The Bird

It looked so forlorn. It's feathers were grey, those of a fledgling, but the bird itself was quite big. It seemed to be a baby seagull. I continued looking out through my back window. The bird started to make noises, then stared back at me. It must be hungry I thought. I went to the bread bin and took out some bread, crumbled it up and went out to the garden. The bird was now quiet, but looking directly at me. I threw it the bread. It seemed satisfied.

* * *

The next day I had a journey to make. I was on my way back home for Christmas. There was still snow on the ground from the last fall and the roads were experiencing some difficulty in maintaining good conditions. I was getting the cross-country bus. I was at the stop in good time and bored now with waiting in the cold. It was then I saw a bird come down and stand by me on the wall. I was sure it was the same bird I'd fed yesterday. It was very quiet and well-behaved today.

* * *

The coach pulled in and I mounted the steps. I took my seat and could see the bird still watching me as I got ready for the journey back home. The weather was quite bad now. After an hour on the road there was driving snow and sleet. It was then that it happened. Something hit the bus with a lot of force and the driver started back in his seat. He lost control for just a minute and the bus veered off to the side, but he got it back on track quickly and everything was normal again.
"That was a magpie," someone shouted. "Did you see it ? It flew straight at the windscreen. We are lucky not to have crashed. "

* * *

When I got off the bus in Brighton I could hear the seagulls quite clearly. I took my suitcase from out of the hold and then there standing on the sidewalk was the bird. I was sure it was my bird, and it seemed to be saying to me only, you are allright now, you have come through. The few sandwiches I had left from the journey I tipped out onto the street. The bird gobbled them up with gusto. Maybe I should believe in guardian angels !

* * *