“I love that you’re back guys.” I said as I was looking out my front window at the dozens of robins hopping around my front yard. “But could you not start singing until at least dawn?”
My son Alex came into the room. “Who are you talking to?” He asked as he came to stand next to me.
I pointed my tea cup toward the window. “Them.” I said as I brought the cup to my mouth to take a sip. “They got me up at 4:30 this morning.”
We watched as each robin scurried across the lawn in different directions, abruptly stopping and tilting their heads listening for something that only they could hear.
“The way they move I can never decided if they’re in a game of red-light-green-light or freeze tag.” I said as I took another sip of tea.
Alex laughed. “I’m pretty sure the worms underground are hoping the robins are playing games and not hunting for them!”
I thought about that for a moment. “You know you’re right.”
Alex looked confused. “I’m right about what?”
“About them hunting for worms. I guess there’s a reason for the saying that ‘the early bird gets the worm’.” I looked over Alex raising my eyebrows. “Worms are more active from dusk to dawn so….” I pointed out to the robins. “They have to be up pretty early to be able to find some breakfast.” I shrugged my shoulders. “I guess I can’t be too mad at them for getting me up so early.”
Alex nodded his head. “Okay.” He patted me on the shoulder before heading to the kitchen to make his coffee. “I’m glad you figured that out.” He called over his shoulder.
I continued to watch the birds out the front window when a rabbit hopped over from the neighbors yard.
While the rabbit was munching on some clover I noticed one of the robins hop closer to the rabbit, it’s head tilting to the side. Moments later, the robin stabbed its beak into the ground, right next to the rabbits foot and came up with a worm. A quick head flip had the worm disappear down the robins throat in less then a second.
“Okay, that’s enough of that.” I sighed as I headed for the kitchen.
I put my teacup down and went over to the butcher block where a plate of vegetables and fruit were in a bowl. Picking up an avocado I gave it a slight squeeze. “This one’s ready.” I said going to the silverware drawer to get a knife.
“Would you like some avocado toast?” I asked as I began to cut into the avocado.
“Are you sure it’s not too early?” Alex asked as he looked at the clock on the stove. “It’s only
5:30?”
“Hey, I’ve been up for an hour!” I said moving to the cabinet with the bread. “The early bird might get the worm but the first one to the ripe avocado gets the avocado toast!”
Slice of Life 