False Friends

By Manoshi De Silva

There was a flock of pigeons that lived close to the town. There weren't many trees around, but there were lots of tall buildings. Sometimes people threw crumbs and seeds for the pigeons and they came down to eat those. They roosted in the tall buildings and ceilings at night.

There were three close friends in this flock of pigeons. They always called themselves 'the three best friends', and promised each other to always be there for each other. They always came down to the ground to feed together. They also loved to fly together, play and do somersaults in the endless blue sky.

One day, as the three pigeons were playing together, one challenged the other two, to see who could fly the fastest, while doing somersaults in the sky. The other two friends accepted the challenge. So, the three pigeons started flapping their wings freely and flew as fast as they could, while somersaulting. They were enjoying the day and having a lot of fun.

It was all fun and games until one pigeon lost its balance and went down like a dry leaf. He fell down on to the pavement. His two friends quickly came down to see if he was okay. They both turned their heads this way and that way, and examined their friend who fell down. "Thank goodness, he's alright," said one friend. "Yes, let's continue our game," said the other friend.

"But my wing is hurt," said the pigeon who fell down. "You are just imagining it! Come on, let's go," urged the other two. That's when they saw a stray cat slowly approaching them. Usually, the pigeons were not an easy catch for the cat. But this time they sensed the danger. "Let's get away from here," shouted one pigeon as he flapped his wings. "Yes, let's go," said the other one, who also flapped his wings and flew up.

But the pigeon who fell down, found it difficult to move his wing. He couldn't flap it and it was painful. It was then that he realized that he had injured his wing after the fall. "I can't fly," he cried. "I think my wing is broken!" His two friends flew high and hovered at a safe distance. "Please don't leave me, the cat will catch me. Please help me," cried the injured pigeon.

"Please call the others. If the whole flock comes here, the cat will get scared and run away," shouted the injured pigeon, dragging his wing. "If we try to chase the cat, he might catch one of us," said one of his friends. "Yes, we can't go down. If we go down to help him, we will also fall into trouble," said the other friend.

The two pigeons flew away, leaving behind their injured friend. "There's nothing we can do," they said without even trying to help, because they were only worried about their own safety. The injured pigeon closed his eyes tight. He was too scared to look and he was also feeling very sad. He had trusted his friends. They were together all the time. But as soon as he was in trouble, they left him behind. "The cat will catch me any moment now," he thought sadly.

But things took an unexpected turn. The cat ran pass the pigeon. Someone chased it away. It was a lady and she came near the injured pigeon and picked him up very gently. Then she examined his wings. "Oh no, I am in trouble again," thought the pigeon, his heart beating fast.

The lady's touch was kind and comforting. So the pigeon stopped struggling. She took the pigeon home and put him in a cage. "This is the end of my freedom," thought the pigeon feeling very sad. The lady then took the pigeon to a veterinary doctor. The vet examined the pigeon well, gave some medicine and instructed the lady on how to care for it.

During the next few days, the pigeon was well looked after and given nice food. Day by day his wing got better and stronger. One day the pigeon could flap his wings without feeling any pain. The lady watched him stretch his wings and took him out to observe him. "You are better now. You can go back home," she said.

The lady released the pigeon where she had found him before. The pigeon flew away as soon as she opened the door of the cage. The pigeon was very grateful to her. He knew he had gotten better because of her loving care. It felt so good for him to fly freely in the blue sky again.

"Look, he's back," shouted one of the friends who had abandoned him when he was hurt. "And he can fly again," shouted the other friend. "Where were you all these days? We thought the cat caught you," said one. "We are so happy to see you again," cooed the other one. "Now we can all play together again. Remember we are friends forever! We always stick together!"  

"But where were you two, when I was in trouble?" asked the pigeon who was injured. "You two left me when I was helpless and in danger. You both didn't even try to help me!" The two friends didn't know what to say. "But you are here now and you are okay," said one. "Yes, the three of us are together again!" said the other friend.

"True friends stick with you through thick and thin," said the injured pigeon. "What is the use of friends who are with you when you are well, but leave you when you are in trouble? I don't need such friends!" He then flapped his wings quickly and flew away from them, feeling happy that he was well and free again, and feeling happier to be away from false friends.