I heard birds. As the sun comes up, the chirping starts. I can’t believe how lucky I am to wake up to so many birds – who would have thought that would be the noise that wakes me in NYC?
As I wait downstairs on the sidewalk after arguing with A, I also hear the birds. Above me now. Listening to their chirping, my curiosity gets the better of my anger. Where are these birds? I look up, and find them nestling in the ends of the girders above me. The girders of the temporary scaffolding that envelopes our building while our crumbing stone window sills are replaced. It’s not just an annoying obstruction to our view of the park, it’s a home for birds.
Girder birds. Thriving in this busy city. How can I be angry when there are birds?
I heard them again this morning. And tomorrow. Maybe I don’t want that scaffolding to come down so fast after all.
Postscript: The birds are gone. Someone has chased them out. Which is probably a good thing since the scaffolding would have come down soon, and with it their baby girder-birds. Now I hear the birds from Tompkins Square Park.
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