The Bird Keeper

Ellis moved with precision. Inside the aviary, he knew exactly where he needed to be, what he needed to do, and almost without thinking he danced through his tasks. Exactly two scoops of food per enclosure, humidity levels at just the right setting, and as he passed each bird he would whisper a greeting when he arrived and a farewell when he left.

This was his sanctuary. A safe place from the world that did not understand him. Birds understood him and he understood birds. His fascination began at a young age, some would call it an obsession. Others might find it a religion of sorts. He was devoted and gave his life, every ounce of who he was to know and understand birds.

Ellis lived alone, which no one ever thought would be possible. He lived alone, but he was’t alone. He had the aviary. He had a sister who cared for him and made sure that he had all that he needed. Food in the pantry, a clean tooth brush, and toilet paper.

He didn’t hear the little girl at first. She slipped in one day as Ellis’s sister was dropping off groceries. Seven years old, missing one front tooth. Full of curiosity. She was quiet and methodical with her steps. She merely wanted to see for herself what was making all the noise everyday when she walked by. Ellis’s sister left the door cracked, her hands full of paper grocery bags and the girl knew this was her chance. It wasn’t breaking and entering. She didn’t break anything. It was just…well…entering.

When she arrived in the front foyer of the home, she followed the sounds, through the back door, into the back yard, and there stood a building of sorts, covered in see through wire. She quietly opened the door, and there sat a large man hovering over a cage whispering.

“What’s that one called?” she asked, pointing to a bird with feathers the colors of apricots and smoke. The sound of her voice echoed and she immediately noticed that she was far too loud for the moment.

Ellis tensed. He didn’t like questions. He didn’t do well talking to others, not when they came out of nowhere and unannounced. But, he looked where she pointed.

“That’s Elijah,” he said softly. Maintaining his whisper. “Doesn’t care for thunderstorms.”

The girl got up close to the bird, examining him through squinted eyes. “How can you tell?”

“I just know.” He said, turning back to his task, knowing that he had already spent too much time entertaining her questions. He was behind schedule and that made him anxious.

The girl sat there and watched. With each cage he followed the same steps, said the same things, but when he arrived at Elijah’s cage he began to hum, and sing softly.

“Do they know you love them?” She asked.

He paused his song, smiled and resumed singing. She sat there waiting on him to respond. After the last note he turned to her.

“They know I listen.”

She came back the next day. This time she knocked. Ellis came to the door and motioned for her to come inside. She followed him through the house, to the back yard, and into the aviary. She was holding a paper bag of crackers that made a crinkling sound every time she moved.

“I brought snacks.” she said holding the bag out to Ellis. “They are for me, but I will share with the birds.”

Ellis shook his head. “No. No. They can’t have them. Too salty.”

She looked back down at the bag and wiped away crumbs on her chin, and tucked the bag into the pocket of her blue jeans.

“Right.” she said as she walked through the door.

The birds were alive with song, their wings providing a steady percussion. Ellis was already inside beginning his tasks. She followed and studied his movements, trying to understand why he was doing each thing without asking any questions.

He paused.

“Thank you for thinking of them.”

She came over once a week after that. Never speaking too much, and admiring the care Ellis took for the birds.

“I bet you are wondering why a smart and outgoing girl like me comes over here so much?’ she asked.

Ellis didn’t look up. He was on schedule.

“The truth is, I don’t have many friends.”She said.

“My name is Molly.”

Ellis began to slow down, until eventually he stopped. He listened.

“I have ADHD, which is just a fancy way of saying I talk a lot and get distracted easily.” She spoke as she paced around.

“You have no idea how difficult it has been watching you all of these weeks in complete silence.”

Ellis knew more than she could ever understand.

She reached in her back pocket and pulled out a book with cartoon looking pictures of birds with descriptions of each underneath. She stretched out her hand to give it to him.

“I thought you might like this. I bought it at my school’s book fair. It cost me twenty five cents.”

He took it in his hands and examined it.

He frowned, “This isn’t accurate.”

Molly shrugged, “That might be true. But, I thought it was friendly.”

The word hit differently. Ellis could not explain how it felt. He was behind schedule, very behind. He didn’t care. Ellis the bird keeper now had a friend.

Inside the aviary, he knew exactly where he needed to be, what he needed to do, and from that day on at least once a week Molly joined him.