Tuesday 18 November 2014

The Quality of Mercy is not Strange

Writing Club
March 20, 2012
Prompt: “The quality of mercy is not strange”

Bill stood pontifically over the small bird.  It was a quandary.  Should he snap the little thing’s neck?  Another bird had struck the kitchen window again, cracking the glass.  Feathers flapped frantically as the sparrow struggled to lift from the ground.  It was evident that its wing was broken, bent backwards as it was.  Three year old Sarah, sat cross -legged at upon the porch watching, her bright eyes awaiting his action.  He turned from his daughter to the bird.  It would be more merciful to give the avian a quick end.  It would never fly again. 
“Daddy, can you fix it?”  He heard from behind him.  It wouldn’t matter that the wing would not mend.  When he turned to face her, his gaze fell upon her sling.  Her cast came off in two weeks.  Sarah would not understand no matter what he did.
Scooping the bird up in his hands, he comforted her “See there, Daddy will take him to the vet.  Fetch me a box, honey.”
As the girl rose and crossed the porch, he tripped over the garden hose and fell. 

There was a small crunch.   It was probably for the best anyways.

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