Cycling home the other day,
I realised I’d developed a puncture in my rear tyre.
Stopping by the side of the road I looked up to see a flock of seagulls flying past.
To my surprise one of them parted company with the rest, flew down and perched on my top tube.
“Hello,” greeted the young bird, “Looks like you could do with some assistance. May I help?”
I gratefully accepted his offer and between us we made good the repair.
During this time he told me of his life.
How, during a terrible storm, he has lost both parents and was now an orphan.
I explained to him that I worked as a volunteer at the local bird sanctuary and that, coincidentally, there was a female bird of the same species who’d recently fledged her chicks and was looking for a young bird to foster. I said I could put him in touch with her if he liked.
“Would you really do that for me?”
he asked.
“Why of course” I replied. “After all, one good tern deserves a mother.”