The Story of a Curious Robin
As I flew in the skies I grew curious of the human by the tree. Every day he came and placed flowers on a small mound of dirt. One day, after the human was gone, I flew down to the mound to investigate. A small grave-like stone was stuck in the ground and a crudely made mouse was carved into the tree bark. Along with it was the name Algernon. I grew ever more curious of the human. I had seen people mourn dead cats, dogs, even birds. However, I had never seen one mourn a mouse, nor had any human placed flowers on the grave. Not that I had ever seen, in any case.
As the human came out some time later I hid in the tree and saw him place a piece of paper on the grave. He held it down with a few pebbles. When he left again I hopped back down and looked at the paper. On it was a sort of maze of lines, and I didn't quite understand why a man would put a maze on the grave of a mouse. I never saw that human again, but every once in a while now a woman comes by. She places flowers on Algernon's grave now. Perhaps the man couldn't anymore for some reason.
A few days passed and I thought to myself, "What could make a mouse so special that these people come to place flowers on its grave." Humans are such curious creatures. Today, not the woman, but two young men came to place flowers on the grave. That must have been one great mouse, or one great man who believed it was a great mouse. Perhaps they were both great. I think I will put some flowers from the hills on the grave for them. The flowers there are prettiest.
Today a pair of smart-looking men came with more flowers for Algernon. Those the others had planted had grown to a small garden, and the new men were surprised. They saw the flowers I had places upon the grave, in shades of lilac and sky blue. They would never suspect who had placed the flowers there. Most humans are so closed minded. A bird can be smart too.
Today I found a special flower, a shade of almost golden yellow. The men had planted the flowers I brought before, so why not have them plant these as well? When the woman arrived that day she was just as surprised, probably more. She saw me put them there, I think.
It's been a month and the tree is surrounded by a Garden of Eden. There are so many beautiful flowers here it seems like a rainbow came down from heaven to mourn Algernon. I wondered if the man would ever return.
Another few weeks have passed, they buried the man here with the mouse, I think. It was a large, oaken coffin. The flowers seem to grow ever larger and more beautiful, like an aurora on the earth. I love this place; I think I'll move my nest to this tree. The lady leaves me some bread crumbs too sometimes. I hope the man and his mouse friend are happy in heaven, if not for them this beautiful place would never have existed.
After returning from the winter flight south I saw the flowers grew even stronger this year. They have begun to spread into the other yards now, and nobody seems to mind. I think I now know the feeling of being ion a true home.
I met a pretty female robin, and brought her to Algernon and the man's graves. There is another gravestone now, and reads:
"This is in memory of Charlie Gordon and Algernon,
The smartest and kindest man,
And the most intelligent mouse ever to walk the Earth."
I wish I could have known Charlie and Algernon. They must have been truly great to deserve this. I hope I'll be buried here when I pass on. I call it the Garden of Eden, and now the humans seem to as well. It's carved into the tree along with the new carving of Charlie.