Birdie
The morning started as any other Saturday had. “Bye mom! I’m going to Jimmy’s!” Timmy called out. “Okay Tim, Just be careful!” The boy had already run out the door with it closing behind him. “It looks like we’re all alone babe.” Timmy’s father called to Tim’s mother. She turned to face him; he was lying on the bed shirtless with the bed sheet draped over his waist. He then patted the empty space beside him as he looked at her with hungry eyes. She made her way back to the bed then let her robe fall to the floor.
Timmy rolled up Jimmy’s driveway before coming to a stop. He propped the kickstand then hopped off.
!Crash!
The bike fell to its side (as it always had) he stopped to look, then rolled his eyes before continuing for the door.
!Ding, dong!
Nothing, so he pushed the doorbell again.
! Ding, dong!
The squawk of Jimmy’s parrot hit Timmy’s ear before his eyes saw the bird in Jimmy’s bedroom window. This startled him; “It’s open!” the parrot squawked. Timmy tried the handle and sure enough it was unlocked. He opened the door and was accosted by an odd smell that wafted heavily in the air. There was no sign that anyone was awake which was odd considering by now this house would be filled with the sound of music. A horrid mash-up of Jimmy’s grunge and ska paired with Mrs. Glen’s electrically vibrant cumbia. There was no smell of bacon and eggs or coffee from the kitchen or the perfume smell of body wash floating on the steam escaping from the bathroom. It was just a quiet and odd smelling house.
Timmy’s instincts screamed to leave but his curiosity urged him to push forward. “Jimmy!?” he called out. “Mrs. Glen, Mr. Glen, Sarah!? Hello, anybody home?” The only sound was his heart beat then the soft click clack of the parrot’s talons on the hallway tile floor. “They’re DEAD! ALL DEAD!” the parrot squawked. “What did you say P-P-Polly?” Timmy asked with an unsteady voice. “You’re NEXT! YOU’RE NEXT!” the parrot yelled with his feathers raised and flared before charging at the boy.
Timmy ran out of the house to his bike. He stood over it before lifting it to its wheels, mounting it then riding off. Only, he forgot to lift his kickstand causing his pedal to jam into it and flipping him over his handlebars. Lying in a dazed state, the boy did not see the parrot rushing toward him. The bird attacked the boy swiftly and mercilessly; using its beak and talons to slash and gouge at him. It used its wings to attack him from above, pecking at any opening in Timmy’s defense. The boy yelled for help as he shielded himself from his attacker and help did come, but not for Timmy. !A flock of birdies made up of different species, shapes and sizes flew out of the house creating a swarm above it so vast it blocked out the sun! The last thing the boy saw was the swarm descending on him.
Where were the neighbors you ask? Where they dead too? You may be pondering, well, they were all at home watching from their windows or trying desperately to block out Timmy’s shrill pleads for help; scared out of their wits and powerless to help him.