His story began one bright and sunny morning when he fell off a ledge suddenly into the uncertainties that lay below him. Home had been a 6th storey ledge above the roof of a corridor where countless people hurried by every day. Maybe he had been people-watching, and had not noticed when he stepped a little way too much over the narrow ledge, his head tilted in wonderment at those amazing humans who sat on all those benches the whole day. I do not know what was going through his head then, but I can imagine that he must have found human life boring—humans miss out on all the sunshine and blue skies because they cannot fly. Little did the little pigeon know that he too would soon miss out on what he loved most in life.
The little pigeon was not hurt by his fall, no he wasn't. But, he was severely traumatised (and maybe his ego, a little bruised). What would he do? Many of his brothers and sisters and even his parents had been eaten up by the sinister golden cat that lurked among the shadows below where he lived. He did not want to be like them. He fled into the depths of darkness, hoping that by hiding, he would be able to escape the fate that befell his unlucky family. He would figure out how to get home some time later.
Luckily for him, a group of boring young humans had seen his fall from grace. Somehow, they managed to find the little pigeon. The little pigeon was a bit reluctant to leave his hiding place, but the humans were persistent. As one of the girl humans scooped him up in her hands, the little pigeon relented, too tired to run anymore. Well, it was just as good for him, since they brought him up to the 6th floor corridor, really close to home. The humans carefully placed him on the corridor ledge, and urged him to fly back home up the roof.
The little pigeon was grateful, and he was happy. He really wanted to go home; he could not wait. As he spread his wings, and prepared to fly off, he was suddenly afraid. What if he couldn't fly anymore? What if he fell again? The little pigeon hesitated, and peered cautiously over the ledge of the corridor. Now, instead of feeling a sense of glee and delight over the prospect of take-off, the little pigeon felt gripped by an inexplicable sense of fear. The little pigeon found out to his horror that he did not dare fly anymore.
The little pigeon was dismayed. “Surely I am braver than that?” he reasoned to himself.
So he tried to calm his nerves, and again spread his wings and tried to lift off again. But he failed. "Never mind, I'll try again," he said to himself. But as soon as he opened his eyes again, he felt that sense of fear again.
And so the little pigeon tried again and again and again and again, but each time, he was seized by terror, and failed. Even the kind humans who saved him did not know how to help him, and gave up after a while.
So the little pigeon stayed on the ledge, too afraid to fly. And he stayed there for one day, two days, three days. All the humans who scurried by were amazed at the sight of this pigeon who seemed contented to stay on the ledge. But the little pigeon was not contented. He badly wanted to go home, and he was tired, and hungry, for he had to battle the elements.
One day, the little pigeon decided that enough was enough. He decided that he had better call for help if he ever wanted to see home again. He squawked and squeaked, and chirped and whistled. Soon, other pigeons responded. They saw the little pigeon and flew near to where he was.
“Spread your wings and fly, little one!” the other pigeons cried.
“But I'm too afraid!” he sobbed.
“Don't be afraid, be brave, and you'll fly!” the other pigeons chorused.
“But I'm still too afraid!” the little pigeon cried, shaking with dismay.
And so it went on like that for a few hours. And still the little pigeon was too afraid to fly. The other pigeons tried to help; they persuaded, encouraged, cajoled, and even laughed at him. But still the little pigeon was too afraid to fly. Soon, the other pigeons gave up, for like the humans, they really did not know how to help him too. As they flew away, they said to him, “You must overcome your fears, little one, or you'll never live to see the blue skies again! You're the only one who can save yourself!” And with that and a whoosh, they were gone.
The little pigeon was by himself again. And he stayed on the ledge, day after day, too afraid to fly. Every day, little by little, his strength and spirits sank. He missed the feeling of soaring through the air; he missed the feel of sunshine on his back. But still, he was too afraid to fly. Poor little pigeon!
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If you pass by the 6th-floor corridor near the Vietnamese Café in the Engineering Faculty, you might still be able to see the little pigeon there. I know, for I saw him there today.
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