The Bird Boy

With all his heart, Jack wished to fly. He wished to fly so that he would be worthy of the name given to him and wear it proudly. He was to be ‘the bird boy’. Yes, not a bird boy or just bird boy, but the bird boy. That night, as he got ready for bed, he rushed through his nightly rituals. Even his mother shouting at him to take his time went unheeded. He didn’t care that his family were regarding him with an air of puzzlement. For someone who always argued about going to bed, he certainly seemed in a hurry to go. The truth was, however, he was not sleepy. He was just anxious to get to his room and start making a master plan for ‘Operation Fly at Ten’. All Jack knew was that everything in him was urging him to run up the stairs to his room. He was not, however, quite so lucky. He knew that is was a family tradition to go into the family room first. There, his mother would check to see if he had washed himself to her satisfaction, and he would then give his parent a kiss before going up to bed. He decided to give this ritual a miss. Holding his breath, he made his way slowly up the stairs, all the time reminding himself not to step on the loose, squeaking board. He had been concentrating so hard not to step on that loose board that, at the last minute, he felt uncertain whether he was on the last or the last but one step to the landing. Jack decided to take a leap of faith and jump to the landing. He hoped that, like a cat, he would land on his feet. He didn’t see how he would be able to fly if he broke any bones. He took a deep breath, held tightly to the banister, lifted his right leg and made a mental picture of jumping to the landing. Jack was about to take to flight when he heard the door to the family room bang shut. He could almost feel a breeze on his face when his mother passed swiftly by, heading for the kitchen. He stayed motionless, waiting to be discovered. It was with great relief that he put his leg back down and he sighed loudly. What’s more, his mother appeared not to have seen him. He jumped to the landing and crept to his door. He had almost made it safely to his room when his mother bellowing his name nearly made him tumble. “Jack!” screamed Mrs James, “Get back down here. Now!” Shoulders shrugging with disappointment, he mumbled to himself as he made his way down the stairs to the family room. He was really glad when, much later, he was sent to bed. As fast as lightning, he took the stairs two at a time. Once in his room, he quickly made a tent with his bed coverings. He brought out his drawing kit and a torch. Then got into his tent and set to work.