The Forgotten Little Bird

“Come on, you’re already late for school”.
“Mom, stop yelling. I’ll be there in a moment.”
I am late for school, again. But I need to complete a very important work before leaving home. I moved through the hallway, reached our backyard and tossed the grains along with water filled in the bowl.

“Now I can go to school”
By the time mom has already annoyed our neighbor Mr. Sheldom by her continuous horns.
“What was so important that you have to dash around the house, were your iPad and laptop on fire?”
“Something which is still more precious to me mom or maybe priceless.”
“ You and your valuables, huh”
I did not tell her because she may not understand my feelings. She thinks them as “just birds” but it is not the same for me. I feel they are much more than just birds, for me they symbolize peace and love and care and warmth.

I was young then, maybe six or seven when my grandfather died. I cried a lot, day and night. I lost my best companion that day, I couldn’t sleep and with tired eyes, I was holding my grandfather’s picture when I heard the chirping of sparrows in our garden. everything came back with a flashback.

My grandfather was a nature lover he loved nature more than anything, every morning we used to go for walk in the park and on his way back to home, he bought a small packet of biscuits to feed the stray dogs who religiously waited for him on the same spot. Then he used to toss the grains in our garden for the sparrows to eat and not just that he even used to keep a bowl of water.

I resolved to continue his legacy and then I religiously followed his path. It makes me believe that my grandfather is with me every time everywhere. The sight of sparrows could bring joy to my face.

They were like my best friends accompanying me to school, tuition, playground everywhere.
But now they have reduced their visits maybe they are upset with us.
Last year the park was converted into a city mall and our own house was also reconstructed and in the process, their little home was destroyed.

Maybe that’s why they don’t visit me often.
Maybe their new home was better than ours, or maybe they live too far to visit me daily.
But even though they are not with me anymore I still visualize them in my memories where I and grandpa sit together and relax listening to their soothing chirps. I still remember the way they hop around in the garden playing with water or maybe they were just taking their bath. But I hope when they return to me they won't have to leave empty stomach so I keep their food at their place in case if they return.

After several weeks one day, I found the grains are gone. With glitters in my eyes, I asked: "Mom, have they come to visit me?"

"No, honey I just cleaned it up as we need an extra storeroom, so we will be building one here."
With the garden gone I doubt will they ever come back to meet me.
"They are endangered species honey, they might extinct someday."
"What does that mean?"
"It means that they will never come back."