A story: Good morning little bird

The birds are chirping much louder than they usually do. Something not too odd to hear on a warm spring morning.

I jolt at the sudden taste of bitterness burning the inside of my mouth and I realize that I forgot to add the sugar and milk again. As I wipe the spilled drink with a fresh paper towel a growing concern boils deep within my gut. This nervousness eventually becomes too much to bear and charged across the kitchen to the back door to investigate the busy chatter of mother nature.

A moment of silence. The breeze massages a pile of dust by the newly planted flowers and a leaf falls from the high ranks of the apple tree into an almost overflowing bird bath. Momentarily mesmerized by the glistening ripple created by its impact.

Again the cries for help pierce the air and I make my way to the other side of the apple tree. Too entranced to fuss about dirtying my new slippers.

For the second time this morning, I jolt with surprise as I lay my eyes on the sight of a tiny little chick hopping and flapping in circles at the base of the tree. A mystery solved.

I make an effort of a greeting with "Good morning little bird," but it seems that despite its head raised high and my towering figure, my presents go unnoticed.

Mother bird is also chirping frantically trying to keep her three other little ones at bay as they receive their morning meal. 'Should I help them? What if I nock the nest down accidentally? The coffee is surely cold by now and I'm sure I was just making toast.' I shake the thought of my own breakfast from my mind and dawn on a new determined attitude.

I squat down and take a deep breath. I begin to float my hands over to the little chick and as it finally acknowledges me and tries to waddle away I suddenly recoil in a new thought. I begin a new attempt but this time I remove my right slipper and offer it to the chick instead. At first, it was quite uncertain. Not scared but also not moving. "Come one, please. Come on. Come on." Either it understood my attempts at words of encouragement or I was just lucky but regardless the day was saved. I do my best to make the travel experience soft and gentle. With my arms stretched to maximum capacity and my view blocked by the branches and leaves, I delicately tilted the slipper and hope the chick softly rolls into the nest and is reunited with its family. A new uproar of chirping is ignited and then I knew that peace has been restored.

As I stand there appreciating my great accomplishment, soaking in the warmth of the sun and the sound of relief, this joyful moment is interrupted by the growl of my empty stomach. A different cry for help from my digestive system. My next mission on the agenda.