The Feeder

The Feeder

Nancy heard the loud bang, and then rough guffaws outside and went to the door. Her husband and son, were laughing, looking toward the bird feeder. She could just see the last tail disappear up the tree.

“What is wrong with you two!” she yelled, angrily.

“They got what they deserved.” Kevin said.

“Those stupid squirrels steal all our bird food. I’m not buying bird seed to feed squirrels!” her husband Jim added, huffily.

“First of all, I buy the bird seed, and second I know perfectly well you two don’t give a hoot about the birds, or the squirrels for that matter. It’s my feeder, my birds, and my squirrels! Leave them alone!” she stomped back in the house.

Kevin turned to his father, “That was fun. Want to go to the park and shoot some hoops before she thinks up some work for us to do?”

“You’re on!” Dad said and they quickly jumped in his truck, calling Nancy on the way, as if they just remembered they ‘forgot” to tell her they were going.

Nancy put her phone down and went back to the door. A couple squirrels and birds were just starting to come back. She grabbed another big scoop of sunflower seeds and headed out.

As she walked up to the feeder, a few more birds flew close and she could see squirrels starting back down out of the tree. She refilled the feeder and started spreading the seeds.

“I’m sorry,” Nancy said quietly, “They get rowdy when they’re together. I think it’s a guy thing. I have some bread crumbs inside I’ve been saving, I can go get them!”

“Thanks,” said the big gray squirrel, as more birds and squirrels gathered.

“You’re welcome,” Nancy said, smiling at her longtime friends.