Nellie Long and the Emerald Bird (F)

Nellie Long’s head popped up from painting her toenails. “What!” A cry of a bird. She stood up from the patio chair. There it was again. Kind of a ‘caw’ but way too loud for a crow. Kind of a ‘screech’ but not really.

She looked over to Uncle Seve’s yard to see if he was working in the garden. No. She set down her polish and walked slowly back to the gate. Nellie tried to keep her toes up off the grass and so she walked on her heels. Slowly. Very slowly.

When she got back to the old cherry tree, she heard the cry again. So loud. Right over her head. Looking up, she could see something like a shadow in the branches and leaves.

“What is that?” she asked out loud.

Suddenly, the thing above her spread out its wings. It was huge. Nellie ducked a bit. She had never seen such a big bird. Was it a bird?

Another loud cry, and off it flew. Nellie opened the back gate and tried to follow. Her steps were still short, toes lifted.

Now the bird seemed to be in the oak just beyond the wild blackberry bushes. Was it hooting? Not like an owl. Was it cooing? Not like a mourning dove. What an odd sound.

What a time for Uncle Seve to not be outside.

Finally Nellie stood under the oak. There out on one of the longest, fattest limbs was—well, it was a bird. A great green bird. A great green bird with a bright yellow beak. A great green bird with a head of long pink feathers.

“Holey moley, guacamole!” She almost fell backward to the ground.

The great green bird flapped its wings and flew out of the tree and up to the roof of Nellie’s house. Nellie forgot about her toenails and ran after the bird.

There on the roof the great green bird spread its wings out wide. The sunlight struck the wings and like a great emerald fire the wings blazed up.

Should she get her camera? Should she get her mother’s phone? But she just stood there watching the bird hold out its wings.

“What are you?” Nellie shouted. Not that she thought the bird would answer her. But maybe.

The bird did seem to be staring at her, wings folded in again. The bird tipped its head, left then right. Nellie shook her head. Maybe she didn’t see the bird. Maybe it was all in her head.

The great green bird flapped its wings and leaned forward.

“Wait! Wait!  Don’t go,” she called.

Again the bird folded its wings and seem to stare at her.

I’ve got to get someone out here, Nellie thought. To see this bird. A real bird, green and sparkling, like it was on fire. An emerald bird.

Suddenly the bird came flying down off the roof and right over Nellie’s head. It turned and flew around the side of the house toward the front yard. Nellie ran to the side gate and out after the great green bird.

Around the corner by the garage she ran. “What?”  No bird. Gone. The great green bird was gone.

Now walking past the mailbox was a tall man wearing a cowboy hat.

“Mister! Mister, did you see that green bird?”

Nellie heard him laugh, and he took off his hat as he turned to face her.

“Antonio! What?”

“Well, good morning, Miss Nellie. Glad to see you again. Hope you are doing fine on this lovely start to the day.”

“Antonio, you are here?”

Again he laughed. “Well, yes, I think I am here. Yes, I am here. But, I must be going. You know how that goes sometimes.”

“But, but—the big green bird? I saw it. It was here. Now you are here.”

“Yes, a great green bird. Quite a thing to see. And, yes, I am here, but—“

“You must be going.” Nellie sighed.

“Right you are.” He smiled and put his cowboy hat back on.

Nellie folded her arms in front of her. “Will I see you again?”

“Someday. Might be any day. Be well, Miss Nellie Long.” And off he went down the street.

“Goodbye!” she called to him. Then, she muttered to herself, “I did see that green bird.”

Nellie turned and headed back to the patio.