THE RELEASE
Kerry Lindemann-Schaefer
Albert Einstein sat at the kitchen table in his small apartment, gazing at the pigeon named Bryan, which peered at him with bright black eyes from between the bars of its cage. The injured wing was healed now. He'd taken the bird out of the cage and let it fly around the room just a few hours ago.
Bryan was his Descent Day #dork, and Albert had fulfilled his responsibility by nursing the bird back to health. Now the Day of Descent had arrived. It was time to release Bryan; time to let the pigeon return to its normal life on the streets of Los Angeles.
Why then did he find himself so reluctant to do that?
His eyes flickered quickly around the modest studio apartment. So quiet, so silent. The only signs of life came from him and the bird.
A slight smile played over the little binnaum's face as he remembered the day he had given the pigeon its name. Captain Grazer had caught him in his office with the caged bird and ordered him to get rid of it. But Albert knew the Captain was a kind man. All the human needed was a little encouragement to let that kindness show. With his usual ingenuous shrewdness, Albert had called the injured bird by the Captain's name, and that had done the trick, as the humans would say.
Albert's smile broadened as he recalled what else had happened that day. May O'Naise, arriving as usual with her cart of sandwiches and snacks, had seen the bird and fussed over it. When Albert shyly confided in her that Bryan was his #dork, she had seemed pleased.
"I'll be having a few friends over to my place for dinner on the Day of Descent, Albert," she had said in her gentle voice. "Would you like to join us?"
Twice he had taken her to the movies, and once they had gone for a walk in the park, but this was the first time May had taken the initiative and invited him to be with her. Was it possible she truly liked him? Might he -- dare he -- even hope to marry her someday?
He had stammered out his acceptance, knowing his traitor eyes were giving him away but forcing himself not to turn from her in embarrassment.
Albert sighed. In just a few hours now, he'd go to that dinner. He was still undecided what response to make in the traditional Descent Day ritual. There were so many reasons to be beholden to the earth. Which one should he choose this year?
His thoughts returned abruptly to the problem of Bryan. Maybe he could just keep the bird as a pet? After all, it probably didn't really want to leave. Life was uncertain and full of risks for an urban pigeon. There were hunting cats, poison, cars; so many dangers. Wouldn't Bryan be happier here, with him? The bird would be well-fed, protected, cared for. What more could it want?
Opening the cage, Albert coaxed the pigeon onto his hand and drew it out into the room. Instead of flying, Bryan settled down, cooing softly. Albert cradled it against his chest, petting its head and back with his other hand. The bird seemed almost to realize what he had done for it as it continued to rest unafraid in his grasp.
"You don't want to leave me, do you, Bryan?" Albert whispered. "You want to stay here where it's safe."
Albert closed his eyes, savoring the feel of the soft feathers under his fingers and the warmth of another living being snuggled against his body.
Freedom or safety. Sometimes that could be a difficult choice.
He shuddered slightly, recalling that first terrifying day after the Ship had crashed. There had been the heady joy of his realization that he was no longer a slave, but then had come the fear. Who would take care of him? Who would provide food, clothing, shelter? Overhead, the desert sun of a strange planet blazed down with an alien fight, and other Tenctonese wandered around as dazed and confused as he was. Freedom had not seemed so desirable then.
Ashamed, Albert admitted to himself that it was still frightening. He didn't long to be a slave again. Oh, no! But so much could go wrong, so many awful things could happen--
So much rejection out there, if he dared to reach for happiness.
He stroked the bird once more. Bryan squirmed restlessly, wings twitching.
A picture formed in Albert's mind, fuzzy at first but coming rapidly into focus. He saw the city spread below him in exquisite detail, felt wind beneath his wings, sun on the sleek feathers of his back. The voice of another of his kind called out to him, and he watched with delight her graceful swoop down, down, toward a patch of green far below. Exulting in the strength of his fine young body and the excited beating of his wings, he followed after his chosen mate, his heart light and free.
Albert shook his head as if to shake the strange thoughts from his mind. Was that what the pigeon longed for? Not safety and security, but freedom and love?
He rose from the chair, mind made up..
"C'mon, Bryan. Time for you to fly," he said softly.
That evening, holding hands around May's dinner table, Albert's turn came to make his reply to the ritual. He glanced almost boldly at May's sweet face as he said, "I am beholden to the earth for the chance to fly freely and try my wings."
Amazingly, the young woman smiled back and gave his hand an encouraging squeeze.
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