1– Death of a Friend
He was a large bird and the Alpha of the local family that I had befriended a few years earlier. While the smaller family members would dash in and out hoping for favor, he would confidently walk up within a few feet and stare at me with the knowledge that I would find something for him to eat. I had named him “The Other”.
I hadn’t seen him for a while but on this day as I was working in the yard he appeared out of nowhere and walked up very close to me. Closer than normal. None of the other family members were around, which was odd. I went into the garage to get the piece of bread I had been saving for him and when I did, I had to step over him as he didn’t move. Very odd. I sat on the porch and he walked up and stood between my feet. That was much closer than ever before. As I dropped pieces of bread it was clear that he was locating them by smell and sound. My friend had lost his sight.
My neighbor and long-time friend, Daniel, came over to chat and was surprised to see the crow at my feet. “What’s up with that?” he asked. I told him what I thought was going on but hoped I was wrong.
The Other stayed close to me as I continued to work and followed me around the yard. I guess he felt safe. Then he went about five feet into the garage, which I had never seen him do before, and sat facing out. His entire family suddenly showed up and watched from the fence that abuts the garage, One by one they flew down to sit with him one last time and when done each bird flew across the street and sat silently on the power line. When the last bird’s visit was over, they all took flight and flew north. No calling, just the sound of their wings and they were gone. He walked out of the garage and awkwardly hopped up onto the porch, something else I had never seen him do before, and sat very close beside me.
Eventually he hopped down and walked over to the lilac bush and sat in the grass. I took him some water and a few small treats which he picked at.