You’re Where I Belong.
Stuart sat melancholily atop a grand New York City Highrise. He had flown up to the top hours ago and daydreamed about his future choices.
In the eight or nine years since the Littles adopted him, he refined himself through schooling and aviation, yet this unspoken uncertainty prevented him from action.
Now that it was time for him and George to apply for university and begin the next chapter of their young lives, Stuart found no motivation to do anything about it.
It wasn’t difficult to understand why, given that Margalo was the only thing ever on his mind. This August, like every other, she was to leave with the rest of the birds, and every time, it felt like a piece of his soul was torn from him.
Their bond was different…. Special…. In ways that Stuart still struggled to understand. True, by the time of her second or third return to stay with the Littles for the spring and summer, he had told her he loved her.
Her expression at the time was shocked, but her body language was accepting. A hug happened then, and tonight, in the dwindling heat, he could still feel its warmth.
A mouse with a canary girlfriend….
Was it absurd?
Was it more absurd than a family of humans adopting a mouse?
Perhaps…. However, the drastic things that Stuart was contemplating these past months made those absurdities look downright standard normalcy.
“….”
As Stuart exhaled and felt the chill of the approaching fall blow over him, he knew it was time. His family knew it was time….
Sadly, Margalo didn’t know it was time….
The difficulty in bringing it up to her had driven a wedge between them this visit, and he inexplicably and unintentionally found himself distant from her.
He could tell it was hurting her, but he genuinely didn’t know how to get what was in his mind out.
Turning his gaze forward, he stared at the rhythmically blinking red lights atop the skyscrapers that alerted human planes to their presence.
Glancing down, he saw the microscopic people going about their nightly lives.
“….”
Strange…. How this change in perspective made him feel like the giant one. It made him realize that he had outgrown his fear of being too little and was ready….
Stuart stood up, about to turn to his plane, but frighteningly, his vision went completely dark.
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Because of the sudden shift, he tried to get his bearings, but when he heard Margalo’s voice speak gently, he immediately calmed down.
“Guess who~!”
Her voice was playful, and Stuart could feel her gentle feathers across his face, blocking his vision.
Rather than be dour or distant, he decided that since she took the time to find him, he would return her playfulness.
“Hmm… Let’s see… Is it Snowball!?”
“Nope~!” Margalo chuckled.
Stuart couldn’t help but smile and responded jokingly. “Is it you, Mango?”
Margalo became playfully annoyed and sighed. “Mango? Really, Stuart?”
Now Stuart laughed and responded, “Well, you are yellow and sweet, so it is an easy mix-up….”
Margalo removed her wings, and when Stuart glanced at her, he saw her grinning. After gazing into one another’s eyes, Margalo became sad and stared at the ground.
“I… That’s the Stuart I have been looking for since I got back….”
Stuart only stared. Seeing how hurt she felt was agonizing, but he was still struggling to express himself.
Eventually, Margalo became angry and shook her head. “Well, at least I got to see him before I leave tomorrow…. It is just a shame that he wasn’t here when I first came….”
Stuart placed his hands in his pockets and shook his head, and then Margalo became angrier and expressed her hurt directly.
“What’s going on, Stuart…? Everyone is happy to see me but you…. I see you here; you speak to me, but it is as if you are gone…”
Stuart was still tight-lipped and fidgety, which made Margalo look defeated. “What did I do, Stuart? This is always my favorite time of year….”
It was at this point that Stuart became afraid and cut her off. “You did nothing, Margalo! Really!”
“Then what’s going on?” Margalo said, relaxing her posture.
Stuart really only had two choices: tell the truth or lie. After all the hurt he’d caused, he spoke openly for the first time.
“Margalo…. Look, I am…. Having trouble with you leaving…. I…. It is just so hard to do….”
“….”
Margalo’s heart felt like breaking, but she stood silently, allowing him to speak.
“Margalo…. I don’t want to sit here while you leave…. I want to migrate with you this year….”
Margalo’s eyes were wide and full of terror. Of all the things she was expecting, this was not one of them.
“I… Stuart… I don’t know what to say….” Margalo’s voice began meekly and then became stronger as she continued.
“I just…. I don’t know how you would…. I couldn’t carry you all the way there….”
Margalo glanced at his old plane and shook her head. “We both know that won’t make it….”
Stuart understood her reasoning but spoke matter-of-factly about this. “I… I have been thinking about this for years now…. Every dollar at my part-time job I have earned has been put into going….”
Margalo was speechless. She could see how serious and difficult this was for him to do and ask. While it worried her deeply, the thought of having him all year almost made her explode from sudden excitement.
Before she could find words or Stuart could continue, she thrust herself forward and wrapped her wings around him.
“….”
Stuart wrapped his arms around her and spoke gently through slight tears. “I…. I am sorry, Margalo, I never meant to hurt your feelings…. I just…”
Margalo only squeezed him and then spoke gently into his ear. “I trust you, Stuart, if you want to come, you can come… Well, so long as your family thinks it is a good idea…. You’d be leaving behind a lot.”
Stuart only spoke back as the two began to walk and turn slowly as if in an intimate dance. “It’s okay. My family knows I want to do it…. I feel I am ready to do it….”
Margalo pulled away while holding him with her wings and stared into his face. “Tomorrow morning, then… Shall we take off from your home?”
Stuart nodded. “Yeah, tomorrow morning… I will get packed, and then you can show me the way….”
When they broke apart from the hug, they realized how long they longingly awaited this, but trepidation kept seeping into their good feelings.
“….”
After staring for a bit, Margalo beamed and began to climb into his plane.
“C’mon Stuart, it’s been a while… Let’s head back home and get you ready….”
Stuart only nodded and jumped in the cockpit. As the engine started, he could feel her wings rubbing his shoulders from behind.
When the two took off, Stuart finally realized that this was it. It was yet another small adventure that would lead him to new horizons.
“….”
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The next morning, Frederick, Eleanor, George, and Martha Little gathered to see their dear family member off.
Everyone expected it, and despite the trip's dangers, they knew Stuart had prepared well in the few years since he began thinking about doing it.
Of course, George was hurt that the brother he was closest to was leaving and not joining him for college. Still, he wanted Stuart to find happiness, so he gave him money as a parting gift.
Elanore and Martha offered him delicious food for the trip, just the right size for himself and Margalo to enjoy if she wanted to.
When it came time for Fredrick to offer something, he only placed his hands in his pockets and gave Stuart something intangible: the family's love.
“Stuart, it warms my heart to see you ready to find your path in life…. While we will miss you dreadfully, we know you will return with Margalo this spring. Please take care, and contact us every chance you get….”
Margalo sat perched on the side of the roof they stood on and watched while Stuart sniffled and responded.
“I love all you guys, thank you for everything…. Thank you for letting me do this….”
Fredrick laughed and shook his head. “No, Stuart, we aren’t letting you do this, we are happy you are doing this…. You are following your heart and feel bigger than you ever have….”
With that, Stuart moved away, and after entering a hollowed-out, defunct air conditioning unit, a small engine could be heard humming.
Once the new plane emerged, it was clear to Margalo what Stuart meant by “prepare.”
It was more than just a toy plane, and it was apparent that Stuart had extensively modified it over the past few years.
It was bigger and held more cargo than the old one, and solar panels were attached at critical points to ensure extended and emergency power. The two seats featured a pullable plastic dome that kept out inclement weather if it was needed.
Once Stuart shut the engine off, he held his arm out and smiled at Margalo. “Well, what do you think?”
Margalo was impressed and flew over to sit behind him. While this new plane was more expansive, she found she could still reach for him if she wanted.
“It’s incredible Stuart…. I didn’t realize you were….” Margalo began.
As she paused, she realized how much Stuart thought about her, and it made her heart soar higher than her wings could ever take her.
“….”
Stuart looked back at her and was about to turn on the engine again but was stopped by Frederick.
“Stuart?”
“Yeah, Dad….”
Fredrick pulled something out of his pocket and dangled it above Stuart.
“Don’t forget this, now….”
Stuart’s eyes widened, and he quickly grabbed the small leather pouch above him. Then, he quickly pushed it down onto the floor, out of sight.
“Thanks….”
Stuart appeared anxious, and it made Margalo speak.
“What’s that Stuart?”
Stuart shook his head, glanced back, and answered. “Oh, it is something essential for the trip…. Can’t forget it….”
Margalo nodded, understanding this new plane had many things she did not know about. Once relaxed behind Stuart, there was only one thing left to say.
“Little hi, Little low~!” Both Stuart and Margalo called from the plane.
“Little hey, Little ho~!” The Little family called simultaneously to their special greeting.
“….”
With that, Stuart roared the engine to life, and within seconds, they were off sailing into the sky.
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Margalo was impressed by the new plane. It was much quieter than the old one and seemed far more powerful. Once they reached an altitude above the city, Margalo called out to Stuart.
“There! That is the roof we usually meet on!”
Stuart looked, and it was easy to spot a congregation of birds gathering atop one of the roofs. With precision, Stuart turned the plane and landed it with little effort.
Once the engine was cut off, the birds stared at Stuart as if he were an alien, but when Margalo jumped out, they all greeted her pleasantly.
“Heeyyy, Margalo~!”
“Margalo is here~!”
“Woo!!”
Margalo grinned and looked back at Stuart, who had climbed out for the greeting.
“Everyone,” Margalo began. “This is Stuart. He will be joining us for the migration this season.”
When introduced, Stuart waved his fingers, a tad intimidated, and spoke. “Uh, hey guys….”
The birds looked at each other and seemed doubtful. “Uhm, Margalo?”
Margalo became defensive and shook her head. “You let me join? What’s wrong with Stuart?”
When she said that, a giant pigeon walked in front of the group and spoke bluntly: “Because he’s a mouse, he can’t come. He will slow us all down, and it’ll be miserable flying….”
The birds began chattering amongst themselves, but Margalo spoke loudly and clearly.
“Stuart is coming; if he is not allowed, I’m not going!”
The group looked at Stuart and his plane, and he could only offer a meek refutation of their skepticism.
“I…. I won’t be in the way, I swear…. Please, give me a chance….”
The birds chattered some more, and eventually, the giant pigeon grumbled. “Fine, he can come, but he’s your problem, Margalo. If anything happens, we aren’t risking ourselves to help.”
“….”
With that, the birds readied the formation, and the pigeon barked at Stuart. “Line up, and try to keep up! It’s a long trip!”
Stuart merely nodded and responded. “I know…. Thanks for letting me come….”
The pigeon ignored him and moved to the front of the organizing birds. Margalo, on the other hand, spoke to Stuart lovingly.
“I’m sorry about that, Stuart…. Peppy can be a tad….”
Stuart merely waved his hand and didn’t let her finish. “Don’t worry, Margalo, just lead the way, and I will follow… Ok?”
Margalo was extremely worried but decided to trust him. She took her place in the back of the formation so Stuart could easily see her, and he took to his own plane.
As the lift-off began, all the birds could do was get distracted by Stuart. In a way, they admired he would do this, but in another way, they thought he was extremely foolish.
If that plane hit the ocean somehow…. There was no getting him to safety….
Stuart sat in the cockpit with the engine on, and Margalo was in front. After some tense waiting, Margalo gave a thumb-up motion with her remiges and put on her goggles.
As she took off, Stuart did also. With quite a bit of delicate maneuvering, Stuart got into the formation with the birds and skillfully followed without an issue.
His flying was impressive, even to Margalo, who could tell he had practiced flying much of the year when she was away.
On their way out of the city, Stuart and Margalo eased up. It was looking like this might be far easier than previously thought….
“….”
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In a few hours, they were making way reasonably fast. Stuart was doing well at keeping up with the group and was only motivated more every time he saw Margalo.
Even as the sun set, Stuart couldn’t help but take in the breathtaking sights that appeared before the evening. The deep reds and golden hues that assaulted him were beautiful and felt like a lifelike natural painting.
Hours more came and went, and Stuart was somewhat tired; the flying schedule was unlike anything he’d done. Fortunately, Margalo kept checking up on him as they flew.
It must not have been until midnight that the bird group slowed, and Stuart landed for some rest. At first, it felt normal, but Stuart could hear Peppy complaining to Margalo about already having to stop.
Stuart felt terrible, but his feelings diminished when Margalo admitted she was exhausted. He couldn't be sure whether she was lying to Peppy or not, but he appreciated it.
“….”
The birds ate and hung out together, but Stuart stuck to his plane and pulled some food from storage. Quietly, he watched the group while he ate, and it wasn’t until Margalo came to join him that he spoke to anyone.
“Sorry, Margalo, I guess it is way more difficult than I thought….”
Margalo only smiled sweetly and then responded while climbing into the passenger seat. “Don’t worry about it, Stuart…. Peppy is being…. Well, he’s being difficult….”
Stuart watched Peppy grumpily speaking to other birds but couldn’t hear him from this distance. Eventually, he looked at Margalo and asked the next logical question.
“I… Why is he like that? I just met him….”
Margalo fidgeted and then eventually sighed. Stuart deserved to know the truth.
“It’s because he, well… he ‘likes’ me, Stuart…. He has tried to spend time with me every migration….”
“Oh….” Stuart cast his gaze on the dashboard of his plane.
“Sorry….”
Margalo became angry and spoke directly. “Sorry for what? That is his problem, not yours…. I… I love you, Stuart…. If it weren’t for you, I would still be trapped in my old life….”
When he heard that, Stuart felt strong and responded, “I love you too, Margalo... more than you can ever know….”
Margalo only laughed and touched his back with her remiges. “I think I do know. You are a mouse migrating with a massive flock of mixed birds….”
Stuart had to chuckle at his predicament and relaxed in the cockpit. “I…. am really sleepy after food…. I am going to rest, Margalo….”
Margalo also shut her eyes and breathed, “Then I will sleep behind you…. It is nice to…. Have you here with me….”
Stuart only mimicked the sentiment and shut his eyes. It was everything he had dreamed of and more.
At least, for now….
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At least five weeks passed and the group eventually found themselves in Florida along the Atlantic flyway. During this time of travel, Stuart was being run ragged, and Peppy was pushing for longer and longer travel times.
Eventually, Stuart realized most of the birds there were upset by his presence. Peppy endlessly blamed him for their slow flying, and they were convinced that Stuart was ruining the trip.
Margalo was unhappy about it, but nobody was confronting her or Stuart. It was a simple vibe that she and Stuart could feel, and it didn’t let up. Even as Peppy proposed they take a more dangerous route to make up for lost time.
Rather than circumnavigating the land masses, the group could fly straight south over the ocean. There would be no rest points, but it would shave much time off the trip if they made it through.
“….”
“We can’t do that, guys! It is dangerous!” Margalo protested loudly when the plan was introduced.
Peppy became fierce and rebuked her. “Dangerous for who? We have drug your little mouse this far. Tell him to go home if it isn’t safe for him!”
Margalo was about to begin arguing, but the other birds cut her out.
“Yeah, I am done with the mouse!”
“I just want to get there….”
“Margalo, we need to get a move on….”
“….”
“You see!?” Peppy began. “They are done with this nonsense…. Come with us, Margalo, send him home…. For his own safety….”
Margalo was speechless; she knew that Stuart might die, and she wanted that never to happen. With the whole group against her, she considered genuinely asking Stuart to turn around.
Unfortunately, Stuart spoke out of turn before she could. “I know everyone, and I am sorry for the hold-up, but I know I can make it.”
“Stuart….” Margalo began, but Peppy shouted her out.
“Very Good then! We take the quick route over the ocean. Let’s move fast!”
“….”
Margalo could only watch Stuart tiredly trek back to his plane. At this point, she felt like she wanted to turn around with Stuart, but her hesitancy was too much to resist.
Stuart and Margalo readied to fly before dawn without words or an attempt to converse, uncertain of precisely where this bold move would lead them.
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The group readied, and it took only minutes for them to take off. Stuart struggled to keep his eyes open after the first hour of the trip.
It wasn’t until the sun came entirely up that the sky over the ocean was painted a deep red.
It looked gorgeous, yet ominous.
Stuart sat mesmerized. The only thing more beautiful to him than that sunrise was Margalo.
Pushing forward for hours more, the only thing that appeared besides the endless ocean was deep grey clouds that blanketed the sky.
Anxiety rose as it began to rain—slowly, then harshly. The waves below crashed and moved violently, mercilessly throwing anything unlucky enough to be caught in them.
Stuart liked the rain splashing on him, but soon, he used his hand to close the window hatch he had built. It kept the rain out but at the cost of being able to hear anyone speak.
The turbulence became heavy, and some birds were so spooked that they turned around for safety.
Margalo’s small size worked against her, as the winds made it challenging to stay on course.
Stuart’s plane was experiencing turbulence, and the rain was beating down on it so rough that he feared it would be damaged.
The larger and more skilled birds had flown on ahead without concern for him, and after moments of rough riding, it became apparent that he’d been left behind.
Barely able to see through the storm, Stuart anxiously kept his wits about him and decided to focus on his one genuine concern. Carefully navigating the roughness, he approached a struggling Margalo.
She was flapping violently and was utterly winded. The fierce winds buckled the plane and even tore some of the plane's solar panels off.
Glancing over, Margalo could see Stuart close by with the cockpit window up. He waved his free hand for her to get in but quickly put it back on the steering as he nearly lost control.
Margalo flapped as hard as possible until she was even with the plane. Then, she flew towards the empty seat….
Unfortunately, she miscalculated the distance and missed.
!
She grabbed hold of the side with her wings so as not to fall, but she was rapidly losing her grip.
Stuart reached out at the last second and grabbed her blue scarf. Over the rain and wind, the only thing he could hear was Margalo screaming.
“Ahhh! STUART!!”
The plane jolted, nearly knocking Margalo’s grip off, but Stuart pulled as hard as he could on her scarf. His fear of losing her was so great that his adrenalin yanked her halfway into the seat before the scarf became undone.
Once unfurled, Stuart threw the scarf at his feat on top of the leather pouch and put both hands on the steering to stabilize the plane.
Margalo forced herself into the plane, sat safely on the seat, and began gasping. She could no longer see any of the flock she traveled with.
“….”
Stuart could barely see because of the rain, so he pulled closed the plastic cockpit covering. Once it shut out some of the noise and all the rain, Margalo expressed extreme gratitude.
“Ah…. Stuart, I would have fallen if I didn’t have this shelter…. Thank you so much….”
Stuart heard snapping plastic on the plane and cried to Margalo, “HANG ON! THIS IS GOING TO BE A WILD RIDE!”
Before they knew it, they were flapping everywhere as Stuart fought with all his might to keep the plane in the air.
“You doing ok, Margalo!?” Stuart cried out.
“Yeah! I am fine, Stuart…. keep going!”
Stuart bucked around in the plane and kept it as level as possible. The rain was so overwhelming that the plastic dome protecting him and Margalo was impossible to see out of.
“Rrrrr, COME ON!” Stuart cried.
Margalo held his back with her wings and felt fortunate to have shelter. This was way worse than she could have imagined, doubly so since Peppy meant what he had said earlier.
“STUART!!!” Margalo cried as she felt parts of the plane breaking off.
Stuart kept focus and drove himself forward. There was no way out but through, and he hoped the plane would make it to the other end.
Lightning flashed, adding further fear to the small animals, and then roaring thunder boomed so loud that it made them jump.
Despite everything, Stuart managed to fly for a tense fifteen minutes, at least, until he heard more plastic snap and the plane lost altitude.
As Stuart realized what was happening, he cried to Margalo, “HANG ON!!”
Before Margalo knew it, they were flapping everywhere as Stuart fought with all his might to keep the plane in the air.
Sadly, it collided with the ocean water and was pushed to-and-fro by the waves.
“Are you ok, Margalo!?” Stuart cried out when they crashed.
“Yeah! I am fine, Stuart, but I can feel water seeping in. We need to get out of here!!”
Stuart could also feel it around his feet as the water began to sink the downed plane. The plastic cover over the cockpit was already cracked from the crash, so Stuart forced it open to allow Margalo a chance to escape.
“GO!!” He cried.
Margalo stood up in the rapidly sinking plane and was about to fly but stopped when Stuart dove underwater to search.
“STUART!!! WHAT ARE YOU DOING!!!? WE NEED TO GO!!!”
Stuart frantically looked everywhere but only pulled up Margalo’s blue scarf from the plane floor. After he tossed it aside, he dove back under before Margalo could convince him not to.
With the plane almost entirely under now, Margalo knew it would be difficult to take off without a platform if she let it get under that far.
In her contemplation, she glanced about and was quick to realize that there was a shoreline not too far away from her. It was barely visible, but she was sure it was there.
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Taking to the air, Margalo struggled to look into the distance. It seemed relatively close; she was sure she could make it if she tried.
“….”
She glanced down and saw Stuart resurface for precious oxygen, and to her surprise, he rapidly dived right back under.
Margalo realized she needed to snatch him the next time he came up. She couldn’t allow this to continue.
Bombing downwards, she flapped heavily to stay near the area Stuart was diving. The next time she saw him burst up, it was clear that he had that leather pouch with him, but holding it made him unable to swim.
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“STUART!!! DROP THAT STUPID THING!!!” Margalo cried out.
Stuart refused to let go, so Margalo grabbed his arms with both feet and pulled him from the water with every ounce of strength.
Up they went…. Margalo knew she couldn’t carry them forever, so she headed in the direction she thought the shore was blinded by rain.
Her wings struggled heavily, and she felt the burning in them. By this point, she wasn’t even looking; she was shutting her eyes and flapping, trying to get as far as she could before she would inevitably crash.
As she went a bit further, her wings gave out, and they fell from an indeterminant height. “AHHHHHH!!!”
They were going to die. Margalo was sure of it… She’d reached the end of her ability to weather the storm.
“….”
Margalo and Stuart crashed on something solid but surprisingly soft.
“….”
As they lay on the ground, Margalo sat up. She saw that she and Stuart had landed in what appeared to be some home garden.
The plants and soft earth had cushioned them….
A glance to the left showed a traditional South American home. Margalo had made it so far inland that they were safe.
“….”
In this quiet reprieve, as the rain softened, Margalo realized that Peppy and the other birds had abandoned her and Stuart.
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The two sat there in shock while the storm cleared and the sun began to re-appear. It was so difficult to believe they were still alive, and Stuart could only sit there and cradle his soaked leather pouch.
“….”
As Margalo stared at him, her pain got the better of her, and she tiredly forced herself up and over to Stuart, who sat there looking up at her.
“Stuart! What were you DOING back there diving for that junk!! You almost died!”
Stuart pushed himself to his shaky feet and spoke. “I… Look, I know Margalo…. I am….”
“Stuart, ENOUGH! This has been a terrible disaster…! I’ve lost everything! All because I selfishly wanted to bring you along with me!”
Stuart hurt more and more as she began to sob. She was overwhelmed by barely surviving that horrible event and the shock of being abandoned.
Eventually, Stuart could not bear it any longer, so rather than clinging to the leather pouch, he threw it on the ground at her feet.
“….”
“No Margalo….” Stuart’s voice quivered with pain as he cried slightly. “I am so sorry…. It was my fault…. All of it! I should have just been content with seeing you when you migrated back …. I just… I couldn’t bear the thought of not being around you always…. I just…. I don’t know….”
Margalo stared at him as Stuart silently cried. She knew what he meant by his words because she felt the same way.
This, though, this adventure wasn’t possible…. He’d lost everything….
Eventually, Stuart turned away and sighed. “Look, I am sorry, Margalo… You should finish your migration…. I can check in with that house. I will ask my family for help getting home….”
Margalo immediately understood that there was a chance he wouldn’t be able to speak to anybody there. Still, in her flabbergasted state, she could only watch as he sauntered solemnly towards the home.
“….”
Her mind raced with confusion, and her heart wept. She knew she couldn’t continue without him, no matter what, and his sudden actions stunned her.
She stared at the soaked leather pouch for the longest time, and as she did, her need to see what was inside grew.
“….”
Eventually, she used her foot to rip the button on it and opened the flap calmly. In a moment more, she pulled the slender object hidden inside and let it begin to sparkle in the afternoon sunlight that had returned.
The golden hoop nearly blinded her as it shimmered, and the diamond that hung downward was instantly recognizable to her.
As her heartbeat pounded roughly against her chest, she realized it wasn’t a ring but one modified by a jeweler in the fashion of a parrot collar.
In disbelief, she moved her head down, and it easily slid onto her. Clearly, it was fitted for her measurements….
“….”
Looking at Stuart near the house, she immediately took flight with a burst of adrenalin and tiredly pushed herself to get to him as quickly as possible.
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Before Stuart knew it, he was outright stopped by Margalo landing in front of him wearing the jewelry.
Seeing her wear the modified ring made him freeze, but she only opened her wings for him as she stood there, blocking his way.
Soon, he thrust forward and was smothered by her bird hugs and held tighter than ever.
The two began to cry, and Stuart trembled. “I… I am sorry, Margalo…. I really wanted to make it, to prove that we could be… Together….”
Margalo only used her free wing to pull his head up to face her. “Stuart…. Whether you made it or not…. I don’t care…. We can find a way…. I…. I accept….”
Stuart brightened instantly and kissed her beak. “Really?”
Margalo only nodded with a smile, and the two held each other quietly.
“….”
Eventually, Stuart and her broke the embrace, and Stuart rubbed the back of his head.
“Well, I don’t know what we will do now…. I lost my plane and food….”
Margalo smiled, and with a flap of her wings, she pulled him up in the air abruptly.
“Whoa!”
Her profound excitement superseded any exhaustion, and after a quick rise, she dropped Stuart on what appeared to be a wooden plank.
After Margalo perched next to him, Stuart glanced about, finally realizing they were in front of a handmade birdhouse.
Stuart got the idea and spoke. “I… don’t you have more to fly?”
Margalo shrugged her wings and responded. “Close enough….”
Without anything else needing to be said, the two entered the birdhouse and made themselves cozy on the hay stuffed within.
They snuggled and kissed for some time as they watched the golden rays of the sun’s last light disappear over the horizon.
“….”
As night fell and the two dreamily recovered and dried, Margalo could only ask the next logical question.
“So, since we decided to stay here, how will we migrate back without a plane to carry us?”
Stuart only smiled and looked over at her from his place beside her.
“Don’t worry, Margalo, I think I have an idea to make this easier for us….”
Margalo could only see Stuart’s smile, which was enough confirmation for her. Rather than say anything more, she cuddled close to him and looked down to admire her “engagement collar.”
“….”
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When spring came again, Stuart and Margalo sat in a giant plush seat. Many people moved around them as they traveled down the aisles of the big airliner.
Stuart held onto her wing and spoke softly to avoid disturbing the other passengers. “See, this makes it easy for both of us….”
Margalo beamed. She felt sad she wasn’t flying freely in the open spaces, but she was endlessly willing to accept this compromise if it meant Stuart could always be with her.
As the pilot reiterated the trip from Chile to New York on the speaker, Margalo and Stuart felt contented.
This was their migration to share now; whatever happened from here on out, it would always occur together as husband and wife.
“I love you, Mrs. Little….” Stuart bashfully said.
Margalo smiled and kissed him gently. “I love you more, Mr. Little….”
“….”
