A Robin's Circle

by Dave
(Janesville, WI)

Last year, my wife Gail and I were both warmed to the point of gladness to be sharing our lives with a pair of robins who chose to nest and brood in a pear tree in our back yard.

It was a special day when we heard the 'peep peep' of the chick that hatched.

Looking back, those brief days were my favorite in a wondrous & eventful summer.

Now, many a good story shares safely without tragedy, this is not one of those.

One morning while making 'the rounds' I glanced down to notice a feather, lifting my gaze a bit it turned to two, three, and then a trail, like Hansel & Gretel's bread-crumbs laid out guiding me to the scene of a crime!

There at the end of the line was the metaphoric 'end of the line' for the one baby robin we had so lovingly observed grow.

As it happened, upon leaving the nest, the first & last creature mother robin's baby bird ever met was our 'lucky' cat Neeko who happened to be outside that day.

As he lay proudly over his trophy I gasped in horror realizing the grizzly story that had just taken place.

Sadly, one of the few and far between days we let our timid, declawed 'indoor' cat out found a life cut short!

We were devastated & heart broken! We were living with a murderer with a big scarlet 'S' on his sweater! Well, one does not just roll over and die in time of trouble.

The mourning begun, the nest was removed, the baby buried within, and the pursuit of living ensued despite lingering questions of what happened to mother & father & their future. Heck, in time, we even forgave the cat.

Flash forward one year.

On a bright summer morning, I hear a rustling in the same tree. I get a feeling like the one I had as a boy who- upon hearing the music and bells on the neighborhood ice cream truck, go running excitedly inside shouting for my love!

This event in time is going to pass and I have to let someone know quick before its too late! Well as time has it, our couple returned to give it yet another go!

From the get go; the construction, the nest-warming party, the quiet evenings before the joyful event, the birds had this old soldier protecting their home armed not with a rifle, but a broom stick to guard against all enemies both foreign & domestic, two legged & four.

No barbecues, no fires of any kind, a wide berth given when running the mower, & most certainly a CFZ (Cat Free Zone) -one would think my pal Gail & I were the ones expecting.

Not one to linger, I will get to the point. YES the baby was hatched, Yes, he (or she) left the nest & immediately enrolled in Mama Robins Flight School.

YES life goes on, & 'though they are all gone now, we feel the unknowing joy that perhaps a cycle has been completed or goes on.