The moon shines bright,
as bright as all the stars.
The moon’s crescent shape
makes it look like a smile.
Saying, “Goodnight, my love, goodnight.
Sweet dreams, my love, sweet dreams.
I’ll be here all night, my love, all night.
I’ll be here when the sun comes out to wake you up.
So sweet dreams, my love, goodnight!”
This story was one that I wrote in high school and was based off of the picture attached. I’ve recently made a few edits, but it’s one of the few stories I’m proud of. Happy to share with whoever reads this blog! Enjoy!
The Bird in the Attic
It was springtime and the breeze was blowing, but the people who lived in this stuffy, old apartment couldn’t tell how beautiful it was outside because the windows were always shut tight. I was just a bird living in the attic on wallpaper, staring out the window, and dreaming of the day when I could fly like a real bird. I wanted so much to see the world and be free because I knew there was more to me than sticking to wallpaper. I had a purpose in life to fulfill and this was not it.
Life on the wall felt like a waste. I remember getting so excited every time someone would walk into the room. My heart would start pounding and I wanted to scream, “Hey, over here. Open the window!” I would come to life every time a person was present, but when they would leave, and the window was still shut tight, my heart would sink. I yearned to feel the breeze just once, but I never did.
Then one day the family who lived with me was going to leave for spring break. They were going to be out of the house for two weeks.
One of the members of the family who lived with me was a young girl named Scarlet Freeburg and she loved me dearly. She was the only one who knew I was alive and the only one who knew the truth about who I was.
Just before the family left on vacation Scarlet got her father, Mr. Freeburg, to go up to the attic. Scarlet walked to the window and stood next to it in protest.
“Why did you bring me up here, honey? We have to go” Mr. Freeburg insisted.
Scarlet said, “Open the window, please Daddy. The white birds need to have air.”
“What white birds?” Mr. Freeburg asked as he looked around the room.
“The ones on the wall!” Scarlet insisted.
After a few moments of resistance from Mr. Freeburg he was finally convinced and he opened the window. I was free to do as I pleased. I couldn’t believe it. My heart fluttered faster than ever. I could feel the cool breeze flooding into the room. I felt more alive than I ever had. Suddenly my wings pealed off of the wall and my body followed. I was flying! I was so happy that I was laughing inside. This was the greatest day of my life. “Finally, finally, finally” I chirped as I flapped my wings!
I flew out the window as fast as I could. I thought about how Scarlet must have known how badly I wanted my freedom. She knew that I needed a chance to learn how to spread my wings and fly, as every bird deserves.
I traveled the world over the course of those two weeks. I went from New York to Connecticut. Then I went from Connecticut to Massachusetts, to Maine. I went to the Midwest and flew through open fields of grass and blue skies that lasted for miles.
Then I went to California, Oregon, and Washington. The sunny streets of California were so inviting and fun. I wanted to stay there.
In Washington the White House was so big. I admired its elegance. I hoped to be that elegant one-day. I noticed how many people there were in the world and everyone trying to get everywhere. I noticed all the cars that flooded the streets every day, the honking and the fast paced atmosphere. It was intriguing how no one really wanted to slow down.
Then I flew across the Atlantic Ocean and traveled to Europe. It was amazing! I couldn’t believe that I was flying free. I visited London, Germany, and France. I got to stand on top of the Swiss Alps. I felt the breeze run through my feathers as I stood on top of the Alps. I looked across the mountain range and felt strong. Then I flew to Italy and swam in the beautiful waters of Lake Garda. The water was as blue as the sky. I felt a chill run through my whole body. It felt so good to get wet. I was having so much fun that I forgot I had a home.
I realized that even though I was a bird, and I should be as free as one. I actually had a purpose where I was before and that purpose was to make people happy being on the wall. As long as I was happy where I was, then people would feel that joy and peace I had, and be that way too. Also, I didn’t want to worry my dear Scarlet. If I was not home, on the wall, when the Freeburgs got home then I would be in trouble and would have abused my privileges as part of the Freeburg family. I decided it was time to go.
I flew and soared through the skies one last time, across the Atlantic Ocean, and back to my little attic home. My wings gently pasted themselves to the wall and I eased back onto the wallpaper. I felt invigorated and at peace at the same time. I took a breath and let myself sink further into the wall than I ever had been. I felt happy and grateful.
I heard the door slam downstairs. There was shuffling of things and footsteps clomping up the stairs. Mr. Freeburg came into the attic and Scarlet was following close behind. Mr. Freeburg stopped in the middle of the room. It was silent. Then Scarlet looked at her father.
“What is it Daddy?” She asked.
He smiled softly, “I’m glad we left the window open. The room feels fresh and not quite as gloomy, but now that we are home I’m going to close it. I pay good money for our air-conditioning and I don’t want to waste it.”
I watched as Mr. Freeburg closed the window and then walked to the stairs. He called for Scarlet to come with him. Scarlet turned, looked at me, and we took a big breath together. Her eyes gleamed with pride and she smiled as she took her father’s hand. My adventure was over, but I will never forget it all began when someone left the window open.
The sunlight broke through the clouds one last time. Its rays surged through the sky. This form of sunlight contrasted with the stillness of the open field. Time stood still and a masterpiece that could only have been painted by God remained.
I stood alone in this open field that was filled with light and felt myself breathe. Life was my oxygen and all I had to do was allow it to fill me. Ego melted and beauty remained. The clouds seemed to roll in the light. Time stood still, but nature was in motion. Trumpets and soft violins made up the musical score for this masterpiece.
The world and my thoughts had taken on a stillness of their own. I listened to the musical score through the picture of peace that was painted in front of me. My feet planted on the path I felt God speak. “Everything will be okay, my dear. Everything is okay.” I took a breath. “Be here now” The picture of peace in front of me said. And so I was.
Nature moved me that night, not human will. For the first time I felt the ebb and flow of Mother Nature. This scene was the essence of harmony. Trees that stood firmly in the ground lined the field like pillars to a courtyard. The lush green grass stuck straight up like brush bristles and the light that broke through the soft clouds was the crown in the silky blue sky.
Nature took up it’s space with astounding glory. Nothing could compare. I felt small, and yet, I took up space. I felt the space I took up and it was enough. For the first time, the space I took up was enough. There was no war that raged inside. My heart did not ache. My mind did not whirl. My body was not tense. All was well. I was enough. The combination of the space that nature was naturally taking up and the space that I took up, in that moment, could only be described and summed up with a line from The Holy Bible. Genesis Chapter 1 verse 31, “And God saw everything that he had made, and, behold, it was very good.” Everything. Yes, everything. Breathe in. Breathe out. Breathe in and let peace be your smile.
The Sunset Tonight
When I saw the sunset tonight I felt like I could touch the sky. It glimmered and flickered and shined and I felt like I could be one with it. I felt at peace in the fire and ignited at the same time. I was crazy, I was wild, I was at home in myself and connected to my Maker. My heart was pumping with the bright, liquid red that the sun was spilling through the sky. That was the heat of love. My head was whirling with the delicious orange that was shining in the air. That was pure joy and contentment. My feet were dancing with the cotton candy pink clouds, the fiery yellow, and the warm breeze that circled through me and put the finishing touches on the gorgeous masterpiece that painted the sky.
When I saw the sunset tonight all rage and sadness fled from my being like wildfire. I could feel a full breath replace the negative. All I saw was good. It was as if God was saying, “My bright star, my dear child, don’t dismay. I promise everything will be alright. Trust in the brightness of Love. There is a bright future for you.”
When I saw the sunset tonight music was coursing through my veins. Passion was alive and well. Instead of dreaming about hearing “And the Oscar goes to…” I heard, “Thank you for your performance. I’m deeply touched.” Instead of imagining that I get a note in the mail that my book is on the bestseller list or “number one book in America.” I get a note that reads, “Dear Ms. Foster. I wanted to write to you and tell you how much this book means to me. It restored hope and goodness into my world that I never thought I’d have. Thank you.”
When I saw the sunset tonight it was as if I was looking at my insides. Every childlike desire that burned inside me was suddenly painted in the sky. Every color that was flickering inside was suddenly waving its banner through the air. I could see my passion, my power, my heart, my soul, and all I’m worth painted in the sky. I saw Freeing Beauty. The warm breeze gave me a big hug. It kissed my face and played with my hair. “Hello Freeing Beauty. I missed you.” Said the breeze and I in unison, as we laughed together. My soul was laughing, my heart was beaming, and my head was at peace with the world, and most importantly with itself.
When I saw the sunset tonight there was gratitude. There was wonder and awe. There was mystery, fantasy, a sense of hope, love, energy, and a kind of modern day real life magic that can only be seen and felt. I was deep in the throws of reality, and yet, lost in my own make believe world. Could this sky be real? Can these good feelings, this profound joy be real? Yes, it can. It was. The sky told me so just by being in front of me. It told me so because it was blowing it’s hot, majesty all over the sky and I was in love with it. And for that moment I was in love with the way things were. I didn’t get angry at the things that were not. I was in love with the stillness that I was experiencing in life. I was not feeling jealous of the hectic schedule I didn’t have. I was in love with who I was at that moment. I was not depressed by the perfect person I couldn’t be. Everything was beautiful and there was nothing else I wanted than to be enveloped in that big, gorgeous, radiating sky.
When I saw the sunset tonight Divine Inspiration wrapped me up in all Its glory and showed me how wonderful standing out can be. “No one is you and that is your power” Dave Grohl said. The sky seemed to remind me of that.
When I saw the sunset tonight I was grateful for the gift of life and nothing else had to be done, except to keep breathing.
Welcome to the Fostering Creation blog!
I’m so excited to have you along.
This blog serves as a space for me to share my writing, my voice with an active audience. This is a workshop space for me to create new stories, share old stories, and perhaps branch out to share other things that inspire me and my writing work.
If my audience is not so active and doesn’t have anything to say that’s okay. We’ll just watch the stories unfold together and see what comes from Fostering Creation.
Thank you in advance for being part of this. I hope you enjoy!
Barbara Foster
