Noah, an alternative history

"Noah?"

"Yes, my love?"

"You know you sent out a dove again? Was it the same one?"

"I don't think so dear. Why?"

"Well, I have been counting the doves and they all seem to be there. Do you know what sort it was?"

"One of the greyish-white ones; bigger than the others."

"Noah, all of the doves are the same sort of size."

"You know, the big ones, likes fish."

"I did happen to visit the sea birds earlier. One of the albatrosses was missing. You didn't send out an albatross instead of a dove did you?"

***

"Noah?"

"Yes God?"

"You know I asked you to send out another dove? I seem to be having some trouble with it."

"Really Lord?"

"I don't like to spoil the surprise, but I was intending to have it fetch an olive leaf; a bit of symbolism you understand."

"Ah."

"I pointed the dove in the right direction and suggested to it to pluck a leaf."

"Yes Lord?"

"It seems more inclined to pull the whole sapling out of the ground."

"Oh?"

"It isn't a dove, is it Noah?"

"No Lord."

"It is an albatross, isn't it Noah?"

"Yes Lord."

"I really do despair of you people at times."