The Bird's Story

It was sometime Shabbat afternoon; maybe it was the morning, I'm not so good with time. I was flying through Jerusalem, on my way to circling the Kotel, when the sky starting getting overcast. Looking down, I saw a partially open door in the city. Thinking it may be a warm place to wait out the upcoming storm I let myself in. But then it happened; the moment that changed my life forever. When I flew in to that home, that warm little home, I clipped my wing. It wouldn't have been so bad if I hadn't reacted so strongly. I flew around the house, banging into walls, doors, closets, and whatever else I could hit. Next thing I knew I was on the floor in the kitchen, gasping for air. I tried to get up and couldn't. No, I said, no, it can't be! If I can't fly, then what am I worth? What? Again and again I tried to move, only to be rejected by nature. I passed in and out of consciousness as the day passed me by. Somewhere in the recesses of my pain numbed mind I heard a noise I hadn't heard before. Yet I knew it was the sound of a door opening. Voices approached me. I prayed that held was near, but trembled at the possible danger. I saw the human before it saw me. But only moments before. The voice that I had heard turned into a scream of shock! The woman left and I heard her talking to another human. But what about me, I wanted to ask them, what are you going to do for me? They murmured together, that man and that woman, and then they disappeared. Then the man reappeared, holding a broom. I lay there trembling, wishing to move but not being able, while the man waved a broom at me. I did a pathetic crawl/walk trying to get away, while the man and woman watched me. Somehow they managed to corner me next to a window, which they promptly opened. Knowing what would happen next, I tried to bury myself under some shopping bags. But I was no match for that man. He reached down, his hands wrapped around a shopping bag, and grabbed me from my place of refuge. I shook a mighty shake, as the fear overwhelmed me, and the man lost his grip. Again I tried to hide, and again he caught me. This time he lifted me high enough and threw me out the window. I managed to flap my wings enough to slow down my descent, and I landed gracefully on the cold wet sidewalk. Rain was mercilessly beating down on me as I quickly tried to find a warm, safe refuge. I saw the man watching me as I beat my wings, beat them to no avail, while hopping in circles. Then he turned around and left. From the corner of my eye, I saw the woman look at me. A look of horror filled her face, a look I thought was directed at me, at how pathetic I appeared. Chills passed through me as I realized what she knew but was as powerless as I was to stop. All I wished for was it to end quick. The black cat jumped out of the bush, and in one quick move, I was gone. The last thing I saw before those sharp teeth and that swishing tail was the woman's hand go up to her face in shock and disgust as she saw the darker side of nature take it's course.