Casper Crow sits down next to his good friend, Freddy Frog. The two of them have been friends for a very long time. Every morning, Casper tells Freddy everything that happened to him the previous day. They discuss everything, even their heartaches. Today, Casper is real sad.
“Good morning, Casper.” Says Freddy Frog. “Why do you look so sad? Yesterday you were so happy about the new crow baby and now you just sit there and does not say a word.”
“Freddy, my heart is aching for the lady in the house at the end of the street. I don’t feel like laughing today.” says Casper. “Though the story has a happy ending, it still makes me sad.”
“What happened Casper?” askes Freddy
“Let me tell you the story” answered Casper.
A few years ago, the lady of that house was very sad. She had difficulties at work and she got stressed. She became ill and was crying all the time. The doctor said she must stay home for 3 weeks and get better before she could return to work. During that time, her neighbour caught a beautiful bird in the street in front of her house. The neighbour was too old to look after the bird and gave it to Mrs. Smith. The bird was a beautiful green bird and had a tag around its leg. The old lady said it was a lovebird.
The bird was a little wild, but Mrs. Smith sat next to the cage and talked to the bird and tried to feed it from her hand. At first, the bird bit her hand and she had to put bandaid on her fingers. She eventually won the bird’s trust. They became inseperable. If Mrs. Smith was in the kitchen, the bird would sing and make a noise until she scratched his head. He loved chocolates and sweets just like she did. Sometimes, when she played with a plastic bag or a piece of paper, he would become very excited.
Mrs. Smith, had to go away for a weekend and she left the bird with her sister in law. The day after she returned home, she went to fetch the bird which she called Peter Paul. Peter Paul went wild when he heard Mrs Smith’s voice. He was flapping his wings and hopping up and down when she got to him.
Day after day, Mrs. Smith and Peter Paul were talking to each other and playing, but Peter Paul was sad. Sometimes, when his cage was outside on the porch, he would stare at the birds that flew freely outside, and he would sing so sadly. Mrs. Smith realized that he was lonely and that he needed to be free, but she loved him so much. Her children loved him too. They could not live without him. So Peter Paul stayed in his cage and she scratched his head and fed him from her plate when the family had their meals.
Mrs. Smith had a reason to live – Peter Paul. She started laughing and singing again and she was happy and healthy. Peter Paul was happy for her and he loved her very much, but his heart was ouside the cage where he could be free.
One day, when his cage was outside on the porch again, a miracle happened. The bottom of the cage was not fastened securely after they cleaned it and it fell out. Peter Paul immediately flew out. He was free at last! He flew to the nearest tree and sat there, staring at the house. He loved those people dearly, but his heart was free. He saw Mrs. Smith in the kitchen and he heard her singing. Slowly a tear fell down his little bird cheek as he heard this. He almost went back to the cage, but he just could not. With one last look at the house and his loved ones inside it, he turned and flew off.
Mrs. Smith was heartbroken. She cried and the children cried too. They loved Peter Paul very very much. Mrs. Smith sat down on the porch and looked at the birds. She new this day would come. She could hear it in Peter Paul’s sad songs, but she did not want it to happen. She knew that a bird should be free, but she hoped that she and the children would be enough for him and that he would forget that he wanted to be free.
Weeks passed and they got used to live without Peter Paul. They put his cage away but they never forgot him. They wrote poems and songs about him. One day, while Mrs. Smith was sitting on the porch and longing to see Peter Paul again, he suddenly flew to her and sat down on the table in front of her. He did not allow her to touch him, but he did sing for her. She could hear that he was telling her in his bird language that he loved her very much, but that he had to be free. She understood that. Peter Paul flew off again.
This became a pattern. Weeks would go by without a trace of Peter Paul and then one day, out of the blue, he would appear again. He would sing to her and allow her to scratch his head. Then he would leave again. Peter Paul did not sing sad songs anymore. He was happy and he came to tell her that and to tell her that he still loved her and the children too.
“That my dear Freddy, is why I am so sad today” said Casper Crow. I know exactly how Peter Paul feels. I would not like to be in a cage, but I feel sorry for Mrs. Smith too.”
“Yes, Casper” says Freddy Frog. “I understand what you mean. I am just glad that Mrs. Smith understands that and I am so happy that Peter Paul still comes to sing to her.”
“Well Freddy, my friend. I have to go home now. The new baby is a handful. I have to help my wife. I’ll see you again tomorrow.”
“Bye Casper!” calls Freddy as his friend flew off to help his wife with the new baby. Life is difficult, but with love, anything is possible.
