Clawy

“What is the lifespan of the UK wood pigeon?” Curious, I googled it. “Usually between three and five years, sometimes up to fifteen years”, the answer came up.

It was about ten years ago I first encountered her. My garden was too big for me, so I converted a big chunk of it to a patio. Sitting and looking out on the garden life became my new hobby. A flock of wood pigeon fascinated me. They were quite plump, waddling leisurely unlike the city pigeons which were smaller and faster with constant bobbing. I was tempted to know them closely and started putting some peanuts on the edge of the patio. They were cautious but one boldly approached and gulped the nuts and soon all the others joined. I never allowed them to come on the patio though.

One day, I forgot the peanuts while sitting at the table concentrating on reading something. Suddenly I felt something touch my leg and saw a pigeon was looking up at me. I was quite taken aback but very pleased that it trusted me and came so close. When I dropped a few peanuts down, I noticed that one of its claws was bent outwards. That saddened me. However, it made me wonder if it was retarded with no sense of danger in daring to approach me. But I soon learned several puffed up male pigeons were eagerly chasing it. I then named it Clawy for its condition and by adopting the name Chloe.

In the following day, Clawy came back to me but with all the rest and the patio was soon covered with their droppings. I managed to shoo them out of the patio but Clawy wouldn’t budge. From that time, she fiercely chased the others away if one tried to be near her daily portion. That proved to me she was far from being retarded.

It became a daily routine. She waddled up to me, got fed, followed me around or sat down for a long rest. She became my loyal friend. A gardener who saw Clawy with me said, “I’ve never in my life seen a wood pigeon so tamed”. I believed that my daily feeding and our friendship contributed to her long life.

Then she didn’t show up for some time. That worried me. I tried to spot the crooked claw from the usual group but concluded that she had gone. Alas! One day, I did see her dashing towards me accompanied by two young pigeons. She had become a mum! What a happy sight! I believed she had come to see me and to introduce her young offspring. Her two chicks were as plucky as their mum.

It was the last time I saw her. Our reunion didn’t happen again. No longer any sign of her presence in the group. Sad, but I was so glad I had had a chance to see her once again, as a proud mum. 최근 이 지역 문학회에 응모하기 위해 영역한 작품입니다