Bert & Dolly
by Susan McGunnigle Condon
Bert and Dolly were two sparrows who lived in a bird house in the Condons' backyard - the white house with the blue roof. This was their second year in this particular house and they loved it. They hurried back from Florida in March to make sure no other birds had taken up residence in their favorite house. It was just as they had left it - sweeped and clean except for some good twigs and pieces of straw they left for their new nest. The paint had worn off a little over the winter, but hey, you can't have everything.
They spent the first few weeks making their nest strong and cuddly for the eggs that Dolly would lay. Dolly sat on the four eggs keeping them warm and safe until they hatched. Sometimes a bigger bird would come near their nest trying to steal their eggs, but Bert would chase them off. The big day came and the four eggs hatched and four tiny birds emerged, two boys and two girls. Dolly was so excited. Bert bragged to the other birds in the yard.
Bert brought worms and food back to the nest to feed the hungry birds. Sometimes the people in the house threw out bread and the babies loved it - it was just a hop, skip and a jump away from their birdhouse which made this location very desirable, real estate wise.
 One night after dinner, the babies asked their parents: "the people in the house are so nice the way they give us bread to eat". "Yes, they are nice" answered Bert "but never get too close to them - they are not to be trusted - There is a pecking order here in this yard and you must learn it if you are to live a long life - If bread is thrown out, and I fly down to eat it, I must fly away very quickly if a bigger bird comes along, like a blue jay, and the blue jay flies away when a big black crow comes along and the crow flies away when the really big seagull comes along. Ignore the squirrels - they are just nuisances and will not hurt you. Sometimes a fox or a cat or a dog will come along and all the birds leave in terror. Although, that little white poodle in the house that they call Lulu, couldn't hurt anything, but we fly away anyway just so she can keep her self-respect. But, the scariest creature of all is the human. Every living thing runs away in fear when the human appears."
One little bird asked "But the humans are the ones that feed us the bread" - "Right", answered Dolly, "but they can turn on you in an instant. I have seen that human in that house shoot a squirrel with his BB gun just because the squirrel was eating the seed that he had put out for him. Is that inconsistent or not? Once I saw him feed a deer an apple, but rumor has it around the yard that he takes a gun out every January and shoots deer. I cringe just when I think of it. If he could do that to a big deer, imagine what he could do to a little bird like you".
The little birds sat on their warm nest nibbling on bread and thinking about this. They were learning from their parents how to survive in this yard. The littlest one asked: "Do you think I can beat those birds back next year and get that cool green house next to us for my nest?" Her father replied: "It could happen, Binky, just never give up hope."
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Artwork By: Molly Condon
(February 2006)
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| Courtesy of: Shelter Island Reporter |
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The Midnight Visitor
by Caryn Condon - September 15, 1982
 The clock struck twelve midnight. The usual clanging sounds did not disturb my placid slumber. I lay dreamily in my small white bed, without a worry. At the age of four my dreams seemed as fairytales and my life as a dream.
A strong hand touched my back gently. I remained motionless, unaware of the familiar stranger's touch. In an attempt to awaken me, the hand rolled me over. My eyes opened and I say my father's blurry image before me. "Caryn, do you want to take a walk with me?" "Ok" I said weakly yet willingly.
I knew where I was going and I felt neither disappointed nor upset to be awakened. My father took me up in his arms and sat me on his shoulders. My head rested patiently on his as we headed for the front door. We were very quiet so that we wouldn't wake up the other members of the family. I felt fortunate to be one of the many chosen to take a midnight walk with Daddy.
My father ducked as we reached the door and I smiled to myself as the brisk night air hit my face. I breathed the fresh air deeply.
The two of us automatically looked up at the billions of glowing stars in the clear, night sky. For a while not a word was said, until questions poured into my head. I began with simple ones like, "What is a star?" but I received answers far from simple. These enquiries and responses continued for what seemed to be hours.
I was quiet, and now all I could hear was the crickets and the distant traffic. I felt the steady beat of my father's black shoes on the sidewalk and was beginning to show obvious signs of being tired.
I saw my house up ahead and I knew that my walk with Daddy was coming to an end. My Father walked with the same steady pace as we neared the front door. He ducked and we went inside. The atmosphere was much different than that of the outside but it felt cozy.
My Dad went into my room and to my bed where he lifted me off his sore shoulders and kissed me goodnight. He put me back in my bed and turned out the light. "I love you Daddy", I said, but the door was already closed.
In a few moments the clock struck one. The usual clanging sounds did not disturb my placid slumber. I lay dreamily in my small white bed, without a worry.
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| fox behind ballyvalloo before snow storm |
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