Should I Jump From Here

                                                  Should I Jump From Here?

                                                        By Daryl Campbell



         “Should I jump from here? It's not that high.” Charley whispers.

         Charley spreads his red feathered wings and bends his thin, yellow legs. Taking a deep breath, he jumps from the first board of the fence and hits the ground.

         “Guess I'll have to get higher.”

         Higher up isn't where he wants to be, but tomorrow, he'll do it.

         Charley's up early the next morning, ready to find the right spot to jump from. He checks fences, small trees, even a few bushes before he sees what he needs, a black mailbox sitting on a wood post. It's a little high, but he's ready.

         “Don't look down.” Charley's sharp claws grip the post.

         It's a long climb and he inches up the post slowly. He gets to the box, uses his orange beak to grab the top, and pulls himself up.

         “This might be too high. Should I jump from here?” he asks.

         Charley closes his eyes, imagining the jump. A breeze blows him off balance and he grabs tight to the mail box. He's not ready yet, maybe in a few minutes.

         “I can do this. Mom says Cardinals shouldn't be scared,” he tells himself.

         Charley stands up straight. Looking down, he swallows a lump in his throat.

         “One, two...”

         He can't jump.

         “Okay, I can do this.” He bends his legs. “ONE, TWO, THREE!”

         Charley leaps from the mail box. His wings grab the air and slow the fall, but not enough to keep him up. He lands on the ground, tumbles through the grass, and jumps to his feet.

         “Not high enough.” Wings fold across his chest. “I'll have to get higher.”

         Charley isn't happy with the thought of climbing higher. The mail box is as high as he's ever been.

         “Tomorrow then.” He looks at the mail box. “Tomorrow, I'll get as high as I can. Maybe the day after tomorrow.” He runs home to eat.

         After two days of talking himself into climbing higher than the mailbox, Charley goes out to find the right spot.

         He decides to try a tree today.

         The first tree is too high with its limbs swaying in the wind.

         The second tree has pine cones dangling from thin branches. They look like they might break.

         The third tree has thick limbs and doesn't shake in the wind. It's high, but this tree will do.

         Gathering his courage, Charley climbs the tree. The sun's shining bright above him when he gets where he needs to be. Looking down, he feels a little dizzy. If he can jump, he'll be able to fly and once he flies, nothing will scare him.

         Charley stands on the branch for a long time. He knows he can do it, but can't make the jump. He takes a few, deep breaths and bends his legs.

         “What ya doin'?” a sweet voice says.

         He turns to see a tan cardinal land at the end of the branch. She's beautiful and just about his age. He blushes, hoping it can't be seen on his black face.

         “I'm getting ready to fly,” Charley answers.

         “First time?” she asks. “Mine was last week. First one's hardest.”

         “Well,” he pauses, “it's not my first jump, but I haven't been able to fly yet.”

         “Can I watch? I'd love someone to fly with.” The sun twinkles in her eyes.

         Charley thinks for a minute. “Sure, I can use someone to talk to. My name's Charley.”

         “I'm Monica.”

         “Hello, Monica.”

         “Hello, Charley.” She giggles, flaps her wings, and lifts off the branch. “Remember to glide a little before moving your wings.”

         Monica spreads her wings and glides down in a wide circle before returning to the branch.

         “See, it's easy?” She lands.

         “I see.” He's uneasy about jumping from this high up.

         “Ready?” Monica asks.

         “Should I jump from here?” The question is meant for him.

         “Of course,” she answers.

         Charley spreads his wings, bends his shaking legs, and leans forward. He doesn't fall though, his claws grip the limb tight. Turning to look at Monica, he smiles and tries again. Bending a little more, he takes a deep breath and jumps.

         The wind blows in Charley's face as he rolls to the left. Instinct takes over and his wings bend and catch the wind. The ground's getting closer and he flaps hard, switching the angles of his wings. It's then that he feels it. He doesn't hit the ground, but flies around the tree, making sure Monica sees him in all his glory.

         “Good job,” Monica claps her wings.

         “That was easy.” Charley returns to the branch.

         “I told you. I was scared on my jumps, but you were brave,” she tells him.

         “It wasn't anything.” But it was.

         “Let's fly through the woods. There's lots of neat trees I can show you.” Monica flies off the branch.

         “I guess, but I have to be home before dark.”

         “Me too. Mom has a special dinner tonight,” she says.

         The two birds fly through the woods. Charley makes a few mistakes, falling a bit here and there, but he's good. He follows his new friend through the trees, playing tag and hide and seek. He's sad when the day finally ends and they return to the tree where they first met.

         “I had fun today,” Charley tells her.

         “Me too,” Monica agrees.

         “I have to get home, but I'll be here tomorrow morning,” he makes sure she knows.

         Monica smiles. “See you in the morning then. I wanna fly into the mountains tomorrow.” She points to rock walls rising above the trees. “In the morning.” She jumps from the branch.

         Charley smiles, watching his Monica fly away. Tomorrow he's going into the mountains. He can do it, tomorrow. He knows he can.