Beth (part 1)

Beth

(Part one)

Beth woke as the rising sun began to creep onto her closed eye lids. She wiped them with the back of her hand and yawned. ‘I’m gonna have to get some curtains!’ she thought to herself. She closed them again and listened to Harvey, her blue and grey budgerigar, chirp and sing in such a happy tone, welcoming the day. She smiled, loving how her newly purchased and joyful roommate was by the noises he was making. She had gotten him to cheer up Marge, her other, green and yellow budgie, in the hope that they would mate and multiply.

Harvey was nothing like Marge. She was sultry and distant, depressed even, whilst he was more upbeat and loved life.

To Beths surprise, Marge opened her beak and the two began to sing harmoniously. Their tones together, reminded her of a rainforest. Even with her eyes still closed, Beth was beaming with pride. It was the first time Marge made a noise since the first day she inherited her.

Marge originally came from the neighbour next door. Her family were evicted for not paying their rent for over three months. They lived in a two bed apartment, whilst Beth was in a studio. She could never understand how a mother, father, their four kids and the grandparents fitted in, what she believed, to be a tiny apartment. Marge belonged to the grandmother, Maria, who didn’t want her taken and be destroyed. She used such a strong word because euthanasia didn’t sit well with her when it came to her bambino.

Beth felt so awkward when Maria knocked on her door and begged her to take poor Marge. Now, Beth was awkward as she wasn’t one for pets. She was scared of the commitment they carried after her divorce left her scarred. One thing she knew though, was to never say no to a fiery Latina woman on HRT. That was how Beth acquired the beautiful, vibrant Margery.

After two weeks, Beth decided her new angel needed some company. She didn’t have it in her to watch her on her perch, looking so lost and lonely anymore.

When she finally lifted her head, there was both of them, standing side by side, on a wooden stick that spanned the width of the cage. They looked so happy together as if they were old friends.

As she turned to look at the clock, Beth saw it was only 6:15. She had a decision to make, either do her usual workout, or bask in the brilliance of the idea to add Harvey to her ever growing family. She decided to pick up the book on the little table beside her futon and be serenaded.

As she flicked through, ‘budgerigars for dummies’, to where she left off, Beth looked towards her new clan and smiled with glee.