Chapter 2 Projects

Chapter 2

Projects

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"So class, today we're going to be doing an easy project about animals due to the fact that it's a half-day. Stay safe, and class dismissed." Great, a project about animals--maybe I'll do an observation about Silvi...

    After class is a lot worse.

    Many students were talking about what they're going to do for the science project, some rumored about my relationship with my bird.

    Claira didn't seem to mind those rumors.

   "Girl, about the project, can I make it about your bird pet, Sili I think?" my friend Claira asked after school.

    "Her name is Silvi, and sure, you can come over I guess." What a great day this is.

    "OMG, thanks so much girl! I really like--no love your bird, you're also going to be doing the project about her right?"

    "Hmm... yeah I think so," that is something to consider since Silvi is an animal after all. "Yeah, I will."

    "Knew it," Claira walked along with me-- following me home for the project of course.

    As we walked, Claira kept asking me about my bird, what she ate, what she did, and so forth...

    When we finally did reach my apartment, it was 5:05, Silvi was there-- in a mess of my previously failed projects for another class. And she was, I guess, resting as usual. Claira took this chance and started observing her wings, beak, size, length of feathers, and so forth.

    "Hey, Ann. Do you think I could lift her up for just a sec or two, or would that disturb her sleep?" Claira asked

    And as if she had been listening to our conversation the whole time, she flew up to Claira's arms and looked at her as if to say: Are you satisfied?

    "Wow, it's like she knows what I want. Now I can weigh her on a scale, wait--do you have a scale?"

    "I think I do, wait, lemme check--" I left the room, leaving Silvi and Claira alone.

    I checked in my kitchen first, I didn't find a scale. So I decided to check the basement-- a place I never went after unpacking my things when I first moved in.

    I held my only flashlight in my hands and went down the stairs to a pitch-black room where boxes were piled up high, spiderwebs were almost everywhere-- spiders big and small, disgusting and scary, most spiders were on walls ugh... better clean the basement during the weekend. And after 30 painful minutes of searching through boxes, facing creepy spiders, I found a scale that was given to me for a science experiment--5 years ago.

   It was old, sure, but usable. And that’s all that mattered--to me anyway. I flipped through other boxes and found other instruments that I can use for my project. When I finally decided to go back outside, I swear I felt something fleecy brush my leg, I stifled a scream.

   It’s probably just another spider I assured myself, just a spider, no big deal.

   Except for the fact that I knew it wasn’t a spider…  spiders are not fleecy. What was wrong with me? I’m probably hallucinating--right?

   I ignored the spiders that seemed to glare at me as I walked out of the basement. I wondered what Claira is doing right now. Hopefully having enough fun to discover my absence.

   And as I had expected, Claira was playing with Silvi while observing her every action, not wondering about my absence.

   “Hey Claira, sorry for being absent for--,” I checked my wristwatch, 5:55 PM, that means I’ve been gone for 50 minutes. “about 50 minutes.” I finished lamely.

    “Nah, it’s fine. Anyway, I did some observations about Silvi, her length is 8.5 inches and wingspan is 15.5 inches, she also has feathers that I believe are waterproof, and I believe that she’s a swan or a goose, but that's all the information that I have about her…” I heard her trail off as if she expected to have much more information about my bird.

    “Oh, she belongs in the family of ducks, Anatidae, I believe,” I thought about it for a second and added, “she’s a swan.”

    “Hmm… She's so beautiful, but isn't her neck too short?” That set me in wonder too… her neck is shorter than average swans.

    “Eh… I’ve never thought about that, I just recall the vet exclaiming that she is a beautiful swan the other day…” I trailed off, wondering why the vet called her a swan-- she looks more like a goose than a swan.

    So during her 2 hours of stay, we observed Silvi’s every movement to see if she acts more swan-like or goose-like.

    Unfortunately, she’s a mix of both, causing us much trouble with our observation.

    When Claira left, Silvi acted much differently and disobediently when alone with me.

    I gave Silvi her dinner and decided to go straight to the shower and sleep instead.

    Strangely enough, when I came out of the bathroom, she sat there on my bed as if it was her territory to occupy.

    “Silly bird, get off and go to your cage,” I carried her to her cage. Unfortunately, the moment I placed her in the cage, she pecked my hand twice and flew everywhere-- causing a huge mess that I’d have to clean up sooner or later.

    “Silvi--stop causing a mess! No--don’t!” She knocked over my books off from the shelf. However, that seemed to calm her down. She settled on the pile of books and fell asleep.

    I’d clean up the mess tomorrow.

    Cautiously, I tip-toed to my bed, and in 4 seconds flat, I fell asleep.

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