Mother gave me a little bird for my birthday. It was not a fancy, colored, gorgeous one, neither a big one. It was mostly kind of a street bird, you know, one of those little birds that are here, there and everywhere and that does not have anything flashy in particular. But the bird sang, oh yes it did, and its teenie tiny voice was like a sunflower caressing my ear. Is it really happy? How can that possibly be if he is trapped inside a metal cell? I kept thinking about it – while I helped mother in the kitchen chores, while I took a warm bath and even while I was trying to sleep. Then it struck me: I had to free it, I had to become its true savior. Surely mother won’t mind if I give her any excuse, including that the bird itself suddenly flew away. The day finally came. Mother was going to be out until a late hour. I swiftly prepared my plan. That day I woke up particularly early just to encounter mother apparently sleeping on the kitchen´s table.

She was crying, not quite aloud, she was doing it just like a soft short breeze of tears and moans. ‘Why you escaped?’ she kept saying with a shortened voice. I immediately turned my eyes right into the now empty cage hanging from the ceiling. The bird was gone. Somehow. Some way. I carefully approached mother but I stopped when I realized she had been drawing the most beautiful wings that I have ever seen. Colored. Full of light. She drew them surely for hours. Then I also began to cry. Not out of sadness, but from pure joy, from pure liberty.

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    Voice-Team
    Voice-Team(@voice-team)
    Admin
    2 years ago

    Congratulations, Eduardo. We chose your story as the grand winner for its many intriguing layers and multiple meanings. We look forward to many more wonderful stories from you!

    Fuji
    Fuji(@fuji)
    2 years ago

    I have read this story several times already, Eduardo. It seems very original. I like the way you use words, such as “soft short breeze of tears and moans” to describe the mother crying. It was such a surprise to learn of the wings she had been drawing. There seems to be an allegory here, or a deep message. The mother is drawing the most beautiful wings, full of light and color,… Read more »

    Christer Norrlof
    Christer Norrlof(@christer-norrlof)
    2 years ago

    After reading your story and your conversation with Fuji, I am getting more intrigued by your story, Eduardo. Like the two of you are saying, there is something unsaid, but powerful, in your story. Maybe it’s the contradiction between the colorless bird and its majestic way of singing, but there is also the opposite feelings inside the boy, who loves the bird and hates to see it imprisoned. And finally there is… Read more »

    Eric Radcliffe
    Eric Radcliffe(@eric-radcliffe)
    2 years ago

    Hello Eduardo, lots of hints, little suggestions dropped here and there, perhaps like a crumb or two, seeing what the different readers might pick up on. Sometimes the ordinary and not so ordinary things we have in life become what we wish them to be?
    Others need to understand that we all see things differently!
    Thank you for helping the reader understand this Eduardo.

    Lotchie Carmelo
    Lotchie Carmelo(@lotchie-carmelo)
    2 years ago

    I see myself in your protagonist (the child), Eduardo. I also like birds but I don’t want to see them confined in a cage because for me they also have a life to play. But like everyone else many questions also formed in my mind. Very intriguing and interesting, Eduardo. Well done.

    By the way, welcome to the Voice.club, Eduardo.

    Lotchie Carmelo
    Lotchie Carmelo(@lotchie-carmelo)
    Reply to  Eduardo Olivares
    2 years ago

    Congratulations on your win, Eduardo.

    Lotchie Carmelo
    Lotchie Carmelo(@lotchie-carmelo)
    Reply to  Eduardo Olivares
    2 years ago

    Thank you, Eduardo.

    Carrie OLeary
    Carrie OLeary(@carrie-oleary)
    2 years ago

    Congratulations Eduardo. An intriguing story.

    Linda Rock
    Linda Rock(@linda-rock)
    2 years ago

    Congratulations Eduardo on your win and for an intriguing story that leaves us guessing.

    Emily O'Leary
    Emily O'Leary(@emily-oleary)
    2 years ago

    Congratulations Eduardo, on a very thought provoking piece!

    Thompson Emate
    Thompson Emate(@thompson-emate)
    2 years ago

    Congratulation Eduardo on your win. An intriguing story indeed.

    Sandra James
    Sandra James(@sandra-james)
    2 years ago

    Congratulations Eduardo! An intriguing story and I’m sure your style will fit very well with the new MYSTERY prompt. Well done!

    Voice-Team
    Voice-Team(@voice-team)
    Admin
    2 years ago

    Eduardo sends a message to everyone, with many thanks and appreciation. He says to tell you all that he is having some Internet problems, but hopes to be on the site soon to say hello and respond to the wonderful comments. He was so surprised and happy!! ?

    Christer Norrlof
    Christer Norrlof(@christer-norrlof)
    2 years ago

    Congratulations, Eduardo! I hope to be able to read more of you in the future.

    Marianna Pieterse
    Marianna Pieterse(@marianna-pieterse)
    2 years ago

    Eduardo, congratulations and welcome to Voice Club! When I read your story I wondered whether Mother deliberately let the bird go, realising how unhappy it made her child to see the bird in captivity. Maybe knowing how he wouldn’t really want to have to live with the guilt of lying to Mom. Well done.

    Juma
    Juma(@juma)
    2 years ago

    Congratulations on your win, Eduardo, and welcome to Voice.club! I’ve read this story more than once, and keep imagining other “detours” as you call them. One is that the mother’s drawing is her way of creating a way out of the drab, colorless life represented by the “street bird”. Another is that the son rejoices that his mother’s imagination is also setting her free. There are so many possibilities in this story.… Read more »

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