Rosanna’s feeder hung stationary against a marshy grey sky but no birds came. The neighbouring garden; however, separated by a red cedar fence attracted all manner of birds. Swooping from great heights to land on a bird table in the centre, blackbirds, robins and even the odd green parrot would jostle for position as they pecked, squawked and nibbled their way through countless supplies of bird feed.
Rosanna watched the scene with sadness, wondering why the birds remained absent from her side. It seemed so unfair. Her neighbours were a couple with three lively kids and a dog while she was old and alone. She’d imagined the birds would be company of sorts, but perhaps it was her loneliness that put them off somehow. Nevertheless, every week she would empty and refill the feeder with seeds, in the hope that the birds might eventually have a change of heart.
One day, Rosanna heard a little whimper coming from the back of the garden so she ambled down to have a look. There, snuggled together on an old sweatshirt of her husband’s was a tabby cat and five black kittens, each mottled with white. When they saw Rosanna, they lifted their little heads and mewed in harmony. Rosanna laughed and gathered them up in her apron. And from that day she never felt lonely again.
This post was written for Sunday Photo Fiction
Flotsam and Jetsam 
That was so sad and so sweet! Loved it.
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Thanks, Pamela 🙂
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Sweet tale. Funny how we both integrated the absence of birds and the presence of cats this week. Well done.
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Thanks, Graham. Just about to read yours.. I have a slight soft spot for cats!
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Ah, what a lovely tale! Compnay for her and she found out why the birds weren’t eating in her garden. Lovely take on the prompt 🙂
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Thanks, Lynn 🙂
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My pleasure 🙂
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Aww that’s sweet. Sadness leading to happiness.
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Ah, this is a sweet story and portrayal of this lonely, older lady.
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Thanks, misskzebra 🙂
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Neatly built tale, Mary.
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Nice story and glad she found company in the end. I do hope the cats don’t start venturing next door to get the birds once they grow up though! Well written.
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Absolutely delightful!
Visit Keith’s Ramblings
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Thanks, Keith!
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It’s sad the birds never came to her yard. Perhaps the neighbours had the equivalent of ‘bird crack’ in their feeder. I’m happy your main character found the cats. She won’t be lonely and they also need her help. Nice write!
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