The Ospreys Academic Nest

Inside “Bird Watching Park” athletic fields worked as classrooms for many high schoolers nicknamed “Rangers” who needed a different venue to learn the ways of the world. On fall weekends the rural town's future played games where they not only exercised their bodies, but competitive experience matured the youthful mind.

Otto the Osprey an engineer by trade loved the innocent enthusiasm and this excitement made him build a nest egg underneath the heated stadium lights illuminating the main field. Every Saturday either a soccer match or football showdown featuring campus run clubs created an atmosphere that the area was strong. Using the same flying formation that the Osprey couple would migrate down to Florida. Otto and his wife Dr. Hickory a professor in socioecology commuted to the VIP roosting refuge for a festive afternoon where they would chirp the Rangers to victory while hoping the participants took home something more than the scoreboard result.

When Thanksgiving arrived and the holiday rivalry concluded the autumn held adolescent spectacles Otto and Dr. Hickory turned into snowbirds leaving the chalkboards as the next indoor event. When the frosty icy environment melted, and the flowers came back to life the pair returned.

“Otto,” Dr. Hickory tried to grab her husband’s attention, “it is great to be back.”

Staring out past the tree limbs Otto saw scholastic activity at the community’s outdoor entertainment grounds,

“There is something going on,” Otto reported.

Looking at the calendar Dr. Hickory suggested, “must be graduation again.”

“Let’s head over to our private box,” Otto put on his coat.

Moments later they departed and soon were planted underneath the warm aura that made the senior class glow in success.

“Spring is truly here when life comes back,” Dr. Hickory mentioned.

“And the youngsters cross the bridge into adulthood,” Otto replied as the professional lecturer pulled out the binoculars from the storage area underneath the grass, “study time is over and now they take their education out into the real world.”

With her hawk like vision Dr. Hickory noticed something she had seen before, “that looks like one of the fans who were always like us attended the games.”

“Not a fan Mama, a student,” Otto replied in an affirmative tone, “Jaime Cameron.”

“Well, Jamie, as you say Otto,” Dr. Hickory commented “looks intelligent wearing a cap and gown.”

As the sun set on the academic finale the Ospreys watched all the dreamers with realistic goals now collect their diplomas and leave the stage.

“I hope they learned something having fun on these grounds,” Dr. Hickory mentioned.

“They did Momma, they did.”

Four years later “Bird Watching Park” faced its worst winter, and one bitter night the Ospreys’ private villa overlooking the action was destroyed. Upon returning from the Sunshine State the weather reality devastated them leaving Otto to spend hours searching for natural supplies.

Upon returning one afternoon from a fishing trip Otto noticed a park ranger uniform individual hanging onto the florescent bulb structure. “I wonder what that person is doing there,” fluttering in flight closer he noticed the name tag read ‘Jamie Cameron.’

“Once a ranger, always a ranger,” Otto heard before soaring home to spread the good news that the government fixed their luxury outpost.

Months later while sitting in the bleachers during a soccer match Jamie Cameron looked up and saw the Ospreys enjoying the teenagers kicking around the ball. Not expecting a response, the promoted college graduate gave a wave and to his surprise Otto and Dr. Hickory tweeted back with a winning tune.