Maria and I finished our chores this morning, and we started walking towards the house. “Look at the bird on the chair,” said Maria, and we also saw Minnie the barn cat sitting at the base of the chair. We both wondered why the bird was sitting there, so close to us. Neither of us knew what kind of a bird it was.

I lifted my camera and we got close. I expected the bird to fly away any moment but it stayed still, Maria got close enough to touch it. She paused, and I took the photo. I thought two things: she (or he) must be sick and unable to fly, or she has a message from us from the angels. I thought the first idea was true, although I favored the second story.

The bird stayed still – I was hoping Minnie did not see her or that Flo was not around – and then, Maria reached her hand out to the bird, who suddenly flew up and away and onto a limb of the apple tree.

She went higher and higher until we could no longer see her. I am thinking of her still, wondering if she had a message for us, she behaved so strangely. I suppose I will never know, but the moment got into my head, I thought of it all day.