Star Wars pigeon
Summer of '77, I was young, arrogant and seven years old. Came out of the cinema on Oxford Road, Manchester, having just witnessed 'Star Wars' for the first time. I was completely blown away and my young mind was full of images of far away places and wonderful exotic alien species.

The second I walked out of the cinema a huge pigeon flew straight into my forehead, knocking me out. My friend and his older brother acting as 'parent' for the day were appalled as they comforted my prone body on the pavement. I regained consciousness after a few seconds and remembered to cry like a small child who had just been hit by a two pound feathery weight. As I came to, my misery was compounded by the sight of a dead pigeon by my right cheek and blood flowing into my eyes from a deep V-shaped cut on my forehead caused by a beak, which left a scar for several weeks.

Whenever someone mentions 'Star Wars' (or 'Scar Wars' as some hilarious friends call it) my hand automatically moves to my forehead for a reassuring massage.

I hate pigeons. Apologies for length and forehead rubbing.
(limeskies, Sat 4 Jun 2005, 18:58, Reply)