THE BLACKBIRDS

Clara and I had been best friends forever. She wasn’t

your average 11 year old either. Clara was always

drifting off into her own little world and only if you

were lucky would you get to join her. Apart from her

mum she was also the only girl with copper red hair and

sea green eyes in the whole town so she was original in

every way possible. Every day after school we walked

home together but instead of going straight inside like I

did she would sit by the big yellow barn on her farm and

just think. I used to watch her from my kitchen window

while I made peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. One

day after school we walked home and as usual I went

and made my sandwich and she sat outside thinking.

But today I decided I would join her, so I made another

sandwich and brought it out.

“Mind if I join?” I asked as I approached her.

“Sure, is that for me?” She replied gesturing towards

the extra sandwich.

“Yeah I thought you might get hungry,” I said. And

then it was silent for a long time. I watched her

concentrate on the sky for a while but she wasn’t just

looking up she was looking at an angle.

“What are you looking at?” I asked.

“See those blackbirds in the tree there,” she said.

“What about them?” I asked.

“One day I’m going to fly away just like they do every

night while we’re asleep.” She stated.

“Will you ever come back?” I asked hoping for a yes.

“I don’t know Benjy, maybe,” she answered and

skipped away into her own home.

The door chimed as a woman entered the bar.

“What’ll it be?” the man behind the counter asked. His

voice was deep and rough and the woman couldn’t help

but think she knew him from somewhere.

“Uh, just a beer thanks,” she replied. While waiting

she looked around the room. The bar seemed quiet

for a Saturday night. Apart from the occasional clink

of a mug as it hit the table it was nearly silent. The

woman listened to the soft hum of the jukebox in the

background playing old 90’s songs long forgotten and

the static from the TV perched high above the counter.

“Clara Wilson,” the man said as he placed a mug on the

counter.

“Benjamin Parker” she said and paused for a moment,

“I never thought I’d see you again,” she finished.

“You’re telling me!” he replied.

“So how could you tell it was me?” she asked

inquisitively.

“Are you kidding? There’s only one person I’ve ever

met with the same copper red hair and sea green eyes

you have!” he replied.

“Well there’s only one person who would still play this

old 90’s stuff,” she joked.

“What brings you back here anyways?” he asked.

“Well, I guess I just decided it was time to fly home,”

she replied taking a sip from the mug.