A Visitor on the Path

I found a great dirt trail behind my school that I love to run on. There are several things that make it a great place to run. First and foremost, it's set off away from roads. I don't like to run near traffic and I don't like people looking at me when I run. It's dirt, rather than concrete, which is easier on your legs, and it makes me feel like I am running on the beach although it is a far cry from that! And lastly, because there are some good hills on that dirt path. Running up dirt hills makes for a good workout.

There is never anybody around on the dirt path. Just me and the openness. I fill the nice quietness with the music from my iphone and enjoy the run. Only once have I seen people on this path. A few teenagers, walking along, probably smoking something they weren't supposed to be smoking. I'm not sure because I turned and left as soon as I saw them. For safety reasons I guess.

Anyways, today, I saw something I was not expecting. Not one bit. I turned onto the path and saw a peacock. Yup, that same one that flew into my window a few weeks ago.

The Day the Peacock Flew Into My Window

My first instinct when I saw the giant bird was to flee. I imagined it attacking me with it's long legs and giant beak. But as soon as it heard my footsteps it bolted. I'm not sure that it could have been more scared than I, but I think it was pretty scared. 

I continued running down the path, although I was irked. I kept checking behind me and to the sides, thinking the peacock may be hiding and ready to pounce on me. It didn't do that, but apparently it can be rather aggressive. One of my students lives in a house that backs up to that very same path. His mother mentioned today that she has been having a peacock visitor both day and night. He comes right up to the window and started pecking at it. Since animal control will not take care of the problem, she is looking for a shot gun. 

I'm not quiet which I should be more scared of while running on the path, the pecking peacock or the stray bullet meant for the pecking peacock. At least in Cleveland I won't have to worry about random, wild peacocks, just stray bullets.