Short Stories

Wings

Mama looks at me with those big blue eyes, disappointment written all over them.

"Can't you try?" She asks again.

I sigh. "Mama, I'm no good at any of this. I'm not made for this, not cut out for this, and no one believes I can do this, SO WHY SHOULD I BOTHER?"

She looks at me exasperated from this conversation. Honestly, I can't blame her with all many times we've been circling about this. I'd get tired of myself.

She looks behind her, out the window and to the other kids playing outside with their parents. I injured myself years ago and now I won't even try to do anything.

"I'm not like them." I whisper, turning away.

She shakes her head, not meeting my eyes. "No. You could be better."

I pause but don't look at her. I know I've already disappointed her enough.

I slowly walk back to my room and sit defeated on my bed. Only mama takes care of me now. Papa had to leave because that's the rule. All the papas have got to go.

I don't have any siblings to rant to, no one to talk to, and no one to listen. Well, I know mama's there but- I've already screwed up so much. What a disappointment I am to the entire species.

I hear her singing to herself, a slow low tune for the times she's in her thoughtful mode. I hear a flutter of rushing and then silence. She must've gone out.

I close my eyes and try to sleep. If only this could solve everything. Just shutting your eyes and let the world stop spinning, your problems stop coming.

I hear some knocking and I open one eye to see mama standing in the opening of my room.

"Your favorite's on the table for dinner." She says with a tired smile.

I nod and follow her to the dining room. We eat in silence, my thoughts trailing to training earlier where I simply failed at everything. Another reminder of how I'm such a klutz and good for nothing but an extra baggage to carry and mouth to feed.

"Now don't you go into that state. You're beating yourself up again." Mama says, taking in some water. "You gotta stop all that mind nonsense. Don't make me get in there and shush all those thoughts."

"Mama, you can't do that." I say.

She raises an eyebrow. "I won't stop trying until you change that mindset of yours. You aren't like those others cuz you're you. And you can be so much better. You're our offspring. I know it runs in your blood."

I laugh a dry laugh. "If only my brain knew that."

She scoffs. "Well, you better tell it to him."

I look at mama and she's got her determined look back. Her fierce stare makes me gulp down the last bite of food and wait for her next word or move.

"You forget who you are. You forget that are made for this, created for this and will excel in this. Yes, I say 'will' because you will. I believe in you. Now you better believe me or so help me, I will push you from this house and make you force yourself to get up." She says, standing. "Birds were made to fly. And those like us, are made to soar. You better not tell me your papa as the best general out there is up soaring heights and his son won't even try to step out off the branch. Eagles are amazing birds to soar over storms. And this storm you're battling inside? You're the only one can soar over it."

She steps towards me and looks out of our nest, and beyond the branches of the tree, out to where the other young eagles fly.

"You better do what you're called to do, made to do, and will excel at doing or I'm going to push you out of this place and you're gonna regret beating yourself up." She says, her sassy tone at its height.

"But mama-"

She shushes me and puts a wing around me. "You're my boy. And all I want is for you to get out of that shell you've been hiding in and go spread those wings. You're stronger than you know, my soaring eagle. And you're gonna reach heights."

I smile at myself, remembering that day in the nest years ago. I perch in front of my general now, trying not to smile as he winks at me.

Papa stands before us. "Today we will fly over the brewing storm. There's no room for fear. Only faith. Faith in each other and in yourselves. Lift those wings, and fly!"