Whippoorwill!

I posted the 100-word story below previously to Notes. It was my first attempt at “flash fiction.” And while it is “fiction” in the sense that this scene did not play out exactly this way, the story is largely based on truth. My daughter, Katherine, has come to love the call of our backyard bird, the eastern whippoorwill.

This morning I was able to capture Kate calling to our friend and have the recording below. I thought it was too wonderful not to share. If you listen closely enough you will also hear the actual bird in the background.

I hope you find this to be a source of joy as you begin your weekend.

God bless,

Derek

“Whipporwill”

Katherine races across the living room to her father sitting with his morning coffee.

“Daddy, daddy! You want to go outside!?”

“You want to go outside? Let’s go!”

“Let’s go! Let’s go!”

As they walk to the sliding glass door Katherine continues, “Come on! Come on!” Before the door is wide enough to walk through Katherine forces her head through and begins to call, “Whippoorwill! Whippoorwill!”

The door is finally open wide and the toddler pulls daddy’s arm harder and harder as if their nocturnal friend will whisk away any moment.

Dad falls silent. He can only smile.

“Whiporrwill! Whiporrwill!”