The End of It.

This time he would jump, and that would be the end of it.

   No more useless empty days at school, no more teasing, no more fights. No more dreams that never came true, no more disappointments.
   This time he would jump, so Mother would have something to worry about, for once. Of all the kids at school, he was the one with Miss Sunshine for a mother. Elegant Mother, cheerful Mother, who always looked on the bright side. Even when he wanted to scream his lungs out, or kick ass, or kiss the world good-bye. Nothing could wipe that smile from her face.

But this time he would jump, and that would be the end of it.

   He had spent days opening a passage through the bushes so he could climb the old brick wall and reach the rails. The train from Geneva would come at full speed, and that would be the end of it.

This time

   The blackbird  was lying on the gravel, trying desperately to hop away, but unable to move.

he would jump

   One wing was fluttering, the other was unnaturally bent.

and that would be

   The small shiny eyes were intensely alive, the orange beak open. Stupid bird! Just a big baby, look at you. And where are your parents now, why did they let you stray away from your nest ?

This time

  The train from Geneva will come at full speed, crushing delicate bones and black feathers, leaving nothing on the rails.

Move away!

   Climbing down the old brick wall, the terrible noise of angry metal already in his ears. The bird opened its beak some more, and nestled trembling in his cupped hands.

   Mother wouldn’t get mad if he brought the bird home, she was the one who always looked on the bright side. And fixing a broken wing shouldn’t be that difficult, sure even an idiot like Dr. Goodman would be able to do something about it.

   He flattened against the old brick wall as the train from Geneva came at full speed, leaving nothing on the rails.

   It was not going to be easy, climbing back with a quivering, helpless bird in his hands.

   He shrugged and looked up at the evening sky. Some day, maybe next month, maybe next year, he would see that bird fly.