Mall Birds
By M. L. Ritcey
Sunday, October 23, 2011, 7:15 PM
This cool fall day as I walk to work I see the large
flocks of fluffy brown sparrows, they live in the trees at the mall.
They swoop down to get a bite. Then fly back up to the trees to hide
till they see someone come again. Always hoping for a dropped bit of
food or a crumb of some kind. The children carrying popcorn need to
hold fast to the red stripped box or the hungry birds will fly down and
eat from it. Not so much the ice cream cones. That may be to cold to
bite and runaway with. I see the small brown birds perched on top of
the vending machines hoping for a dropped bag of chips or
cookies. The new nut seller seems to have a good flock hiding behind
him in the tree. The few hardy outside booths are a special place for
the feathered friends. They hope for a crumb thrown their way. The
salesperson may have taken a fancy to the little sparrows. So the
sparrows return the attention.
They hide under the shrubs trying not to be
seen hoping to blend in since they are both a shade of brown. The
sparrows are a different shade of brown but the blend in
well. The singing sparrows create a sound that can be heard
up one path and down another. It's like they sing for us, our own
concert. One or two little fellows get the nerve to fly in
open doors of the stores to see what people are doing and
what we offer that brings the people . Maybe begging for a nibble of
lunch. Or just to look around. Just wondering what is inside the
places the humans seem to like. The bright shiny crystal attracts them
in my store. Maybe they are starting their holiday shopping. The bold
colors may attract them thinking they can get a bit of string or
cloth for their nests to make it a rainbow of colors. Or
just to keep warm through the winter. Each stored offers them a
different view.
The winter decoration are up so the sparrows have more
places to hide. The evergreen wreaths with bows of gold and red
are a favorite. They look great, the little fellows singing away
all in a row heads held high. Not our Christmas Carols but
their own tunes. It may not be a tune we know but we love it just the
same. If it's cold they fluff up their feathers and look bigger than
they are. All they need are little colored scarfs, stocking caps and
mittens.
At night when you would think they would
be asleep they still sit in the trees chattering till the
mall closes. Some time their singing is so loud it's funny. The
serenade seems nice and keep thoughts of to much work at bay. I
think the mall lights keep them up late. Or maybe they just
don't want to miss anything. Seeing all the folks hussling by with
their hands full of brightly colored bags and boxes. Hearing all
the voices and the different languages spoken. They love to sit and
watch the comings and goings of people laughing and talking.
Children asleep in a carriage or riding on the horse or car , rides for
a quarter. The laughter of a child's first ride rings through the air.
The look on a parents face remembering their first ride. Up and down on
the horse, feet in the stirrups and holding the rains for dear
life. Do you remember your ride for a quarter? Then there is silence,
the lights are out for the night.
I often wonder what they think of
all the people going about their shopping. Carrying the many
bags from the different stores, full of goods they have bought.
The birds don't need pocketbooks, new boots, crystal, diamonds or
jeans. So they sit there seeing all the people laden down with
bags . The people are there rain or shine, so are the birds.
The birds must laugh when they see us
trying to find a place to park on a holiday weekend or any weekend for
that matter. They have all the free parking a tree can offer. They sit
and watch us drive around and around till they get dizzy. No worry of
getting a ticket for parking in the wrong place for them . They don't
even wait in line to get in or out of the mall. No traffic light
stops them, red, green or yellow they just fly by. Happy to leave a
calling card on a roof top or window every now and again. I can just
imagine them sitting there laughing at us all.
On black Friday the sparrows wake up to
shoppers looking for bargains to hide till the holiday comes.
They wonder why the shoppers are here. It's midnight and there is
turkey and pie at home. Football games to watch and family to see. The
sparrows have their families around them.
Every year new plants are grown and
tended by mall staffers. I wonder if the sparrows ask each other
what will be new this year. The birds get new hiding places each
spring. Tall leafy green grasses swaying in the wind,
lovely multi colored flowers to see and smell. Huge brightly
colored pots filled with brilliant colored plants to fly
through. And best of all green ornamental grass to play in. The
birds can catch a ride in the wind on the stalks of the grass. Or
catch the dew off the blooms in the morning for a cool
drink.
There are new food venders to see
and new treats to try. And best of all the children with their
parents who drop a morsel for the feathered friends to enjoy. Sometimes
the children just want to see the cute fluffy brown birds run out from
under the shrubs and grab the treat only to hide again. The little puff
balls think if they stand still no one will see them. They shiver and
shake thinking we can't see them . But we can and are delighted to
catch a glimpse.
I do believe the birds enjoy the running
around and hiding from the folks so they can see all the visitors to
the mall. And interact with them in their own birdy way. We all enjoy
the interaction and It sooths the shopper and the sales help to
know that the beautiful singing sparrows hide in our trees and
treat us to a very special concert every day. The sounds that are so
good we stop and listen now and again.
Next time you're near a mall check and see
what kind of birds are hiding in the trees. Listen and hear their songs
enjoying the concert free of charge. Maybe even drop a crumb and watch
to see who comes for it.