Willow got up as the first light of dawn broke.
She yawned as she washed the rice.
Inky was woken by the noise. It stood on the windowsill, watching her, its small eyes filled with great big confusion.
’Shouldn’t this kind of thing be left to adult humans?’
’Kids should sleep more so they can grow tall.’
Willow noticed the little bird outside the window too and mumbled, "You seem to come to our house a lot these past two days."
Inky jumped in fright when it heard her words.
’Could this human child understand animals, just like Renee?’
Inky chirped, "Hello, this is Inky. It’s a pleasure to meet you."
After hearing its chirps, Willow just calmly lowered her head and continued with her tasks.
’So she can’t understand after all.’
Willow pressed the "congee" button on the rice cooker and went back to the living room to start her craftwork.
After a little while, a sound came from the other room.
Willow’s previously relaxed back immediately tensed up.
About a minute later, the door opened from the inside, and James Yelric walked out wearing a pair of boxer shorts.
Willow glanced up at him before quickly lowering her eyes, saying obediently, "Good morning, Uncle."
James Yelric scratched his head and went into the bathroom.
A moment later, an irritable curse came from the bathroom, "Fuck! It’s fucking clogged again!"
Willow trembled with fear.
James Yelric came over with a dark expression and said to her, "The toilet’s clogged. You go fix it."
Hearing this, Willow said in a trembling voice, "Uncle, Mom never taught me how to unclog a toilet..."
Before she could finish, James Yelric kicked her, roaring in anger, "You can’t fucking do anything! What the hell am I raising you for? If you don’t know how to unclog it, then use your fucking hands!"
Willow was kicked to the ground, scraping her palm raw on the rough floor, but she got back up without a sound.
She struggled to suppress a sob. "I’m sorry, Uncle. I’ll go do it right now."
With that, she lowered her head and ran into the bathroom.
Inky saw this and was so angry it wanted to peck someone.
’That male is horrible! How could he bully a child?’
Seeing James Yelric about to leave, Inky was determined to get revenge for poor Willow. It quickly called for its companions.
In less than a minute, a dozen or so other birds had gathered by its side.
Inky told its companions its plan.
Just as James Yelric got downstairs and stepped into an open area, the flock of birds launched their attack.
Some birds pooped on his head, while others pecked at his neck with their sharp beaks.
James Yelric was furious. He flailed his arms to drive the birds away, spewing a constant stream of filthy curses.
Willow fetched bucket after bucket of water to flush the toilet, but it wouldn’t go down.
She was drenched in sweat from exhaustion. Staring at the sewage constantly overflowing from the squat toilet, her face was a mask of despair and devastation.
"What am I supposed to do?"
"Why don’t I know how to unclog a toilet?"
"Mom, I really miss you so much..."
This scene nearly broke Inky’s heart.
It instructed its companions to watch over the two siblings while it spread its wings and flew off in another direction.
**
Renee Jennings was up bright and early again today, driving Glenn Zane to the wholesale farmers’ market.
She went to the spot where Willow and her brother had set up their stall the other day, but she didn’t see the two small, frail figures.
’Did they not come today?’
Renee Jennings waited for a while, then walked over to a nearby fruit stall. She bought a few things and asked the owner, "Ma’am, what time do that brother and sister who sell fruit usually set up their stall?"
"Well, it’s almost eight o’clock." The stall owner glanced at her watch, her tone clearly surprised. "They’re usually here long before now. This is a real surprise! The sun must be rising in the west!"