Conditional Reality

Panicbutton Highwire put birdseed in a bird feeder in her backyard. Starlings, blue jays, juncoes, and sparrows came. Panicbutton put out more seed. More birds arrived: robins, wrens, and cardinals. Panicbutton bought sacks of seed. It all got eaten in a few days. She mortgaged her house to keep up. The birds were ravenous, eating all she put out. Eventually Panicbutton ran out of money. I have nothing left, she told the birds. I gave you all I have. The birds perched quietly, trembling, staring. Panicbutton put her worn shoes under the bird feeder, then quietly returned to her house.