Sunny Disposition

There was always a burning sensation in Helena’s lungs when she dreamed, as if she hadn’t had enough water and had been running with her mouth open for miles. Tonight was no different. The scent of dust permeated her nostrils and she wondered why she couldn’t feel the tips of her toes. In the distance there was a rumbling of voices through the closed door. One was distinctly her father.

He was always ranting about something….

The canary, who was frequently her partner in sleep, whistled his tune and Helena clicked her tongue. “I’d be happy too Sunny…” She folded her arms on her stomach as she lay reclined and comfortable. “but, if I was lettuce I’d be very ...very afraid.”

The door swung open and Helena looked shocked. Her father was angry but he didn’t seem to notice she was in here. He picked up the cell phone on the table and dialed. From where she was reclining she couldn’t see who he was dialing to. Sunny sang his song and her father pointed a finger at the cage and said, “Not a PEEP!” then while the phone was ringing on the other end he called out to Maggie, the cleaning lady, “Maggie do you know any recipes for Canary Soup?! That’s not breaking any laws is it?”

Maggie didn’t answer.

The first thing you'd notice about Mr.Kinney was his size. He was tall. He wasn't portly but he had bulk. He'd never been a handsome man with a nose too big for his face and eyes that were deep blue when he wasn't squinting intensely. Otherwise they were draped in shadow. He was balding but he wasn't vain and so he'd kept the chestnut brown halo that remained cropped, short. He always wore a suit and was especially found of navy. He was remarkably present.

Helena gasped, “Father!” but he didn’t acknowledge her displeasure any more than he paid attention to the fact that she was inside the room along with him. Besides, whoever it was he was calling had picked up the phone,finally.

“This is outrageous!” Mr. Kinney yelled and the person on the other side must have tried to console him because her father barked, “Who asked you?! I’m not calling you so you can bullshit me. I’m calling you so you can get to action. A quarter of my profits come from beef and beef bi-products. Do you know how much I stand to lose?”

Peep. Whistle. Trill.

Mr. Kinney shook his finger at the bird, then, when the bird peeped in response he put his finger against his throat and made a gesture as if he was slicing his own throat open. “I am only keeping you because Helena loves you so much.” That was when he finally acknowledged her with a wink and took the cell phone out of the room. While he did so, Helena could hear him say, “No! I wasn’t talking to you…Why would Helena love YOU? She loves that damned bird….It’s a canary….WHAT!? Grab a pen and write this down...”

Then the door shut and Helena was alone with her thoughts.