Hindsight
From Charli Mills at the Carrot Ranch is this week’s challenge.
July 8, 2021, prompt: In 99 words (no more, no less), write a story that features feathers. It can be a single feather or more. Where did the feather come from? Does it hold meaning to the character or story? Go where the prompt leads!
Hindsight
I bought a parakeet with green and yellow feathers.
They put it in a box.
At home I put it into a birdcage I got at a garage sale.
The parakeet looked around.
Shortly, it became anxious.
For two days it did nothing but climb up and down the sides of the cage and scream.
Pretty bird. Scared bird.
I became anxious.
Neither of us slept.
I put it into the box and returned it.
“Sorry,” I said.
Maybe another parakeet died in the cage and my parakeet knew?
Maybe I should have cleaned the cage.
Hindsight, they say.
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Michael B. Fishman
Michaelsfishbowl 
I never thought about birds picking up on the former (perhaps deceased) occupant of a birdcage. The character might not have thought of it either but at least he was concerned.
Wait. Dr. Pepper is fruit flavors? Huh. Fun Bandstand episode of Tail Feathers!
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LOL! I wondered about the fruit flavors comment as well and almost bought some at the store the other day to find out. I settled on a Nut Goodie candy bar instead. I always think about what animals think about. Sometimes it’s pretty easy to tell by their actions, but other times? I don’t know.
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As with Charli’s comment, I never considered birds sensing the deceased either. There are many tales of cats and dogs doing so, but this is a first for a parakeet. Unique take on the prompt, Michael. I wonder, perhaps the cage was round? I’ve heard birds prefer corners, rounded walls are too.. what’s the word? Unclear? Incomprehensible? Malleable? Variable? Maybe you get what I’m trying to say.
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Thanks Rebecca. That’s interesting about the cage, and yes, it was round. Maybe the corners give them a place that provides a feeling of security that they can snuggle into?
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