The Enchanted Aviary: The Dreamer Bird's Secret

A long-cherished memory rushed back to the Dreamer Bird. A year was not so distant in time by the standard of birds able to outlive most other creatures, yet, it was long enough for the Dreamer Bird to pine for a loved one. Like most of her companions she was bred in captivity by the bird man in P_________, a background most elite birds were proud of and referred to as "convent breeding." It was there she grew up and matured alongside the dashing, gray, African ring-eye. They'd hatched at the same time, and the bird man perceived they would share the same destiny, since they were both under the same, avian horoscope sign: Firebird, toward the end of March. Both birds, predictably, became the best of friends--BFFs (Bird Friend Forever)--and promised they would always be true to each other. When they were old enough the bird man brought them to Cubao, and there, on Banahaw Street, alas, a bird lover was on the lookout only for a male ring-eye and would not purchase its mate, no matter how lovey-dovey they made a show of their behavior inside the peddling cage. 

The Dreamer Bird was heartbroken. It was quickly paired up with a male bird of its kind, and this was the couple the bird man eventually brought the old hermit, who designated them to the Cage of The Dreamer Birds. Day and night the female Dreamer Bird wondered where her dashing ring-eye was, and what could have befallen it. 

Yes, what the head waiter said was true. It'd been more than a year and she hadn't gotten over this major separation trauma.

It was quite cheeky of the house lizard, of course, to have intruded upon her romantic saga without warning, but then again all lizards are cheeky by nature. Besides, among small creatures, only a few things are considered rude because such creatures constantly remind themselves that they are equal. Unlike human beings, I mean, who pretend they are not equal to one another and will even spend their last dollar to construct that illusion.  

A tiny teardrop, like a round chispaz, rolled down the Dreamer Bird's cheek.

Weep no more, the head waiter grinned, for I actually have news of your amour.

Again, the Dreamer Bird gasped.

He is not far from here, the head waiter disclosed. He lives in a cage on a top-floor unit of the high-rise condominium behind this compound. You can see his cage from yours when the unit is brightly lighted at night. Do take a peek tonight.

The Dreamer Bird thanked the head waiter profusely for this bit of news. Her love was in the same neighborhood! She quickly dried her eyes and fluttered back to the mah jongg table in the lanai, where her companions had been munching on crushed peanuts, patiently waiting for her.