Day 24: 1 December 2025

 Short Story -- A Reconvening 

Three birds sat on the ridge of a roof watching the sun rise and waiting for their companion. They weren’t large or brightly coloured. In this light, they almost looked simply like shadows, but they were there. 

‘Finally,’ chirruped East as the fourth bird arrived. ‘You missed a spectacular sunrise.’ 

‘I didn’t miss it,’ North said indignantly. ‘I was a part of it — dipping my wings in the pinks and oranges.’ 

‘Well, that doesn’t change that you’re late,’ said East. 

‘Now, now,’ chided South gently. ‘Let’s not fight. Our meetings are so rare after all.’ 

North and East glared at each other another second or so and then softened. 

‘What tidings?’ asked South looking at West. 

‘I worry because the planet is struggling. There are many disasters and pollution, litter and human’s carelessness only makes things worse,’ West replied. 

‘I have also seen the fires,’ concurred South, ‘and some earthquakes.’ 

East added, ‘I have also seen earthquakes and tsunamis. They have brought much destruction.’ 

North said, ‘And I, too, have seen great sweeping fires eating everything in their path.’ 

‘There is nothing to be done to lessen earthquakes and tsunamis. Although, perhaps some of the fires could avoided if campers would make sure their fires were out and people didn’t just drop cigarette butts,’ East said. 

‘These fires destroy so much,’ West agreed sadly. ‘And you are right that some could be avoided. But fire can also result in new life. It burns away the old and dying.’ 

‘And animals’ homes,’ North said bitterly. ‘They are forced to flee. And with humans taking up more and more space, where can the animals go? They end up forced to live in the city. Subsiding off humans refuse.’ 

‘There are also humans that care though,’ South ventured quietly. ‘They try to clean up wild spaces and parks. They want the animals to have their own places.’ 

‘But many more are selfish and lazy. They drop rubbish where they want. Only thinking about what is convenient for them,’ argued North. 

East stepped in, ‘Perhaps not yet do the efforts of the humans who care outweigh those that do not. But that doesn’t mean they’re not worthwhile or that they are futile.’ North glared at East, but East continued, ‘I have seen that the human youth grow ever more concerned with the state of their planet. Some even volunteer their free time cleaning beaches and along motorways.’ 

West added, ‘And there are groups that knit sweaters for penguins whose feathers have been slicked with oil as a result of human’s sloppiness.’ 

‘And those that worry about air quality,’ said South. 

North wasn’t convinced that humanity was that good, but North also knew that not all of humanity was to blame either. North ruffled its feathers in an irritated manner. 

‘No change happens overnight when it’s on a scale as large as a planet,’ South said gently. ‘Give them time.’ 

By now the oranges and pinks and golds of the sunrise had completely disappeared. The sky was blue and the sun was shining. 

‘It is time for us to part ways for now,’ West stated. ‘But we will meet again.’ 

And the four birds took flight. Looping and dancing through the sky as they set off in their different directions.