The Blue Tit

By Susan Gordon

I am writing this by way of introduction. I am a Blue Tit, and this garden is my home. They call me Junior. This is because I am the youngest of four brothers and sisters. They all left home ages ago, but I am still here!

Why would I want to go? I have it all here! There is the fully stocked bird table that is just the right height. It’s got a delicious array of delights. Fat balls, dried mealworms locally sourced and peanuts in squirrel-proof nets. What’s not to like? I also get coconut for pudding. There is another lovely feature… no cats. Just imagine that.

Then there is the spacious birdbath. It gets so sticky that I need several baths and splashes, so the bath is just the ticket. It is so clean that I can both bathe and drink the water. It is so wonderful after a long singing session that I wonder whether they are using bottled water. I hear that this is all the rage in Europe. As you can appreciate, my home is so comfy. Why move?

Mind you, the atmosphere in the nest is getting me down. I keep failing my flying exams, and I’ve even had a home tutor. That didn’t help; I keep missing the targets. I worry that I could be dyslectic. Hunting for food in the raw was another chore that I failed time and time again. I couldn’t even see the tiny insects. I may need specs.

Mum and Dad were so unsympathetic, and I am getting depressed. They want me to move out. They simply glare and stare at me. They have even offered to lend me a deposit so I can afford a high tech nest.

The other day, I had a brilliant idea. I suggested that my parents go on holiday and I could nest-sit. Mother has always wanted to visit family, and my brother is local and has just built an extension.

They seem delighted to go, and I could have the nest to myself now too.

After they were gone, I ordered Take Away and invited an old pal to share the meal and watch football on TV. We are both Spurs fans, and the match was so exciting. After hot chocolate, my pal went home, and I checked the doors were locked and turn the lights off. I dozed off on the sofa. Suddenly, I woke up and heard a scratching noise on the outside. I looked out the window and saw a pigeon trying to break in! In a flash, I called out, and he flew away, smashing a pot on the way.

Well, of course, Mum and Dad thought that I was such a hero. They contacted all the family to say how brave I had been. They are even considering an extension so that I have more room.

- Total nr. of readings: 1,194 Copyright © The author [2020] All Rights Reserved. This story may not be reproduced without the express written permission of the author except for personal use.