Chapter 4

Being that there was so much available to eat, Hector found he had more time to do other things like visiting Maria or going out exploring the area in and around their winter quarters. There was much to see there and the entire land was much different from the place where Hector had been born. New things always excited Hector and he became very excited one day when he landed on the an open window sill of an adobe house and looked inside to see a strange multicolored bird sitting on a perch in some sort of cage. “Are you okay?” Hector asked.

“See, I’m fine,” the bird answered. He was bigger than a Crow even, but it bothered Hector that the bird was trapped in a cage.

“Do you like it in there?” Hector asked.

“See,” the bird answered. “it is very nice here. The view is good, and there is much to eat.”

“Who put you in there?” Hector asked.

“I was born in a cage,” the bigger bird replied. “It is how I have always lived.”

“Do you like it there?”

“See, it is very nice here.”

“Have you ever tried to escape?”

“See, I get out all the time, but I always come back.”

“Why?” Hector asked with confusion, “why would you come back?”

“Because,” the bird answered. “I do not know anyone who does not live in a cage. I wouldn’t know where to go, or what to do if I did not return to this cage so when they let me out I always return, no?”

“I don’t know, I think I would rather live out here.”

“Wait ‘til the rains come,” the bird replied. “When the spring rains come you will fly away from here like all the others who live outside. Me, I will stay dry inside.”

What’s your name?” Hector asked.

“Carlos,” the bird answered, “but the people, they sometimes call me Polly.”

“Why do they call you Polly?”

“I donno, I guess for the same reason they’re always asking if I want a cracker.”

“What’s a cracker?”

“I donno what it is, but it’s not very good. You probably wouldn’t want no cracker either. What is you name young Robin?”

“You know what kind of bird I am?” Hector asked. “How do you know that?”

“The Robins come every year. Then you all leave. You are just like them, but what I don’t know is, what is your name?”

“I’m sorry, my name is Hector. Ah, I’ll have to be going soon.”

“It is good to meet you, Hector. I hope you will come visit me again soon.”

“It’s good to meet you too, Carlos. I’ll come back again tomorrow. Bye.”

“Adios,” Carlo said. “See you tomorrow, Hombre.”

Hector flew back to where the other Robins were staying as quickly as he could. He was excited about meeting Carlos and wanted to tell everyone about the big bird he had found living in a cage. Maria was the first bird he told about his new found friend. “Really,” she asked, “you say he likes living in a cage?”

“That’s what he said,” Hector replied.

“No way would I like living in a cage,” Octavo said. “I like being free.”

“And you say he was lots of different colors?” Maria asked. “What kind of bird was he?”

“He didn’t say,” Hector answered.

“Was he a Crow?” Octavo asked. “I’ve heard that people sometimes put Crows in cages.”

“No, he wasn’t a Crow. I’m not sure what kind of bird he was. He was lots of different colors and his beak was hooked on the end.”

“Let’s go ask Dad,” Octavo said. “He might know. He knows all about all kinds of birds.”

Hector, Maria, Octavo, and the other young Robins all went looking for Hector’s father. It only took a few minutes before they found him sitting on a wire overlooking some Ducks that were swimming in a pond. “You say he was bigger than a Crow, lots of different colors, had a hooked bill, and lived in a cage?” Hector’s father asked.

“That’s right,” Hector answered. “He said he liked living in the cage.”

“I’m not sure, but I suspect he’s a Parrot. Lots of people keep Parrots in cages like that,” Hector’s father said. “Why don’t you ask him when you go back to visit him tomorrow?”

“You mean we can go to visit him?” Octavo asked.

“Sure you can,” their father agreed. “Just don’t go inside the house where the humans might catch you and put you in a cage.”

“Cool!” Hector chirped, “We’ll all go right after breakfast. How’s that?”

“Sounds good to me,” Maria replied.

“Me too,” Octavo agreed. “Everybody meet beside the lake tomorrow morning and Hector can show us all the way.

All the young Robins were waiting near the lake when Hector, Octavo, and Maria arrived the next morning. They were all very curious about the strange multicolored bird in the cage, and could hardly wait to go see him. “Is everybody ready?” Hector asked.

“Ready!” they all shouted.

“Well follow me,” Hector shouted as he jumped into the air to take flight. All the young Robins took to flight behind him as they followed Hector to meet his new friend.