Sarah didn't get that much sleep. Her watch said it was 7:13. With a big stretch she went to the kitchen to check on the owl. It was still where it slept last night. Please don't be dead. Slowly she reached out her hand to remove one of the towels she had wrapped it in.
It lightly hooted at her. Sarah let out a breath of relief. "Good morning, little one! I'm so happy you made it through the night."
She made herself a quick breakfast. While eating she was checking out the vet clinics in the area. She found one that did things with parrots. Well it's a bird. She called them telling them what had happen and what she had done. She smiled over at the owl. The eyes watched her intently. She could see fear in them. She hung up the phone and walked to the table.
She went to reach for the owl, thinking it would be like last night but this time the owl pecked at her and tried to scratch her hand with its remaining talons.
"Hey! Is that anyway to behave to someone who is trying to help you?" Sarah smiled at the owl. She sounded the same when she had rescued Ludo from those mean goblins all those years ago. How long ago has it been? Nine, ten years. The owl hooted angrily at her.
"I am a friend." You are talking to an owl. It understands that you are a friend. Sure thing…
The owl however did calm down. Sarah picked it up and put it back in the box. "I'm taking you to get better."
xxxxxx
Sarah was pacing back in forth in the waiting room. It seemed like forever since she gave the owl to the doctor. The receptionist said that he'll be back soon but he wasn't. Sarah wanted to know what was going on, if he would make it or not.
"Ms. Williams?" Sarah turned around. It was the doctor. Her heart started racing. Good news please.
"Will he be alright?" twisting her college class ring that was on her pointer finger and biting her bottom lip.
"You did a good job last night. There was virtually no glass."
"Is he alright?" she was impatient. "I want to see him."
The doctor smiled, "Come on."
He showed her to a small operating station. The owl was in the middle of the table with a small mask on. As Sarah got closer she noticed he was strapped in. "Why is he strapped in?"
"As soon as you left the room, he went crazy. I think he has become attached to you. We had to sedate him and strap him in. I think its best that you stay here until he wakes up," Sarah looked at the poor creature. It was breathing normally.
"His left wing is broken in multiple places. He might not be able to fly again and because of this we called the local zoo to take him in a few weeks or at least till we know he'll be okay."
Sarah petted the sleeping owl. "You poor thing."
"But quite lucky. You should be a vet Ms. Williams. The only way he is alive is because of you. He'll be up soon." The doctor took the little mask off and left the room.
Sarah sat next to the table on one of the high chairs that was in the room. She watched the owl. Then its eyes started to slowly open. Sarah could read panic and fear in them. The owl tried to get up and started thrashing back in forth.
Sarah put her hand on the owl and made sure she was in his line of sight. "I'm here. I haven't left you. I won't leave you."
The owl's eyes changed from complete fear to deep sadness. It stopped thrashing and hooted kind of sad like at Sarah.
"I'm here. Your Sarah is here." Sarah couldn't bear look into its eyes. They held a deep sadness in them. She lovingly petted the owl. It hooted at her. She started singing to it. Why? Sarah had no idea. She wanted to calm it down as much as possible before leaving to buy a new window. Softly she sang.
"As the pain sweeps through
Makes no sense for you
Every thrill has gone
Wasn't too much fun at all
But I'll be there for you-oo-oo
As the world falls down"
The owl looked at her. Sarah swore that its eyes were not only sad but surprised.
"You have a pretty voice, Ms. Williams." Sarah jumped and slightly embarrassed. The doctor had come back into the room, "What is that song? I never heard of it before."
"I don't know. Something I hum when I'm upset." She laughed. It was true. She would sing his song when she needed something to cheer her up.
"I see. Well we are going to take the little guy to one of the cages."
"Oh, can I come back? I have to run errands and stuff."
"Actually, I was about to request that you come. Being that you are the only one that can calm the poor thing." He smiled at her.
xxxxxx
Back in her car, Sarah left the owl. She drove towards Lowe's to get a new window. Luckily she took measurements of it before leaving the vet.
Back home with a window in place and her bed room vacuumed yet again, all Sarah wanted do was take a shower and curl up on her couch watching a movie while she drew a picture. Unfortunately after she gone done with her shower the phone rang.
"Hello?"
"Hey Sarah, I'm sorry about last night. I didn't mean to get drunk but you know how I am with the guys."
"Yeah I know. But guess what you won't believe what happen last night!" Sarah told of the events that passed after leaving the bar, about the muggers, terrifying screech that freed her, and the owl that was now at the vet.
"It bit you! That thing could have rabies. And they don't even it yet."
"It doesn't have rabies, Thomas!"
"I'm coming over right now!"
"Thomas I'm fine! Besides I have plans tonight." It was lie. Sarah couldn't believe it. She told an outright lie to her boyfriend. You don't want him pestering over you…that's all.
"Okay. But I'll call you later to check on you." Then he was gone.
xxxxxxx
Beep. Beep. Beep
It was Monday. Sarah groaned and smacked her annoying alarm clock. Thomas had called her about 15 times over the weekend. She started checking the caller ID before answering.
School was typical, nothing exciting. She wanted it to be time to leave so bad. In her last class of the day, which was her AP Art class she drew the owl.
"Cool owl, Miss W. It looks like barn owl except for the eyes. Their eyes are golden not a blue-ish brown." The student was inspecting her work, "They look like the eyes you were drawing last week!"
The bell finally rang. Sarah hurriedly packed. She was off to the vet.
xxxxxx
Her days passed just like the next. Until had been about four weeks since the owl had broken through her window.
There had been a few things that had changed. Like for instance Thomas and her gotten into a fight every weekend since. Sarah believed him to be jealous of the owl. She spent any free time she had to be with the owl instead of her boyfriend. Sarah was tired of it.
This Saturday was no different. She got up, took a shower and went to the vet. Thomas was there this time.
"I knew you be here." He folded his arms in front of him. "We don't do anything anymore because of that stupid owl."
"He isn't some stupid owl! He does have feelings you know!" Sarah's tempter started to rise. She hated how some people thought animals were stupid. It reminded her of when Merlin had died. Her old boyfriend at the time had said that Merlin was just some stupid pathetic dog. She hated him for saying that. Merlin was family.
"Really, Sarah? I have feelings too you know. You have been avoiding me." Thomas' brow was starting to wrinkle like it always did when they were fighting. Soon his face would start turning red with anger.
"I'm seeing him and there is nothing you can do about it. If you don't like it then leave. I didn't ask for you to come." Her voice was cold and without feeling.
"If this is how you are going to be then, I'm done." Thomas turned to leave, "I expect you will be calling me by the end of the week to get back together."
"Highly unlikely!" Sarah rolled her eyes laughing at him. She stormed in the vet office.
They knew her so well that she would just enter through the door and walk straight to where the owl was. Tears of anger and frustration started to form in her eyes. He's being a jerk, a bit fat jerk.
She found the cage she was looking for. The owl's head was under its wing. Sarah slowly opened the cage. The squeaky hinges startled the owl. It looked up at her with happy eyes. It hopped over to her then tiled its head and cooed at her. Sarah noticed the eyes changed from happy to worry. Like Merlin who always could tell when I'm upset. Animal's eyes are so easy to read.
It stretched out its uninjured wing like it wanted a hug. Sarah picked up the owl and hugged him.
"I hoped your day has been better, little one, cause mine sucked all day." The owl rubbed its head like a cat on her chin. Sarah laughed and kissed him on the forehead. "I missed you too."
"Ah, Ms. Williams, you are here! This is Tony Weaver, the aviation zoo keeper," said the doctor gesturing to the short round balding man behind him.
"Are you taking him today?" Sarah felt the owl shake in her arms.
"I'm afraid so, Miss. He's seems quite use to people now and with that wing of his. It's for the best," Mr. Weaver started putting thick protective gloves on and approached Sarah with stretch arms. "If you will be so kind to hand him over."
Sarah looked down at the little owl. It was like he knew that she was giving him away for his eyes were pleading. It reminded her so much of Puss in Boots on Shrek when he wanted things to go his way. Tony grabbed the owl.
Panic and terror went through the owl. It used all its might to scratch out the zoo keepers eyes and to escape his grasp. The owl half flew over to the window trying to escape.
"Now now. It's for your own good. Will you help me, Ms. Williams?" Tony was starting to sweat with the exertion. Sarah went over to the owl. She couldn't make eye contact. She knew she would see those sad yearning eyes looking back at her. The owl let her pick him up without any effort. It hooted lightly.
"Thank you, Ms. Williams."
As he was about to grab the owl, the owl found a worn out part of the glove were skin was exposed and bit him hard. Tony jumped back in surprised, blood starting to come up. "I'll be back. This owl is being difficult. It was not wise Dr. Wilson to let her come as often as she has! It has formed an attachment!"
Tony stormed out of the room to get more equipment. Sarah looked at the doctor, "I'm sorry. I didn't know he would act like that."
"It is okay, Ms. Williams. I knew he would. Mr. Weaver is correct. He has formed a strong attachment to you."
Sarah looked down at the owl, it eyes were closed. She realized she was holding it like a baby. It looked completely content to remain where he was.
"I wish I could take him home or something."
A grin appeared on the doctor's face, "I think that is what you should do. I'll tell Mr. Weaver that we'll give the owl to a different zoo. They might be able to handle the creature. I will turn around and not realize that you took him."
Dr. Wilson went out of the room and came out with a cardboard cat carrier. He handed it to Sarah smiling. "Really? I can keep him!" He just said you could.
"Yes, Ms. Williams. I think it an excellent choice. Mr. Weaver has left."
The owl hooted happily at her. Sarah looked down at him and smiled, "I'm taking you back home!"
