The Nest

Chee Heng's been watching the robin's nest outside my studio, reporting that two chicks hatched and that they'd fledged a few days ago. One, he said, took off very easily.



The other refused to leave despite all his parents' encouragement. He perched on the gutter above and waited. Until his mother (or could have been his father) grew disgusted and, in desperation and anger, began to tear apart the nest. The young robin's no longer there. With his home wrecked and in disgrace, he must have finally decided to take the leap.

I have to say, it's really an act of courage to be a little bird and look way down and really hope those wing-things work.