Unwanted Song

Marie was staring at the shoebox before her. Her now ex-boyfriend had handed off the bird to her, too cheap to have actually paid for a real gift. He had decided to go forth and capture a bird, giving it with a bow on top. The idiot hadn’t even put airholes on the box- thank sweet baby Jesus that the poor thing hadn’t been in there long.

“What? I thought it would be romantic! And it was like that song, right? ‘Marie just felt blessed just to listen- ‘”

“Maria. The girls name was MARIA. And… God Andrew… are you so thick?! It’s a wild animal and… is it bleeding?” She had started carefully looking at the bird, noticing specks of red inside the box.”

“Well I had to trap it for you… and it fought with me.”

Within moments of that explanation, Andrew found himself being shoved into the snow, butt first. “Crazy bitch! You’ll regret this! You’ll be alone on Christmas, and I’ll already have someone less crazy than YOU!”

Maria slammed the door and looked at the box with the poor bird. “You didn’t ask for this… did ya? Come on. I can use the cash for his gift to get you fixed up at least.”

The poor bird let out a weak and shaky chirp as it tried to move around the box. A busted foot and wing for sure. Marie headed out to her car through the garage, carefully securing the box, now with airholes, and the precious contents within. As she pulled out, she saw her now ex walking a bit close to the slush and had to resist the urge to go through it full speed. There was black ice after all.

She listened to the little bird make small noises and calls for help as she drove along. Marie didn’t know how to care for this lil’ thing. The vet could tell her a shelter to drop it off at. Within a week, it’d be flying free and having fun with friends again.

Dr Miller had other news. “Well, I can reset the wing and leg… fix her up so she’s healthy but if she can fly or not, well… that’d be the Christmas miracle wouldn’t it?”

Marie bit her lip. This was going to cost more than she thought. Maybe it’d count for good karma. “But once you do it a wildlife shelter can take her right?”

“Well, yes they could but common birds like this? They don’t really try to save. It doesn’t make sense when they have limited resources. More likely that not? They’d put her to sleep or let nature take its course.” He looked to Marie. “If you fix her and want to try to release her to nature… you’ll need to care for her until the new year.”

She nearly left. It wasn’t her fault. For all she knew, some cat was going to get it. It was maybe stupid or something. How dumb did an animal have to be to get caught by Andrew? Idiot couldn’t even catch a cold. It wasn’t Marie’s responsibility. It wasn’t her problem it-

The bird looked right at Marie. Chirping. Trilling. Trying to move towards her, but unable to do so.

3 hours and more than 1000 dollars later, She had a small bird carrier with a fixed up nightingale, and some print outs on how to care for said bird. Marie sighed. “You know… if I spent this much on you? You are getting a name.”

She slowly headed off to the car, looking at the list. “Maybe Diamond… cause seriously girl… I could get something nice from Kay for all this.” 

The pet store was crazier than she expected, but at least she was working off a list. The birdseed, a mirror, a proper cage, bedding, water bowl… she could handle this. She could do this. She just had to make it through the line and get to her car. Too bad some Karen was right behind her. “You just brought your bird here? How unsanitary.”

Marie tried to ignore her, but the woman kept going on and on about how nasty birds were and how unclean. Suddenly the woman started to grab for the carrier. “I SAID you need to put that THING in your CAR.”

Diamond started trilling in a panic, wanting to fly but unable to do so. “Let go! She’s hurt!”

Someone else in the line quickly pulled the woman back and looked at Marie. “Ladies… behave but… Miss… you are aware that’s a wild animal yes?”

“A WILD animal?! Keep it back it’ll give us RABIES” The Karen held her purse up like a small shield.

“Shut up you bitch! Diamond was hurt… I’m taking care of her until she’s healed.” Marie hugged the carrier as close as she could to her chest, nearly dropping the basket. “I got a vet note and everything.”

“I see. Well… thank you miss.” He looked to the cashier. “I would like to pay for this young lady’s supplies.” He bent over looking at the bird. “It looks like the poor thing will need some long-term care… and you could use some help.”

The Karen sputtered as the cashier quickly rang things up, and the man ran off to get a few more things to help. Along with a business card to the aviary club. Thankfully it wasn’t long before Marie was out of the store and heading home. God. What a day.

After a few hours, Diamond was happily resting it her new cage with fresh water and bedding. Marie had made sure the little bird was eating before starting to go to bed herself. She looked to the twittering bird and sighed. “You are going to go back to nature you know… in like a month. I don’t know what to do… you’d be better off. I probably would have bought you bait worms or something.”

Diamond looked to her and suddenly started to sing. Marie froze and listened a moment. It was really beautiful. She gently covered the cage as Diamond finished, a smile gently creeping across her face. “Though… I guess I can keep you around if you want… we’ll see…”

As Diamonds movements slowed, Marie started up to her room to read over the print outs. After all, the vet did say this might be long term.