How Do They Fly?

Ariyah sat on the soft rug, her favorite teddy bear nestled beside her. Teddy, with his worn fur and one button eye, was always a good listener. Ariyah hugged him tight, her mind buzzing like a busy bee. Just moments ago, she had been chasing her bright red ball across the living room, its cheerful bounce a familiar sound. But then, through the big window, she’d seen it. A flash of brown and white, a flurry of movement, and then… it was gone. A bird.

"Mommy," Ariyah had called, her voice full of wonder. Her mommy, who always knew the answers to her questions, had come over and looked out the window too.

"Oh, look, sweetie! There's another one," Mommy had said, pointing to a small robin perched on the garden fence. Then, another, a little blue tit, flitted from the oak tree to the bird feeder. Ariyah watched, mesmerized. They hopped and pecked, their tiny heads bobbing.