The gull on the cycle path

This evening I was peddling back under the cloak of darkness from West St Leonards, when I met a young gull on the cycle path. It didn't move as I approached it, so I got off to have a word and check it was alright. It sat still, as I tried to coax it off the path, even let me stroke its beak. I didn't know if it was ill, didn't know if I should try to help it or call the gull rescue squad. As I sat beside it, pondering, chatting to it, a young foreign student walked by, and stopped- joined in, and eventually the gull got up and walked a little way. It was a bit wobbly, but we finally got it off the path. It pootled off slowly towards the beach. I said 'goodbye' to them both and cycled home.