Mr. Jackson

**A story about hope, love and feeling**

Mr. Jackson launched a pile of hefty dirt out of the way, digging a tunnel to have the Westgirth cement birdbath. Pecker and Nathan perched on his shoulder. John wasn't the most pleasant person to be with, but at least he was courteous and diligent. The wintry, crisp weather and cool (cold) snow didn't help either. But the least he could do was get the most old-fashioned brand of birdbath, Westgirth, for the birds. He worked in silence for a moment, until, finally, John Jackson, the most hardworking man in the village, was tired. Pecker, being a cheeky little Dark-Eyed Junco, pecked on John affectionately, and moved Nathan, an elegant greenfinch, firmly kept his sharp claws on John's shoulders, determined to keep balance.

Woodwind, a grayish-brown sparrow, was more shy, and peeped through from a branch. He was at least bold enough to stay there, being with John for 7 whole years. At first, Woodwind, at the sound of grass flickering, flew away. Now he was more tame, playing with Pecker and Nathan more, and one time, he even let John feed him! Of course, John preferred being alone, and unsocial, but the birds, they were different than people. They didn't judge you, or hurt your feelings. They were joyful little creatures, perching on a branch. Of course, you should remember these birds are all wild, not easy to tame. John understood this, and never caged them up. The other birds didn't have a name, but they were all as tame as Pecker and Nathan. They didn't dare perch on his shoulder, or eat from his hand, but they didn't fly away easily as other wild birds. Some birds were rascals. They pecked on the seeds, like Pecker, and John shooed them away. Pecker, at this time, always flew to his shoulder. It was cheerful to be with the birds. They were fun and kind little critters. The only other birds that had a name was the pretty starling Purple who came on Wednesdays and Sundays, at 1.00 pm exactly, and the dirty crow Pansy, who looked a lot like the dark pansy in John's garden. One day, Pecker dissapeared. Of course, Nathan was overjoyed, because he could have John's shoulder to himself. But John was sad. He knew this was because of Winter, and he was probably migrating....

Winter. Birds dissapearred, except Nathan and Pansy, and some other birds. Even little Woodwind went away, into a nice warm cosy place. John had gone through this loss of birds many times, but every Winter, it caused the same amount of sadness. The villagers thought he was a fool, a bad man. He probably was, but not to the animals. Sometimes, rarely, even a deer comes to drink some water. John always gives it bread and lets it feed fresh grass. The deer weren't coming. It was so cold. Poor John didn't go outside anymore. It was the coldest winter of all. Nathan waited on a branch everyday, for John to come, but he didn't, so he flew away.

\*

It was Spring! The best time of all year. John delightfully came outside, to see Pecker waiting for him on a branch. He delightedly realised Nathan was gone, and flew onto John's shoulder. John looked around, puzzled. Where was Nathan? Woodwind and Pansy were in their usual spots, Pansy with a piece of meat. John slowly stroked Pecker. A tear ran down his face. He went into the woods. 'Nathan? Nathan? Are you there?' he shouted. Nathan didn't know his name like Pecker. Sighing he sat down on a rock and started making the birdbath again. He finished it, after a while. He poured in some water. Pecker, Pansy, Woodwind and some other birds joined in the birdbath, and through that, he saw a glimpse of a greenfinch, shaking himself in the water, flapping his wings joyfully.