by Wendy Roth

Created on: July 03, 2007

Do I belong?

As I sat and watched Mother get ready, I wondered why she never got me ready. I know I don't look like everyone else, but she could still treat me the same.

"Calvin, come on!" Mother shouted. "And tell Louise to hurry up to! You are both going to be late!"
"Coming," came the reply.

Mother glared at me. Oops. She turned away. I looked into the mirror. Silly, silly me, I thought to myself. Looking at myself, I wished Mother would take me out. If Mother took me out, I would be able to be free. Feel the wind in my...

I turned my head round, quickly. Mother was shouting at me now. Mother walked away. What had I done? I asked myself. Glaring back at the mirror,silly you! Just chatting away to your self, I thought.

The door slammed. They were gone. Mother. Calvin. Louise. Gone.

I don't know how long it was before Mother came back. I looked out the window. Gosh, it's such a lovely day, I thought. Mother walked in.
"Gosh, it's stuffy in here." Mother always talked to herself. It was as if I wasn't there. Mother started walking towards me. "Now, your turn".

I started jumping about, although I didn't have much room. I started crying out. Not scared, but happy.
"Alright, alright", Mother kept saying.
I felt her warm hands on my body. She held onto me tight. Mother carried me over to the other side of the room. I sat and watched.

I felt a cool breeze. Mother had forgot she left the window open. She never did that. I watched her. Mother walked into the kitchen. It's now or never, I thought. I lifted my head up high.
I don't belong here, I thought. I never have. I don't even look like my family.

I went for it. I took off. I could feel the wind. I could feel the sun, the warmth, all over my body. I'm free!
"Peter! No come back!" I heard Mother screaming.
I just kept going and going. In the distance I heard the slamming of the car door. Mother was coming. I just kept going and going.

After a while, I stopped to rest. Some others came to rest with me. WOW! they looked like me! They were all "talking" like me!

"Hello." I said. "Can you please help me? Do I belong?"
"Yes", they said. "You belong".
I looked at them. There body was the same as mine. They had the same shaped eyes as me and mouth. Although they weren't the same colour as me, I belonged.

I spread my green coloured wings, searched the area with my eyes and took off. I could feel the wind through my feathers, the sun warm my body. I was free. And what mattered most was, this is where I belong. In the sky, outside. I am free.

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