Saved By The Birds

“I am not giving you any more money,” Lance said to his thirty-one-year-old son as he entered his office.

“Good afternoon Dad?” Jayson said casually walking to the brown Chesterfield sofa to the right near the window.

“I am still not giving you any money,” Lance repeats.

Sighing heavily, while scratching his head, Jayson said, “Come on Dad, I am not like you or Mom.”

Swallowing his anger, Lance notified, “You are right. Even animals are more progressive than you.”

“Which ones?” Jayson asks humoring his father who was smiling as if he heard good news.

Lance walked over to the large window from the fourth floor of his office. Indicating to his son. Who jumped up and walked to the window.

He put his left hand around his son’s shoulder and points, “See the birds flying all over those oak trees?”

“Y-e-a-h,” Jayson responds pulling each letter.

“They are building their nests.”

“So?”

“They are smart enough to find a place to live before they decide to reproduce,” Lance educates.

“Damn!” slid from Jayson’s conscience.

“They don’t have a job and can’t stay in their parent’s home, so they use their imagination and skills. They don’t have a degree in Information Technology or anything else. They don’t have a cousin, Aunt, best friend, or a shelter that will accommodate them. All they have is nature and life,” Lance educates his only son.

Jayson sighed and his father continued, “They can’t borrow money or anything else from anyone. They must be out there finding ways to live, and humans are their greatest threat.”

Another long sigh and Lance kept on, “They don’t harm our earth and do their part to plant trees through their dropping of various seeds they consume. Trees humans use for wood, that makes houses, furniture, boats, whatever they want.”

“Damn, Dad!” Jayson said, easing away from his father and walking back towards the sofa. “Birds are living a better life than I am?”

“They sing and entertain me daily too.”

“And I just keep costing you,” Jayson reminds his father turning around to face him.

“I think you should join them. Because birds leave home between 12 and 21 days after birth to live their own lives and build their own nest. I put that in years and you are ten years overdue.”

Sighing heavily, Jayson said easing towards the window he suggested, “Maybe I should join them like you said.”

“I agree,” his father said, stepping away from the window. “All you have to do is flap those long muscular arms and fly away.”

Jayson opened the window, then stepped out on the ledge, one foot at a time, wishing his father would stop him. Lance folded his arms, a weird smile on his face, as his son raised his arms, flapping them as he rose off the ledge and fell down screaming.

His parents shook him awake as he struggled to save himself. Opening his eyes, staring at his parents, he did a body and location check first.

“Son are you OK?” his mother asked.

His eyes widened as he stared at his father’s pajamas. It was decorated with many different species of birds!

Two days later, he got a job and moved out of his parents’ home.

“What changed your mind?” his father asked as he put his suitcase in his car.

“The birds,” he said driving away.

His father nods, thinking, “They are better parents than many humans. I owe them something.”

Studies have shown that humans are the only species that take long to learn the essentials needed to live and survive in their world, even with many resources at their disposal. Animals are better parents.

Thank you for reading this piece. I hope you enjoy it.