a short story by
KENNY B. HARRIS
Once upon a time, there was a little boy named Red...
5
Little Red is, it is said, to be the very best
with
fire
in
any
circus
in
the
entire
world. People come from miles around just to see the young boy perform.
6
7
Aside from his parent’s black cat and a few broken toys, the only friend poor little Red ever had was a red bird that had been following his family’s circus around.
8
9
Red enjoyed being in the spotlight a great deal, but because the circus was continually
traveling
it
was
very
difficult
for him to make any true friends.
10
11
On a particularly lonely day while Red was wandering through the forest just outside his family’s circus, he saw the red bird sitting in a tree. He quickly decided to go back and fetch a cage, in order to catch the bird and keep it with him as company.
12
13
He brought out all his old friends and decided to make a meal of mud pies for the occasion.
When
the
meal
was
finally
ready
he began to force feed the caged bird until something began to happen...
14
15
Red
screamed
as
he
saw
his
reflection
in the empty spoon that he had fed the bird with. He could see his own face begin to twist and distort into an ugly mess...
16
17
In desperation, Red quickly made his
way
to
the
kitchen
to
find
something
that might please the bird. He scrambled to retrieve the box of his favorite cereal from the shelf and promptly returned to the caged red bird.
18
19
Again Red attempted to force feed the bird, causing his face to become even more disfigured.
In
desperation,
Red
began
to
cry.
He clumsily opened the cage door and the frightened
bird
flew
out
the
window
and
into a tree in Red’s front yard.
20
21
On it’s way to the tree’s nearest branch the bird noticed a fresh worm crawling free from the earth. Seeing the bird’s interest, little Red quickly grabbed the wriggling pink worm to feed the bird.
22
23
As soon as the last bit of slimy, pink worm disappeared into the bird’s beak Red began to feel his face changing again, only this time it was changing back into place.
24
25
From that day on Red kept a can of worms ready and waiting for the bird and every
day
the
bird
would
appear
and
fill
up on the worms that Red brought. In return the bird would keep Red company for as long as Red desired.
26
27
THE END