While I was standing at the kitchen window, five-year-old Spencer,
my oldest son, ran into the house screaming, "We need a doctor out
here!
We need a doctor! Hurry, Mom!!"
"What's wrong?" I asked.
Spencer anxiously told me he had found a dead bird that needed a
doctor. Dutifully, I grabbed a small plastic bag from the pantry and
took Spencer's hand - after all, that's the sort of thing mothers do!
While my son led me out the door and toward the bird, I explained
that if the creature was indeed dead, a doctor could not help. When
we arrived at the accident scene, it was obvious that the baby bird
was dead. Spencer and I could see the nest high up in the tree. My
son and I discussed the probable age of the baby bird, its inability
to fly well, and exactly how the fall had caused its death.
"I bet his mommy and daddy really miss him," Spencer observed. I
reached for my boy's hand and tried to ease his sadness by saying I
was sure they did, but that they would be okay because the little
bird had gone to Heaven to be with God and PoPo (my deceased
grandfather). I assured Spencer that the bird's mommy and daddy
knew that their little one would be cared for and loved. I told
Spencer that PoPo loved little birds, and I was sure he was in
Heaven holding and playing with the baby bird right then. I picked
up the little creature's body, slipped it into my plastic bag and gently
placed the bird in the trash can. Nothing else was said about the
matter for the rest of the day. Spencer went right back top laying as
if he had never been interrupted, and I returned to my work in
the kitchen.
At breakfast the next morning, Spencer sadly explained to his father
that he had found a baby bird the day before that had fallen from its
nest. "It was dead, Daddy!"
Trying to lift Spencer's spirits and remind him that the little bird was
really okay, I asked our son to tell Daddy where the baby bird was.
Spencer, looking solemn-faced at his dad, stated, "In the trash can
with Mama's granddaddy, PoPo."
By Merilyn Gilliam from Chicken Soup for the Country Soul
Copyright 1998 by Jack Canfield, Mark Victor Hansen and Ron Camacho