Something New

One day a sparrow decided he wanted to be a cat.

He often watched the way they chased each other around. And it looked like they had a lot of fun.

Besides, being way up here in the tall fir tree was quite chilly. The wind moaned and groaned right through the nest, especially on his side.

He bravely flew down to the ground this morning and faced two large cats.

"Let's eat him. Quick, before he flies away," Blacky said. His coat of fur was black with splashes of white on his face and back.

"No, not yet." said JC, the smaller of the two cats. "Let's see what he wants," she said. Her smooth coat of white fur also had black splotches on her sides and tummy.

That night both cats introduced the sparrow to their friends. "He really wants to be one of us?" the other cats asked in amazement.

Their first night together was spent outdoors lying on top of a pile of boards underneath a shed. The sparrow also liked his new name, "Bert."

"All cats have names," his new friends said.

The sparrow snuggled close to his new friends as warmth from their thick fur swept across his chilly back.

Bert thought one of the other cats came awfully close to him in the night when he heard purring in his ear.

"Leave him alone," Blacky said.

JC was not an outdoor cat and usually slept in a warm bed beside her master. Tonight she wanted to be with her new friend.

In the morning Bert tried to sneak across the ground like the other cats. They were hunting for breakfast. He wondered why they thought birds were delicious to eat.

All he noticed was their scrawny legs and feathers.

His mother used to tell him skinny birds fly farther.

Bert was glad no birds were caught today. They chirped their usual alarm as the cats closed in. Then they flew to the safety of the trees.

None of the cats had breakfast this morning. Not even Bert. Usually he was able to land on one of the feeders and help himself to sunflower seeds, scratch and other grains.

Not today, though.

He could not understand a game the cats played later. They sat facing each other, while making growling noises. All he could manage was a weak chirp. Then once in a while a cat would get up and circle the other.

Bert almost fell asleep watching them move, as if in slow motion.

He wanted to do something more exciting. Suddenly, his wish came true. A huge black dog spotted the cats as he came trotting into the backyard. Then a streak of cat colors went racing in all directions.

The intruder did not see Bert, since he blended in so well with the leaves. Good thing because he wasn't supposed to fly like a bird. Not yet anyway.

After all, didn't he want to be a cat?

Tonight was a special treat when JC invited Bert to sleep at his house. It was the first time Bert had been inside this huge building he used to fly around.

Later, the sparrow tried some of the soft food in the cat dish. Ugg, it tasted awful. Bert could not even get one piece of Meow Mix in his little beak.

He watched fascinated as his friend licked and crunched her food.

After washing her face and paws, JC rushed up the stairs on four quick legs. It took Bert longer as he had to hop one high step at a time.

From the bedroom window ledge they watched flying birds and slinking cats far below.

Bert was a little jealous as his friends flew from trees to the feeder and back. There was a Blue Jay, and two Chickadees, and many Sparrows. Their wings fluttered and soared with the wind.

He missed flying so much he decided to have a little fun. Bert buzzed around the room and swooped over his friend JC. Good thing she had fallen asleep.

Unfortunately, there was not much room in the bedroom. Jewelry, perfume and brushes fell to the floor. Bert crashed into the mirror and fell on the dresser. The master came running up the stairs and used a broom to chase Bert out of the house.

After landing with a crunch on the front steps, Bert could barely get his breath. Suddenly the huge dog returned and spotted the sparrow. Bert tried to scoot across the yard like a cat, but the dog was gaining.

He quickly ducked under the back porch and watched happily as the dog sped by. Then he looked around and saw a cat, large as a mountain lion staring at him.

Bert became nervous as the alley cat moved slowly towards him, making strange noises with each step.

"He wants to turn me into a meal." Bert trembled at the thought. Where were his friends?

Just in time Blacky arrived by his side. "Quick," he said. "You're a bird, not a cat. You don't belong here. Go."

Then Bert spread his wings and flew to the trees. His feathered friends were happy to see him return.

Together they flew to the feeder for a snack.

Bert was happy to be a sparrow again!

© Richard & Esther Provencher