The Attraction ***

He was up early. It was a weekend, and he knew the crowds would be extra large. They would start arriving soon. Within minutes he had arrived at the square. He sat, at his usual place. It was a vantage spot. He could see the whole square. He could even see beyond, as the tourist coaches arrived and parked, disgorging the hordes of oversized men and women, all with cameras dangling around their necks. They came from all over the world. To see him. They gathered just beyond the metal barricades, and stood in awe. Gazing at him. Often snapping photographs. Some had photos taken of themselves, with him in the background.

He sat obligingly. Occasionally he descended to the square. But mostly he sat high up at his place.

As the crowd thinned, he decided to call it a day. He flew off his perch on top of the huge bronze statue, and headed for his nest.

In the square, the few remaining tourists continued to snap pictures of the massive statue in the failing light.