The Two Sides Of
Justin Part 2
“Well I guess you could throw very accurately young
man. That’s a great hit you made
there. I could not have done better
myself, or worse.” The boys looked up to
see a smiling girl of not more than sixteen.
She had the kindest of faces.
She took the injured pigeon in her hands and examined
it closely. “You know,” she said, “this
bird probably has some young ones waiting for its return. They are not likely to ever see their mother
again. See how the blood spoils the beauty
of its white breast? But of course, you
didn’t think about that when you took aim.
I wonder who’s going to take care of this injured bird or its young
ones.”
Justin could take no more of this. He felt really bad. “I am so sorry,” he apologised. “How could I have been so horrible? I know what I’ll do. I’ll take the bird home and look after
it. And I’ll never harm another creature
as long as I live.”
“Me neither,” echoed Pete.
Three weeks later, the beautiful pigeon was soaring in
the skies again.
Stewart Russell © 1997
