Quote:
Cardinal Companion (14) : In the dismal whites and blues and greys of winter, the bright red splash of a cardinal is a welcome difference. It’s not uncommon to see birds out and about, and it’s easy to spot these especially after a fresh snow. Wild birds typically mind their own business and don’t really care about you–except, this one does. An unusually curious cardinal finds you the subject of interest in its day, and oddly enough–it feels familiar to you. You can’t explain it, but the moment your eyes land on it, it feels like coming face to face with someone dear to you. The cardinal isn’t afraid of you and feels comfortable enough to approach you, or maybe even land on you. Perhaps it’s even brought you some small gift. The more time you spend with it, the more you pick up on its unique habits, which seem to have an uncanny resemblance to someone you’ve lost. Sometimes the cardinal even smells of them, or has similar traits. The cardinal doesn’t ever stay for long but when it leaves there is an undeniable feeling that someone very important to you has paid you a visit.
Winter had always been Jadyn's favorite season. He didn't mind the cold, in fact he had always looked forward to the first snowfall. Even now in his mid-twenties he enjoyed playing in the snow and would still throw snowballs at his sister and his friends. And as soon as there was enough snow on the ground, he was flopping onto the ground and making snow angels. That had been something he and his mother had bonded over when he was a kid. It didn't matter what time it was, or if he had school in the morning. His mother would wake him up if he was asleep and they would dress in their warmest clothes just to go outside and flop in the snow. His dad and sister would wake up in the morning to find them asleep in the living room with the remnants of hot chocolate and sugar cookies. They would be curled up on the couch under blankets with nothing but embers left in the fireplace.
He hadn't seen enough snow for angels yet this year, but he was looking forward to it now as he walked around downtown. He was bundled up from head to toe and attempting to do a little Christmas shopping. Marni was hard to shop for sometimes, but he was sure he'd find something. A flash of red crossed his vision and he stopped to look for the source. In a leaf-bare tree nearby perched a bright red cardinal that seemed to be looking at him curiously. "Hey, little guy," Jadyn said with a soft chuckle. The cardinal tipped its head to one side and chirped out a little song, almost as if in response. "It's not too cold for you out here?" he asked. The cardinal took off from the branch and came closer, singing out as it flew around Jadyn's head. He laughed and tried to keep an eye on it.
The scent of hot chocolate and sugar cookies suddenly filled his nose. That combination would always make him think of his mom. He smiled at the memories of days taken off of school just to play in the snow after the first fall; of cuddling up next to his mom on the couch with blankets piled around them as they warmed up with plate of sugar cookies in reach and mugs of hot chocolate in their hands. Oddly enough, the bird not only reminded him of his mother but it gave him that feeling of safety that she had always given him. He missed her so much, but he appreciated the memories.
Maybe tonight he would go home and ask Marni if they could make hot chocolate and sugar cookies. They could talk about the memories they shared of their parents, and maybe find ways to incorporate them in their lives more. He didn't want to forget about them, and Marni knew more about them than he did since she'd been older when they died. "Thanks, little guy," he whispered, inhaling the remnants of the scents the cardinal had brought with it.
Word Count: 513
