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Love Birds

Part one of a sad and hopeful story about fate, love, and loss.

By Charity Faye AlexanderPublished 3 years ago 5 min read
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Photo by Tomas Danco

Part one

Through the eye's of a five year old, Danny must seem ancient. He's only 34, and his mum doesn't look to be much older. She was only 16 when she gave birth to Daniel.

For an entire week, Jonas has talked non-stop about visiting the local zoo farm that his big brother Danny had promised he would take him to, but only if he was good, and listened to his mother.

Danny and Jonas both have the same father. Daniels parents divorced while he was still a very young boy. Daniels father was what you would call a bit of a 'rolling stone'. He got around. And he really, really enjoyed being accompanied by a plethora of young, beautiful women.

As both brothers approach the entrance of this magical looking zoo farm, Jonas's excitement brought out massive smiles from Daniel and his mum, Jonas's Nanna, Lilith. They felt so much joy within themselves as they were witnessing Jonas jump up and down, smiling ear to ear, so happy, happier than any other person in the entire world in that moment.

The zoo farm really was magical. It was like walking into a story book. There were so many large trees and tree vines that swooped overhead of the beautiful stone walk way that lead to different exhibits. The sound of birds singing and having bird conversations back and forth with one another. There were the sound of taiko drums looping through speakers hidden within the bushes. From a distance, Jonas heard the sound of monkeys laughing. “Danny! Monkeys! Monkeys, Nanna!” He grabbed Lilith’s hand and pulled her along as he ran towards the primates laughter. Just as Jonas and his Nanna turned the corner where a snow cone stand was stationed, little Jonas bumped shoulders with a little girl holding a stuffed barn owl. “Oh! I am so sorry! Are you alright sweetheart?” Lilith asked the little girl as she bent down to pick up her stuffed owl. “I’m okay!” Said the little girl. “Here’s your bird.” Jonas said, as he reached for the stuffed animal to give back to the little girl himself. Jonas liked being the hero. “I’m sorry.” He said. “His name is Hootie the Owl. I’m Taylor! Nice to meet you!” She said, as she received her stuffed bird from her new friend. “What kind of name is ‘Hootie’?” Jonas asked. “That’s what I named him. Because he makes a ‘hoo’ sound when he talks.” Jonas said, “Birds can’t talk!” “Yes they can! Parrots talk, don’t they daddy?” Said Taylor. The adults watched as the two little five year olds carried on their conversation about Hootie the Barn Owl. Daniel caught up with his mum and little brother. “There you are! Look! Snow cones! Want one, mum? Joe?” Jonas was eager to find the monkeys so the crew said their farewells to their new friends and continued on their journey.

Taylor and her parents were singing The Lion King. Taylor’s favorite track was ‘I Just Can’t Wait To Be King’. Her father knew all the words, and would sing it at the top of his lungs. “Everybody look left...everybody look right...everywhere you look I’m...standing spotlight!” Then mum would chime in and say Zazu’s part, “Not yet!” The singalong would continue until the rhinoceros would end up slamming his big butt down on top of Zazu. Everyone would laugh. But on this day, no one would be laughing. Before they could finish the song, a drunk driver ran a red light, and Taylor would never get to see her parents alive ever again.

Everyone was running around like chickens with their heads cut off. “Danny! Is the battery for the camera charged? Where’s my phone charger? Have you seen my phone charger?” Daniel met Carly 6 years ago at his bosses retirement party. “Babe, your charger is in the kitchen, by the blender. And yes, the camera is ready to go.” Said Danny, as he softly put his hands on his wife’s hips and pulled her in for a kiss on her forehead. “I just don’t want to be late to your brothers graduation. And I know your mother will have something to say if one little thing goes wrong.” Said Carly. “My mother will be fine, and so will you.” Said Danny, and he planted a kiss on Carly’s lips. The two grabbed their gear and hit the road for their 3 hour drive to Austin.

You look so handsome, baby.” Said Anna, Jonas’s mother. “John! Come look at your handsome high school graduate!” Anna shouted. “Mom, seriously?” Said Jonas. “Wow. That bow tie looks good on you, son. You look great.” Said John. “Here...” Said Anna, as she pulled up the picture app on her phone. “Stand right here because the lighting is better. Look at me, and Smile!” Anna said, as she and her two handsome men, all together said, “cheese!

The graduation was long, and finally over when the family all gathered back at John and Anna’s house. Jonas eventually left with some of his buddies from school to go properly celebrate their graduation. The young men drove to another friends house to meet up with a bunch of other friends, and the night was epic. They danced, they took pictures and videos, and most of them ended up making out with someone they wanted to make out with. It was a night to remember.

It was a Saturday morning and Jonas’s only plans were to study and do it right. He went to the coffee house on campus with his laptop and his book on animal anatomy. He was studying for a big test on Monday. College life was actually pretty amazing. Jonas was always a good student. He wasn’t one to get caught up in the trends, nor was he the ‘follower’ type. He had lots of friends, and women found him mysterious. Not to mention he was dashingly handsome. He was tall, with green eyes and tan skin. He didn’t go to the gym often but his physique would say otherwise. He was gifted by the gene pool.

Jonas got up to head to the restroom after drinking most of his coffee. He was texting while walking, and bumped shoulders with another guest. “Oh! I’m so sorry! Excuse me.” The young lady dropped her phone. “You’re fine! Excuse me.” Jonas bent down before she could and picked up her phone to hand it back to her. “Thank you. And thank God for screen protectors!” She said as she showed Jonas the front screen of her phone. Jonas laughed, “indeed!” Her eyes are so pretty, He thought to himself. He went to the bathroom and when he was walking back to his seat, he noticed her sitting alone just a few tables over. They locked eyes. They smiled at each other. Jonas went over to introduce himself, “My name is Jonas.” He said, as he reached out to shake her hand. The young lady responded, “Nice to meet you, Jonas. I’m Taylor.

To be continued.

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About the Creator

Charity Faye Alexander

Advocate for living a clean and sober life, and currently daydreaming of hiking the Inca Trail to Machu Pichu.

Twitter: @sober_charity

IG: @cfaye.graffiti

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