Most people who watch magpies are face-blind and can't recognize who is who; at most, they can only tell that I am a magpie.
I am a magpie, and I may not be particularly special. In fact, I am just like most magpies, dressed in a black tuxedo with a white belly. Even the way I walk and fly is the same; this doesn't make me uncomfortable. At least after I tease people, they can't easily recognize me.
I despise many animals, including other magpies, because they are all a bunch of cowards. A cough from a human or a light stomp can scare them into a panic. Seeing them flee in a hurry often makes me laugh out loud. Really, to me, it's nothing serious at all.
Of course, sometimes humans will deliberately make noise, trying to scare me. This is not an easy task; usually, after hearing the noise they make, I tilt my head to look at them. Perhaps my gaze, which looks at them like they are fools, angers them. What often follows is a stone flying my way, and I have to move a bit.
Argon is one of the few humans who did not throw stones at me after I despised him. To be honest, I was a bit flustered at that moment.
That afternoon, I was thinking about something on a branch when I heard stomping sounds nearby. I was busy thinking and ignored it. Then the stomping sound came again, interrupting my thoughts. I tilted my head in annoyance at the two little kids in front of me.
The boy on the left tugged at the boy on the right, who was kicking a stone with his head down, “Argon, look! This magpie is tilting its head at us!”
Argon looked up at me, and I tilted my head again, trying to make them angry. Argon continued to stare at me, and his gaze made me feel humiliated. Although these two humans didn't throw stones at me, I still flew away.
I encountered Argon again that evening. As usual, I was standing on a branch by the roadside, thinking about things, although this time I was thinking about my encounter with Argon in the afternoon.
Suddenly, I heard a slight noise from below the tree. I looked down and saw that it was that annoying guy named Argon again.
Argon adjusted his glasses and asked, “I’ve seen you before, you’re that magpie from the afternoon, right?”
I was surprised and tilted my head, not knowing what to say, because it was the first time someone had spoken to me. I didn't know how to respond to him. Although it would seem very rude not to respond when someone talks to you, he probably wouldn't understand whatever I said. So I decided to say nothing and continued to tilt my head at him.
Argon looked very happy and smiled at me, “Can you fly to very far places?”
That's just nonsense; we magpies are expert flyers, and our big wings can take us anywhere we want to go. But I held back the urge to boast about my flying abilities and tilted my head again.
Argon suddenly looked thoughtful, lowering his head as if he was pondering something.
With Argon silent, I became bored and started to preen my feathers.
“Can you go to very far places and help me find someone?” After saying this, Argon began to bite his lip.
“Dad is a good person, but he went to a very far place. I miss him so much…” Argon continued to talk to himself while biting his lip.
“I’ve never seen Dad since I grew up, but Dad must be a good person; Mom told me so. Mom told me that Dad did something super amazing before I was born, so he had to go to a very far place to attend an award ceremony.”
“Dad has been gone for so long and hasn’t come back. I miss him so much. Can you help me find him in a very far place? Just give him this letter.”
Argon hugged his backpack and struggled to take out a neatly folded small piece of paper.
“This is what I wrote this afternoon. Can you help me? I’m not forcing you to help me, but if you don’t help me, I will be very sad.”
“Is this still human? Moral kidnapping a little magpie like me? And so openly!?” I couldn't help but shout.
Argon was clearly startled and stood there at a loss.
“Your mom's meaning is very clear; Dad is probably no longer around. Do you know what it means to no longer be around? It means the same as going to a very far place—he's dead.”
Argon suddenly looked up, his eyes red, “You’re lying!”
When Argon turned to leave, I stood frozen in place; he actually understood what I said!
The next day, feeling uneasy, I returned to the branch by the small road. This seemed to be a necessary path for nearby elementary school students. Every day, many students pass by here, and most of them would mischievously scare the birds in the trees along the road.
At noon, Argon appeared again. He saw me and then turned to continue walking.
I wanted to apologize to him; although I wasn't wrong, I had still made this little boy cry.
In the afternoon, I ran into Argon again. I took the initiative to call out to him, “Sorry, little brat, what happened yesterday was my fault; I shouldn’t have said that.”
“What do you want to say then?” Argon tilted his head to look at me.
I was momentarily speechless, and after a pause, I said, “Everyone eventually dies, even I will, even though I’m a magpie. But your dad's death had meaning; didn’t your mom tell you? He did something super amazing, so even though you can’t see Dad, you should be happy for him!”
Argon looked up and said, “Dad saved many people; Mom told me. But I’m still sad that I can’t see Dad.”
“Alright, alright, don’t cry. From now on, you can consider me your dad.”
“Go away!”
[The End]