“The house was much quieter last night. And I suddenly felt afraid of an approaching confluence of events. I’m near the end of telling this story, and when spring comes, all the birds will leave the house for good. I’m going to have someone build an aviary on my porch, and it will be for the injured couple, the spraddle-legged bird, and One-Wing, if he comes back. The birds are on the verge of release.
“My house is a lonely place without twelve birds flying around. Having six birds flying around isn’t enough for me — it’s not enough beauty or distraction or commotion. And zero birds? What happens to a person with zero birds?”
