Ever since I was a hatchling my parents called me a bit crazy. As an adult about to move out of the nest, nothing had changed. I usually tuned out their droning, but this time I was bored and decided to listen.
“You need to stop visiting that human cabin. It is dangerous to peer through the clear wall to watch that glowing box thing,” shouted my dad. “It’s giving you nutty ideas about pretend things like treehouses. Our ancestors have found the best homes; owls live in hollows!”
“You’re a Northern Saw-whet owl, not a human, Paquito,” said Mom.
“You can’t stop me from trying to be like them!” I yelled. “A treehouse is just like a miniature human house perfect for owls.”
Soon after I flew to another forest and searched far and wide for a treehouse, ignoring my parents’ insistence that I move into a more traditional hole. My search was to no avail. I was going to have to settle for a drab tree hollow, no better than home. By morning I had settled for a hole in a tall tree with lots of branches and thick foliage. It had a curious orange ribbon around the bottom, but it was the best tree that I could find. Disappointed, I settled into my new hollow and reluctantly fell asleep, drained by the long night.
The next night I groggily woke up and peered out of the tree. All I could see was concrete everywhere. Concrete hurt my talons when I landed on it. Gargantuan buildings blotted out the stars. I began to panic as I realized my new tree was covered in gold lights. I reached out with my wing and touched one. OUCH! The light was hot and seared my wing. I flapped and hooted in pain. To my astonishment, I saw humans below. In shock, I plummeted from the sky and hit the ground. When I came to I flew away as fast and hard as I could, crashing into many of the huge skyscrapers. I flew all night searching for my forest but it was nowhere, just gray buildings as far as the eye could see. I tumbled down to the ground and landed in a heap, too exhausted to fly and hopelessly lost. I caught my breath and looked around. I was in a forest.
My forest! I was back! I fluttered down and was astonished to find that I was right next to the light box cabin but on the side I had never dared venture to before. When I turned around to look where I had landed I was ecstatic to find a – “TREEHOUSE!!!” I hooted for joy, flew up, and settled in. I had found home.
“Another story, another story Dad!” my two owlets hooted, practically climbing over each other to snuggle closer.
“Not now,” I responded with a hint of a smile. “I love you two, now go to sleep and dream big.”
Written by Leah Tsujimoto from Wellington, CO
