All forms of knowledge except the knowledge of our own words and character.

Flight and Plight

I've been a little more attentive to the birds around my neighbourhood lately. A little more aware of the different sounds they make. What time they're active. The flock dynamics. Their respective nests. It's cool that a myna sticks with its partner and wander in pairs most of the time. That's nice.

Jack's still here with me. It should be his last day. Tried to release him twice though but somehow the crows circled my kitchen window when Jack was near, like they're waiting for their lunch. He only chirped for his parents during the first few days. He doesn't do that now even when the adult mynas are nearby. How will his parents find him if he keeps quiet? He can't fly that high and far yet. Or can he? He's following me everywhere I go around the house. He responds by his name and comes running after me when I call him. I think that's cute.

I've been constantly worried about him. Is he too warm? (Switched on the kitchen fan when I leave for school just for him). Is he thirsty? (There's no water in his cage because it'll be a big mess). How will he learn to fly when I release him today? Will he find his parents? But honestly I'm tired taking care of him, and I'm trying my best not to be too emotionally attached to it.

I care a little too much about the things beyond my control.

Jack

It's been more than 24 hours. Jack's doing well. I think he's happy. I hope he's happy. I'm placing him near the kitchen window now, and 2 adult mynas have been calling out to him. Jack's responding very actively with its own chirps. The chirp is a set of 3 to 4 consecutive chirps. I know he misses his parents, and his parents miss him as well. I'll find a way to get you back safely into your nest.

It eats and drinks from my hand. I was pacing around the house when it flew to me and perched itself on my shoulder. Jack is a good friend. My cats (especially Amy) accompanied it last night beside its cage. Jack likes to follow Amy around the house. I've been training it to fly by releasing it from a high place. It slept on my tummy this afternoon. It's nice to have the trust of a tiny creature.

Hang in there Jack.

Where's my old rubber slingshot?

It was an animal war scene. The crows preying on this injured baby myna after attacking its nest. The adult mynas doing flying karate kicks on the crows. AKs being fired left and right. Mines detonating everywhere.

Since it's my parents life-long dream to be a war veteran, my dad cooly told my mom to get in the crossfire. The process of R&E was conducted flawlessly by my mom. She walked with a limp straight into the red zone, like an injured general immune to life's bullets, (I wanted to type "like a cute mother penguin") with her eyes fixed on nothing but the helpless baby myna on the ground.

Now she's going to nurse it for a while. My cats and I are going to have an extra friend. She's feeding it with bread. My dad wants to name it Jack. They used to have 2 pet mynas named Nine and Ten. Hope I get to climb the small tree to return it to its nest.

As I'm writing this, I see a crow near my window ripping apart another baby myna. The raw meat looks like the $10 frozen boneless tenders at the supermarkets.

Well, now I'm questioning things again.

Trrdentakdenden

The 4th of February.
A familiarity.

Stand, and write.
Don't lose.