Homing Pigeons

Short story

Click, click, click.

I unlock the wire cages and a flather of white pours noisily upward. Turning my face, I watch as the pigeons wheel about, quickly finding their sense of direction before heading off in a beeline for home. 

As they disappear over the treetops, I exhale loudly.  Free as a bird? That's always been a tainted cliche for me. There are so many who aren't, I think to myself.

This is their ninth flight for the year. Nine has always been my lucky number. Speaking of nine, it's about time for a cuppa. I collect my thermos from the car and sit at a cement picnic table under a sweet smelling gumtree. All I can hear is the buzz of cicadas. Nobody for miles. I could probably sit here for a good half hour before a car or truck hurtled by along the road.

I sip my tea slowly, in no hurry to leave. Closing my eyes I bask in the warm summer air, thinking how glad I am that I'll never see those pigeons again. Not that I have anything against them except that they belong to my husband. He's at home "waiting for them to arrive". Unfortunately I know who else is there "waiting" with him. Nope, change the subject Carrie. Focus on the journey ahead.

I think about my suitcase in the car and mentally recalculate how long it's going to take to get to Darwin. I'm going to be driving in the opposite direction that the birds are flying.  Makes me a bit of a homing pigeon too I guess. Darwin's where my mum is. But I swear, this time nobody's going to take me away in a cage.

Downing the last drops of tea, I screw the lid back on the thermos tightly, angry that my hands are suddenly shaking. I take nine deep breathes, then  stand up and head to the car.

I'm ready to leave. It's time for this bird to fly.

Author's Note

It's been nearly two months since I posted anything.
Writers block has been eating me up for breakfast!

As always I appreciate any constructive feedback. :) Thanks y'all for reading!


PS. I made up the word 'flather' is there any real word that means what I'm thinking? Does anyone know?

PPS. Thank my American friends for the fact that I now say y'all in my notes section. :D lol

Reviews

[Steve Clark]

Another reviewer mentioned about the world you created in that small piece of writing. How very apt. Some of us spend thousands of words trying to give meaning and depth to our worlds. You did it. Keep up the good work. There is nothing wrong with having writer's block. Acknowledge it, and seek for practical ways to lessen its impact.

[Stan Lee]

Thanks for your constructive comments Stephen. It could also be something to do with laziness though ;)

[ROXANE DORSEY]

I enjoyed this piece thanks for sharing your talents.

[Stan Lee]

Thanks for your comment Roxane :)

[Raven Wyntermoon]

This is a bitter sweet read on the "coming to a closure" and "beginning a new chapter" in one's life. I enjoy reading the usage of juxtapositions in writings and this story laid out a candid image of that with Carrie and the pigeons contrasting each other's flight.
I also like the number 9 usage to symbolize the amount of time or space in which the protagonist may have experienced in her relationship as well as setting a time frame of her own departure.

[Stan Lee]

Thank you for your review Raven. I'm glad you liked this one. I appreciate you taking the time to read and leave your thoughts. :)

[The Exiled Wolf]

Hey again! Welcome back from the winter break (and escaping from writer's block)!

I like how you condense a story of thousands of words into hundreds. It seems to be a common feature of your stories! By the way, is the choice of "nine" on purpose so that including the last bird, it makes up to "ten"?

Speaking of the word "flather", I guess an average substitution would be "flock", though I personally prefer "splash". I find "splash" intriguing because it has a mysterious connection with the idea of "not able to take it back", and also with splashing paint out of a bucket.

[Stan Lee]

Thank you for your insightful review Wolf. I'm glad you liked my story. Good pick up on the number nine :) I still like flather... flock or splash don't encompass what I am trying to express. Thanks again. :)

[Troy Henson]

Enjoyed the read. Well done and thank you :)

[Stan Lee]

Thanks Troy :)

[Octavia]

You once again put a whole world into a page of writing. I can see this woman's whole life in just these simple details. The repetition of the number nine and the motif of the caged bird just add a whole level of mastery to this piece. I love it.

[Stan Lee]

Thanks so much for your kind review Octavia. Glad you could see the whole story between the lines. Your words are encouraging. :)

[Cyprian Van Dyke]

Nice write. Easy to read. Kept me to the end. Tyfs.

[Stan Lee]

Thanks for reading and reviewing :)

[Woody]

reading between the lines, I can see a whole lot longer story full of woe. you've done it again, Andrea.
great last line.
I think you're entitled to coin your own new words. when great writers come up with new fancy words, readers shake their heads and go WOW! give it time and 'flather' will find its way into the Oxford dictionary.

[Stan Lee]

How woeful :) It has a positive ending though. Glad you liked the last line. I actually started with the last line and wrote backwards.. sort of. Happy you like my new word too. :D Thanks for reading & reviewing. I appreciate your encouragement. :)

[Dr. Wood ?]

Ha....I love this twisty tale, It was not what I was expecting at all, sort of should have been as I write in a similar way I suppose. I hate the word Bravo...but.....BRAVO!

[Stan Lee]

Thanks a lot Dr! I'm so glad you enjoyed it. :)

[Tony Jordan]

I too have always had trouble with that saying. Even the ones that are 'free' are usually tied to a hemisphere by weather, to a country by mating habits, to an area by knowledge - unable to fly at night out of fear of safety or in the day if nocturnal.
Then the have to fight for every scrap of their existence and are prone to attacks by not only birds of prey but those in the vicinity (nest raids to eat eggs are very very common).
Then they are tied to mating by the urges of procreating and then tied to the nest or to a partner for life.
No, I think 'free as a bird' needs qualified big-time.

Love the word invention - totally thought that 'flather' was a real word.
Totally thought-provoking Andronicus.
:)

[Stan Lee]

Ugh, how tiresome are the urges of procreating right! Haha. :) Thanks for your interesting comments Tony. I'm glad the story managed to provoke some thoughts. :) Thanks for reading & reviewing.