Maddi didn’t even know how she got them all into her room. As soon as Maddi got home she was bombarded by her parents, asking where she has been and making sure she was okay. She told them that she was just tired and wanted to go to sleep. They allowed Maddi to reside into her room with a gentle ‘we are here if you need to talk.’
Maddi partially ran to her room and locked it. She dumped out the birds that were hiding in her pockets and sleeves and watched as they flew around her room. They bumbled around the smaller space and knocked over her books and other things on her desk and dresser.
Maddi laughed a little bit as they stopped to investigate the mess they made. Suddenly there was a knock at her door.
“Maddi? Is everything okay in there?” Her mother asked.
“Yeah Mom, I just knocked some books over.”
“Alright. If there is anything you want to talk about, you father and I are right out here.”
“I’m good mom.” Maddi replied, hoping that she would leave. She had no such luck.
Her door handle jiggled slightly. “Maddi why is your door locked?”  She grabbed a blanket and scooped the birds up in a single swoop and tossed them gently into a chest at the end of her bed. Maddi jumped onto her bed and took out her book. Seconds later her door opened and her mother walked in.
Maddi looked at her mother. “I’m trying to do homework if you don’t mind.” Her mother backed out again with a worried look sent at her daughter before closing the door once more and removing the key from the slot.
A soft chirp, was muffled by the chest lid. Maddi opened the lid and let them out.
“Stay here. I’m going to get you some food.” Slipping out of her bedroom and closing the door, Maddi tiptoed into her kitchen and grabbed as much granola that she could fit into her hand and a candy bar for herself. The quietly, quietly, she returned back to her bedroom.
Maddi didn’t even know why she still took care of these birds. Her brother could quite possibly be dying, but something about these birds made her feel safe. As though Dean were still sitting in the room with her, laughing at how clueless their parents were. A sharp pang struck her heart at the thought of her brother. Maddi sprinkled the granola on her carpet and the birds attacked it in an eager frenzy.
Dean Jr. was the first to hop away. He flew onto the windowsill and looked out. One by one they all followed. Maddi got ready for bed as the continued their silent ceremony. She crawled under her comforter, turned out her light and with one last look at her birds, she fell into a dreamless sleep.