8/8/2019 Valence Was Not an Electron

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Valence was not an electron, but rather a canary that arrived in the rain. He washighlighter bright, with those beady drops of eyes that birds tend to have. He wasannounced by a roll of thunder, and came plummeting in a streak of orange to land at hisgirl's feet.

The girl fell off the bench, to her knees, and cradled the bedraggled creature in her

hands. Felt him fragile and small, heart racing against her palms, sharp feet curled upinto themselves. Tucking him inside her shirt and folding her arms about her, she stoodup in a fluid movement and took her bird home. This is how they chose each other.

She was neither keen nor astute, and called him Sparky even though that wasn't hisname. But a bird is not a choosy companion, and they suited each other well. I n allfairness, she couldn't be expected to know that he was Valence- he refused to make asound. Finding this greatly distressing, she sang to him constantly which, despite hergood intentions, only served to distress the neighbours. The truth was though, Valencejust didn't speak- the noises he could make always seemed so inadequate.

It started with face cream, then it got worse. The bottles started lining up by the sink,crowding the dresser. The girl spent countless hours grooming, and the canary drooped

in his cage. She noticed though, and hung up a mirror and a bell for him. The singingstopped, the radio came on, and she danced self-consciously while waiting for the phoneto ring. It would probably be most accurate to say that it started with Andy.

The girl shook out the carpets. Singing softly under her breath, she fluffed up thecushions on the sofa, and then sat by the birdcage eating strawberries, pushing a sliverthrough to Valence every now and again. The bird however, had other things on hismind, namely the "cheep" that was forming in his throat. And while he was trying tofigure how to let that noise out, the doorbell rang and Andy sauntered in arrogantlyconfidant as if he owned the place.

There were days and weeks that followed, and Valence's dislike of that boy onlyincreased with the passing time. Then one fateful morning as Valence was hoppingrestlessly about his cage, the girl asked Andy if he'd like to have Sparky perch on hisfinger, and unlatched the little door keeping the electric creature trapped behind bars of rage. He flew straight for the boy's head, jabbing at his eyes, and Andy flailed his armsabout wildly. There was an explosion of feathers and a strangled yell, and after longshort moments of confusion the boy clutched the canary in his hands, blood drippingfrom his torn earlobe.

"I am going to turn you into a hat stupid.. bird..!"

The hat stupid bird pecked his way out of the boy's hands and flew out the window,leaving behind a teary-eyed stupefied girl and a cursing boy. He flew out and up and out of sight, screeching as he went. He screeched as his girl placated the boy, and screeched

as the boy returned to where he came from, muttering under his breath. He screechedand warbled and trilled his mad jealous song- the girl had never known days could be solong. The next day was silent and devoid of life and she couldn't quite say when the bird

had gone away.