Caged Bird

Caged Bird

“I know why the caged bird sings; only joy and hopes, happiness and dreams would come from a song...”

***

                 “I’ll take one of these,” I said, walking toward the door with my little donut in my palms. It was a cold Saturday morning as I was taking a stroll in the Central Park. The trees, the lake, and the people in the morning, silence. The wind made the trees rustles, as if they were whispering to each other, gossiping about the people in the park. Everything was covered in snow, it was all white. Several of the brown sparrows flew up to the sky and disturbed the silence for awhile and they were gone. The sky was completely white…  

                “Billy, are you ready for school?” my aunt, Sarah yelled from the dining room. “Coming,” I murmured to myself, rustling packed up everything into my small bag. “You’re 13 already, be more independent,” she did it again. I ran as fast as I could to my aunt then Aunt Sarah and I walked down the stairs and headed my school. My parents had divorced for almost 2 years already. I started to live with my aunt after the incident happened. We live a small apartment near the Central Park, New York, owned by Mr. Gary Jones. He’s a gentleman. I think my aunt had a crush on him, big one. Every week, he brought me a book to read and my aunt a few coupons. I don’t really know why but I think that’s how he expressed himself a gentleman. That was what my Aunt Sarah really cared.

                I’m a sorrow guy at school; I didn’t have a friend to talk to. Everywhere I go, I seemed like I was invisible, and no one cares if I even exist. Lunchtime is the worst and always would be the worst moment of a day. At lunch, I spent most of my time sitting at the corner enjoying my little middle day snack and reading books. Sometimes, I day dreamed about me being a different person, the one who’s not me for who I am, the kind of person who always bring himself happiness.

                One afternoon, like every regular day I had, wearing my coat and was taking a stroll through the park, that’s the least I could do every afternoon. Not like other kids who had their parents to play with them, spending time together and smiling. Through my smile, I cried. There was nothing left I could do. “Is that?” I thought to myself for awhile then started to walk toward it. “A sparrow,” a sparrow was lying on the couch, “it’s dead,” I thought to myself then gently held her up. I knew right away it was a female by looking at its beak. If a sparrow has black spots on its beak, it’s probably a male. My mind was in between nowhere. Then I was comforted by her soft feather, it was lighter than I even thought it would be. Happily, I ran home to tell my aunt how surprisingly I was to find a poor sparrow in the park who wouldn’t have survived throughout the winter.

                “Aunt Sarah, Aunt Sar..rah...” I panted and panted as I was calling my aunt then I stopped. Then I calmed myself, “look at what I’ve found today in the park,” showing the sparrow in my hands, my arms were straighten out. My aunt just gave it a smile then she said, “Billy, my dear,” she squatted and looked at me, “what are you going to do with the sparrow?” She glanced at me then the small bird. “I...I..I think I’m just going to give it a home to stay in.” Then she nodded with a satisfied look then walked toward the kitchen. I didn’t say anything and ran to my little room. “From now on, I’ll have works to do on my own,” I whispered to myself like it was to someone else. “I feed her and take care of her until she’s completely rehabilitate,” I gave my words.

I found this as a new hobby and I enjoyed it a lot. I always wondered if she’s happy or not. I felt like I’m a sparrow that was caged without a key. My feelings were keeping me back from flying. And now, to myself, I know why the caged bird sings. Only joy and hopes, happiness and dreams would come from a song. “Why not just set her free...?” I spoke without knowing I was talking to myself.

School, my grades were dropping. I started to lose track of time and weren’t paying any attention to the teacher in class. Instead, I looked outside the window and wandering somewhere over the clouds, somewhere which doesn’t even exist. Somewhere, there was there only me.

School was over, I ran as fast as I could home to see my only pal, the only friend I had. It was gone. Disappeared, she wasn’t there waiting for me after school anymore. Waiting for a conversation about how was my day. And now, she flew away from my hands like evaporating into the thin air. I roughly ran to my aunt and asked,

“Aunt Sarah, where’s she?”

“Who are you talking about? What her?”

“The sparrow,”

“The sparrow,” she smiled and looked at me with her innocent eyes, “I set her free”

“But..but... why? Why did you do that?”

“Billy...” she hugged me “You know what Billy?”

“Yeah?? Yes Aunt Sarah...” I sighed

“When you love someone or something, you should let them be.” She stood up and smiled in a gentle glint.

I didn’t reply back but looking at the floor. I nearly cried. Tears came out from the edge of my eyes unexpectedly. Then I just ran to my room as I fast as I could. Jumped and dug my head into my pillow. I feel asleep.

For months, I figured it out myself. I was luckier than that bird. The one was caged by me and I wasn’t caged. I felt happy because once again, the world made sense. I joined some school activities now. Being in a soccer team was fun too, instead of joining games at lunch and waited for someone to pick me last. I felt happy again. I hadn’t had this feeling for a really long time ago and I wondered when it was.

One evening, I received a letter from an anonymous girl. Her name was Margaret and...

Dear Billy,

Hi, I’m the girl that see you at school every day and I wonder if you know me or not. My name is Margaret, Margaret Hugh and my parents just divorced and I need your help and advices to get over with these harsh feelings and to be a happier person like you are. I’ll really appreciate your advice. We should hang out sometimes. We should become friends. How do you feel, please response soon or you could see me.

Sincerely,

Margaret Hugh

I could fly now; nothing could stop me from flying to the endless sky. Spread my wings and fly away, become a free little sparrow and be free. I have a friend...