“Dear, aren’t you supposed to be making a bird?”
Annabel stared at her Vio-Chamber with a soft smile. “I did!”
Mrs. Clemens frowned. “But sweetheart, that’s just a plain mockingbird. Look over there. Do you see what Judy has made? Judy, tell Anna about your bird.”
Judy smiled. “It’s a pink bird with three heads.”
“Why does it have three heads?” Anna asked.
“This head is in charge when it’s happy, this one is in charge when it’s sad, and this one when it’s angry.”
“That’s very creative!” Mrs. Clemens beamed. “Don’t you want to do something like that?”
Anna shook her head. “No. One head is enough.”
“What about colors? Look at Jarmando’s bird.”
Upon hearing his name, Jarmando stepped to the side of his Vio-Chamber. “I made my bird change colors so it can hide from predators.”
“Won’t that make it hard for mates to find each other?” Mrs. Clemens asked.
Jarmando thought about it for a moment, then adjusted a few knobs on his Vio-Chamber. A large red spot appeared on the bird’s head; the only part of its plumage that didn’t constantly shift from color to color.
“That’s better.” Mrs. Clemens smiled. “And maybe you can make your bird hide the spot from predators by holding a wing in front of it.”
“Good idea!” Jarmando said, returning to his Vio-Chamber to adjust aspects of the bird’s behavior.
Mrs. Clemens turned back to Annabel. “See? There are so many colors, and you can make your bird look so wonderful.”
“I think he already does.” Anna said.
“What about his birdsong? Maybe you want to make that a bit more interesting?”
“No!” Anna squealed. “That’s the best part!”
“But listen… He’s just chirping and beeping like a normal bird. Mikhail made his bird sing the collected works of Mozart, and Zack’s bird gives passing people words of encouragement. Don’t you want your bird to do something like that?”
But Anna shook her head.
Mrs. Clemens sighed. “Anna, sweetheart, your bird will be entered for a chance to win the right to replace cardinals. Your design will be going up against designs from all across the nation, and, well, if the public thought cardinals were boring enough to replace in the first place, what makes you think a species that’s already been voted out of existence will win?”
Anna said nothing for a few long seconds. “I think some people like mockingbirds. My grandma did.” The forlorn look in her eyes grew, and she stared at the floor. “They were her favorite. Now she’s gone, and they’re gone too.”
Mrs. Clemens patted Anna lightly on the back. “Oh sweetie… You know what? I think your design is beautiful.”
“I know he’s plain, but that’s how they used to look.” Anna replied. “But if you close your eyes, you can hear my plain ol’ mockingbird sing. He’s got a beautiful song. He’s calling for his friends… Friends who are no longer around.”
Mrs. Clemens patted Anna on the back once more. “He’s a lovely bird.” She said before leaving Anna alone to listen to her creation sing its lonely song.