TO KILL A MOCKING BIRD

The power saw sliced through the panel at the wrong angle.

‘Dammit.’ The latest mishap during the garage renovation.

The myna bird laughed. Definitely a laugh this time.

Three days it had perched, mocking his every calamity.

‘Funny, is it?’ he asked. The yellow beak cachinnated.

He put some seed in his hand. The myna cocked it’s head and hopped towards him.

He grabbed it tight.

‘Think it’s funny now?’ he asked as he turned the power saw back on.

***

Two operations later his thumb was reattached.

There was a flash of yellow and a cackle at the hospital window.


myna-bird
Copyright Douglas M. McIlroy

Written as part of the Friday Fictioneers challenge hosted by Rochelle Wisoff-Fields (more details HERE). The idea is to write a short story of 100 words based on the photo prompt (above).

To read stories of 100 words based on this week’s prompt, visit HERE.

130 responses to “TO KILL A MOCKING BIRD”

  1. Ouch! Never mock a mocking bird 😀

    Liked by 1 person

    1. There are easier battles to choose!

      Liked by 1 person

  2. Call me vicious, but me thinks the birdie should have flown off with the thumb and dropped it far far away.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Wow, that would be one mean bird!

      Like

  3. Your bird reminds me somewhat of Edgar Allan Poe’s Raven, the same malice I think. Well written 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

    1. A very flattering comparison, thank you 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

  4. I really like this, particularly the repeating laugh. So glad the bird got the better of him too.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thank you Rachel, very kind.

      Like

    1. Karma, justice or just a very smart bird!

      Like

  5. Great Iain and a new word for me cachinnated, even my lap top doesn’t recognise it, red line underneath. They are a wicked sort of bird which endears them to me.

    Liked by 1 person

  6. Truly a mocking bird! Hilarious tale (not for the one who lost his thumb, of course).

    Liked by 1 person

  7. Ouch! But then what the heck. Good one Iain.

    Liked by 1 person

  8. I’d say serves him right, but that’s a hard lesson learned.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. He won’t make the same mistake again, hopefully.

      Like

  9. a very good story !! A moral, something dark, surprising twist, something to laugh and in the end wins the sympathy!
    I also like the title very much. “He who laughs last laughs longest”, or “The laugh is always on the loser” … I think for the art it is best that the finger is off!

    Liked by 1 person

      1. I thank you!

        Liked by 1 person

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