When Saint Francis preached to the birds, he told them to sing praises to the Creator for their special gifts. “You are the most blessed of creatures,” he said, “for you have been given the gift of flight and the gift of song. You are the freest of creatures and most able to praise the Creator. Once,” he told them, “the birds did not know they could fly. Once they did not know they could sing. They did not even think they should do these things. Long, long, ago birds were the most miserable creatures on earth. Until Solo.” This is Solo's story.