The Bird

He sat by the window and his intent was to see the Flycatcher. Yesterday he was fortunate
to have observed the bird ten minutes before it flew away. The old man hoped he might see the
Flycatcher again today. Was not the birdbath as appealing as yesterday? The bird would return.
The chair on which he sat was hard, its back straight. "Tio Pepe" did not like the chair
but endured its hurt so he could remain at the window. In addition to the hard chair, the old man
had a bed, table, and chest of drawers in his room. At night his light came from a kerosene lamp.
Porta Vita did not have electricity.
Porta Vita was a town without modern conveniences. Porta Vita was a small town on the
Baja coast where the rich sent their old people; Porta Vita was a town of "Guest Houses". Tio
Pepe was a member of a guest house. No one came to see him. His niece placed him in Porta
Vita to get him out of the way.
Tio Pepe loved birds. Yesterday he saw the Flycatcher in the birdbath of his patio. What a
wonderful sight! All his life he had great fondness for this bird. It was a good omen for him to
see this bird. Something good would happen to him now.
Tio Pepe hated cats. Tio Pepe hated "Tigre", the house cat. Tigre always made birds fly
away from the bath. Tio Pepe prayed Tigre would stay away from the patio today. Maybe it was
too much to pray for. Tigre was gone yesterday from the patio; it was almost certain he would be
back today.
Tigre belonged to Señora Jimenez. She and her husband were in charge of the guest
houses. Tigre was a good cat for Señora Jimenez to have because they were both mean. Tigre
was mean because he ate birds and Señora Jimenez was mean because she kept his door locked.
Señor Jimenez was good. He did not like Tigre either. Every time Señor Jimenez saw
Tigre, he tried to kick him. This was good, for Tigre deserved to be kicked. Señor and Señora
Jimenez fought about the cat. Señora Jimenez did not like her husband kicking Tigre.
Eventually the bird came and lit on the edge of the clay bath. With much head cocking
and eye searching, the Flycatcher made sure of his safety. He grew bold with confidence. The
Flycatcher took a drink of water and sang a song of happiness:
!65
Whee - see
Whee - see
Pchip, ee, Pcheewe
He splashed into the water.
Whee - see
Whee - see
Up on one leg, down on the other.
Pchip, ee, Pcheewee
Tio Pepe watched with big eyes. He saw everything. He was entranced.
" How pretty you are "Pajarillo". Now if Tigre does not come, you can finish your bath
and I can watch you."
An evil sight came to the old man. The head of Tigre appeared at the garden gate. Tio
Pepe sucked-in his breath with fright. The thing he feared most was upon him. He rose from the
hard chair to stand upon weak legs. He gripped the wooden bars across his open window and
feebly tried to shake them loose without success.
" I must save the bird! I must save the bird! I am too old and feeble to make noise. What
can I do?" He was in a panic.
" I can not let a simple house cat beat me. But I am old and my voice will not carry to the
bird."
He fell back onto the chair helpless, spittle drooled down the corners of his mouth. His
hands shook violently, his heart thumped in sickly uneven beats. Never had Tio Pepe beheld such
evilness. He watched Tigre as if in a trance. The bird saw nothing.
In the twinkling of an eye, Tigre sprang up onto the birdbath. He grabbed the Flycatcher
in his mouth and pulled the crying bird out of the water.
“Oh - oh - oh”
The old man was stunned. The was sick. His eyes gave him the sight that made him
weep. He wept for the lost bird. Loneliness would close in on him again.
Late in the afternoon Señora Jimenez came to his room. She unlocked the door and
entered.
“Time to eat old man,” she said. By the way, a package has arrived for you today. This is
indeed a most fortunate day for you. I have opened it. Your niece is so thoughtful. She has sent
you a nice pair of eye glasses for you to see better with.

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