Continuing Nature Story: When the Passenger Pigeons Diasappeared

        Carrie glanced out the window of her room and looked at the early morning sky. It appeared to be around five o'clock a.m., judging by the sky. Pigeon Time! She through back to the first time she had seen the passenger pigeons.

        It had been back in November, when she had gone out in search of Alli, her cat. She had finally found Alli under the large oak tree in front of her house. As she carried Alli back to the house, she saw a large flock of birds flying over the farm. Carrie reached into her pocket and brought out her bread she was going to eat for breakfast. She crumbled up the bread and held the crumbs in her hands, and sprinkled some on the ground, and stood very still. The flock of grayish birds neared, stirring the air with their feathery wings. They swooped in and started pecking at the ones on the ground, all except for one passenger pigeon, who sat on Carrie’s shoulder, and ate from her hand. Hardly daring to breathe, Carrie had lifted her fingers and stroked the pigeon gently down his back. He had fluttered his delicate wings and let out a soft coo. Then he and the rest of the flock rose into the air and disappeared. “Good-bye, pigeons.” Carrie whispered. “Good-bye…Rain.”

        Now it was May 13, 1913, and Carrie was headed out onto the back porch with birdseed and bread. She sprinkled it on the stone walkway, and sat down to wait.

        Only minutes later, a great cloud of passenger pigeons came soaring through the skies, only to land on the walkway. Then three pigeons came over to her. A female, a very young boy, and, of course, Rain. Rain cooed proudly and nudged the young one forward. The young one was shivering, but when Carrie stroked him, he settled down, and nestled at her feet. Then Caner, Carrie’s family’s rooster, crowed loudly, and the pigeons took to the air.

        Carrie’s mother came out onto the porch and watched the passenger pigeons disappearing. Then she turned to Carrie and spoke. “They are birds of great beauty, aren’t they? Like the wings of heaven.” Then she changed topic. “Today, I need you to give Crow two bottles of milk, but all the rest of the calves only one. Now go on and get milking! The cows can’t wait all day!”

        As Carrie milked Susie, on of the cows, she thought back to Romeo's mate and baby. Maybe his mate could be named Juliet. Romeo and Juliet. The perfect names. The baby could be named...what was that her mother had said? "Like the wings of heaven." The baby could be named Wings of Heaven! Wings, for short.

      That evening, rain poured down in torrents, pounding Carrie's window. Carrie lit the candle in her bedroom and placed her book on the table. Through the rain-splattered glass, she could see three dark shapes flying towards her window. They were each carrying what seemed to be bundles of sticks, hay, grass, and cotton-wood fluff. As they got closer, Carrie realized they were Romeo, Juliet, and Wings of Heaven, come to make a nest on her window sill. Comforted by the thought that they were there, she blew out the candle and fell asleep.