In The Backyard Below...by Michael

Rodney's bedroom overlooked the backyard below. The thirteen year old had a strange habit on Saturday mornings during the summer months. Maybe it was a kid's thing shared by others spread by word of mouth. He would open up a box of paper clips and then open one at a time. A rubber band would be stretched between his thumb and pointer finger. The paper clip fit as he held it and pulled back the rubber band. Essentially making it a projectile that would with fly through the air like a bow and arrow. Target practice at leaves from the tree in his parents backyard. The fourth shot took him by surprise as he heard from his open window, the crying screech of a baby bird. Thirteen year olds don't think ahead of time of what may be in danger. He ran down the basement steps and bolted out the back door to the backyard below. He found a baby robin red breast still alive but injured. He cried and cupped the bird in his hand as his feet walked back up the basement steps. Rodney told mom and dad of this terrible accident that was not intentional. They got dressed as the three of them drove to an emergency vet clinic about ten miles away. The baby bird was treated and after two hours released to the parents care. The suggestion by the doctors was to return to robin to its nest. Dad propped up a ladder against the tree as his son climbed up and returned the baby bird. No more target shooting for Rodney as he threw out the paper clips and rubber band. The following Saturday morning a mother robin landed on his bedroom window sill. She pecked on the glass as the little boy knew it was a thank you for saving her baby. He smiled back and waved as she flew back to the backyard garden. Dad built his son a tree house in that same tree with the robins nest. His new habit on Saturday mornings was climbing up there. The birds would chirp and open their little beaks as Rodney fed them some worms he caught a little earlier. Mother robin would sit on his shoulder and peck with a kiss on his cheek....Maybe we learn something from old bad habits which are no longer done. Then a special bond is created between nature and a little boy. Case in point in a short story of a lesson learned, compassion, and forgiveness in the backyard below....

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