My first "Reader Tuesday Story"

I have been visting schools lately. As a past elementary school teacher, I look forward to going back to schools and talking to students. It's one of the most enjoyable parts of being an author. Near the end of my talk, I usually start a conversation with students about the real reason the swallows come back each year on March 19 to southern California. Quite simply, it has to do with instinct and the amount of hours and minutes of sunlight in each 24 hour period.

"But what if we thought of some other reason to explain their behavior?", I ask the students. It could be anything we wanted. And if you send me your stories, I'll post one of them on my blog each Tuesday.

So here is the first one. It's from a fifth grader named Max.

The reason the swallows return to San Juan Capistrano each year on March 19 is that the head swallow gets a text message on his cell phone from the lady at the mission who sits in the front booth and sells the tickets. She tells them, "hurry and gather up the flock. It's time to get going. And no dilly-dallying around on the way, either. You need to arrive by March 19!"

I think it's brilliant. Thank you, Max.