POOL’S EMPTY

“Is there water in the bird bath?” my husband Steven called to me from the kitchen.

I walked down the hall and saw Steven standing by the sink looking out the window to our back yard.

“I just filled it this morning!” I cried. I looked over Steven’s shoulder and saw a robin and a starling standing on the edge of the bird bath staring at one another.

“Well, I’m pretty sure they’re waiting for it to get filled again.”

I sighed as I went to put on my sandals. “It’s those bigger birds that keep splashing all the water out when they get in.” I called from our bedroom.

When I came back into the kitchen Steven was leaning against the counter holding a handful of cherry tomatoes. “It’s a heat wave.” He popped one of the tomatoes into his mouth. “Don’t you think the bigger birds deserve a little place to cool off too?”

“I’m not saying they don’t deserve it.” I opened the back door and had to stop for a moment, trying to adjust to the wave of heat that was hitting me. “I’m just asking that they don’t splash around as much.”

I went out to the porch, picked up the watering can and went to the outside faucet to fill it up.

Once it was filled I carried it over to the bird bath where the robin and starling were still sitting. As I got closer they both flew to nearby branches. “I’ll have it filled in a minute you guys.” I said to them as I put the watering can down and was ready to tip out the little bit of dirty water that was left at the bottom.

“Oh, come on!” I cried as I looked at the robin and starling. “Which one of you pooped in the bird bath?”

I walked back to the house and went into the kitchen. Our son Alex was there making a cup of coffee.

“What’s wrong?” Steven asked.

I grabbed some paper towels. “Someone pooped in the bird bath!”

“It wasn’t me.” Steven said as he looked at Alex.

Alex laughed. “Nope. Not me either.”

“Very funny.” I held up the paper towels. “But it’s still disgusting!” I stomped back outside mumbling under my breath. “Try to do something nice for you guys and this is what I get.” I tipped the water out and wiped the inside clean. Then I filled it back up with nice cool, clean water. “You’re welcome.” I said to each bird before heading back in the house with the dirty paper towels.

“Well, that was gross.” I tossed the paper towels in the trash and washed my hands.

Alex shrugged his shoulders. “Birds poop.”

“I know that, but do they have to do it in the bird bath?” I grabbed the towel hanging from the oven door handle and began drying my hands.

“So where would you like them to go?”

I thought about it for a second then looked at Alex and smiled. “Would it sound selfish of me if I said I’d rather they go in the neighbors yard and just come to our yard to eat seeds and play in the water?”

Alex laughed. “I wouldn’t say selfish. I think the word you’re looking for is impossible.”

I looked out the kitchen window and saw that the robin was splashing away in the bird bath while the starling was still on the branch waiting his turn.

“You’re lucky you guys are so cute.” I said. I turned the facet on and began to wash my hands for a second time. “But you can still be pretty gross.”