Fly! Be Free

They finally had the freedom they needed always dreamed of.

In the French countryside, two lovebirds escaped their gilded cage and discovered freedom at last. After hours of searching, they found an abandoned farmhouse. High in the dusty attic rested a broken trunk with its lid cast aside.

Prissy chirped happily. “Oh, Pratter! I think we’ve found the perfect place to build our nest.”

It became a labor of love. They gathered faded blue strips of cloth from the attic, then ventured outside to collect twigs, feathers, soft moss, and dried grass. Together they shaped a warm, sturdy home.

Soon Prissy laid her eggs. Days later, two tiny chicks broke through their shells.

Pratter gazed at them with wonder. “What should we name them?”

Prissy smiled. “We’ll name them Farrah and Fabio.”

“Perfect,” Pratter replied.

The days turned into weeks. Every sunrise the devoted parents would fly out and then return with seeds, berries, and insects. The chicks grew stronger with every meal. Prissy patiently taught them to flap their tiny wings while Pratter showed them how to search for food and warned them that the world held creatures bigger and stronger who could bring harm.

At last came their first flying lesson. It was supposed to be a simple trip around the attic before returning to the nest.

But Fabio became overwhelmed with excitement.

Instead of circling back, he darted through the open attic window.

“Fabio!” Prissy cried.

Panicked, she and Pratter raced after him.

They were astonished to find him perched confidently atop an ancient scarecrow standing proudly in the overgrown field. Rather than frightened, Fabio sang joyfully into the summer breeze.

Prissy’s heart swelled with pride.

Their little bird had not flown away from home.

He had flown toward his future.

Prissy and Pratter realized that the hardest part of parenting was going to be letting go.