by Matthew Gallagher

Epilogue

    Curly was so very pleased with his booty that he didn’t mind the ruse that Princess Eguskine had pulled, and he agreed to help the princess escort the body of the old and the egg of the new Wish-Birds back to their homeland.  That is, after they had found Doody and the other pirates stuck in the mud.  When they reached Eguskine’s nation, Curly and his crew were offered positions in the Royal Navy, but he politely declined, saying that he was going to settle down on land for the rest of his life.  Doody, it may interest you to know, married Neria, and called her Lunita for the rest of their lives.   Oh, and yes, the egg hatched, the royal family cared for Wish-Bird and lived in harmony with it for generations to come.

    The island was transformed into a republic instead of the dictatorship it had previously been.  Don was tired of ruling and making decisions for everyone, and he wanted time to be the bird he had always wanted to be.  The Dodo (the original) was elected Chief of State, and a parliament was formed which included representatives of every species who lived there.  The Ostrich Races were held every year, and all the flightless birds on the island, including the Dodos, were invited to participate.

In case you were wondering about that prize that was mentioned earlier, now would be the time to claim it.   That is, if you guessed correctly that Anopurodon the Dragon wished that he could become a bird like his  feathered friends!  If you are the reader, and you guessed correctly, then you get a prize, too.  Enjoy your  cookie!