the birds

Here's the latest animal story:

I was so hungry on Monday. I go to class straight from work and had nothing other than a tiny pouch of fruit snacks in my possession, so I went to Au Bon Pain and got 2 of those tasty cheddar and jalapeno bagels. I had some extra time, and although the day was gray and the air was heavy, there was something fresh about it so I went out to eat at one of the tables outside. I went up front, near the guy who let's you pay $2 to play chess against him, near the sidewalk where everyone walks by. A tree was overhanging the area and it seemed like a fine choice. I sat down and barely pulled my first bagel out when some little brown birds became quite interested. They were a little too interested too quickly. Even though my other bagel was in the bag still, I took it off the table (where the birds were already starting to land) and held it on my lap. The birds had no shame- they hopped closer and closer and more of their friends joined them. I waved my hand at them and they barely flapped a wing. I kicked the table and they barely hopped. Finally, they got so fed up with my refusal to share my bagel that one of them flew in front of my face, ready to land on the bagel or me or something. It was that enormous hummingbird kind of flutter, just like they do in The Birds, and frankly, it's a little disconcerting and rather freaky when the thing has it's claws stretched toward you and is flapping furiously about 6 inches from your face. Some guy out doing surveys on that stretch of sidewalk laughed at me. Maybe now I can be a little more empathic toward that lady in the movie and laugh at her a little less...