spotting her car as she drove into the parking lot. Edwin loved listening to Julie talk. Of course he couldn't understand the words but he was able to sense some of the emotion behind them.

One hot Spring day, Julie had brought some yummy snacks for Edwin and the rest of the gang. After the food was gone, all the other birds departed but Edwin stayed and in his own way listened to Julie pour out her troubles.

 Not quite sure what to do, he flew to the top of one of the trees in the parking lot and clipped a blossom with his beak. He then dropped the flower at Julie's feet. Edwin wasn't quite  sure if Julie were happy or sad with the flower, but he sensed he had done something magical.