Up in the North of Scotland, in a little fishing town called Portsoy, there was a hotel called The Station Hotel. The Manageress was named Margaret, a Spinster from the Second World War. She never had a boyfriend or husband, but she did have a little bird.

Margaret lived out her days at the hotel taking care of this little bird.

Throughout the Winter months, Margaret’s bird would sit in its cage in the corner of her living room.

She had an open fire to keep the house warm and during the nighttime, she would put a blanket over the cage where he would sleep.

In the Summertime, however, Margaret would pick the birdcage up from the corner of her living room, take him through, and place him next to a table that was next to the kitchen window.

On the nice days which were few and far between, Margaret would open up the kitchen window so her little bird could look out.

Margaret genuinely believed she was doing a good turn by her bird during those summer months. The reality was that those months were like torment in hell for her poor bird.

During those winter months, the little bird was comfortable, content, and at peace with himself.

However, when it got to Summer, the little bird would look out the window and compare himself to all those other birds outside flying around free. He realized that he

was a caged bird. He realized he wasn’t free.

Then one day, late Summer, it was Margaret’s shopping day. The window was open for the bird to enjoy an outdoor view.

As she left the house to go to the shops, she had shut the door behind her, and a gust of wind had blown through the house knocking the door of the birdcage open.

This was the little bird’s chance. Here he was, sat there for a few moments, humming and hawing, thinking to himself, ‘Will I, won’t I, should I, shouldn’t I?’

In this state of indecisiveness and procrastination, the bird couldn’t make a decision. He struggled because he liked living with Margaret, he knew he had his comforts and he liked them. He’d become attached to them but whilst they were nice, they didn’t offer him any fulfillment because he wasn’t free.

He thought to himself what it would be like to fly with all the other birds, to eat worms from the grass, to have a family. and what else was possible?

Then he thought of Margaret and how well she treated him. She would take good care of him. He was well treated here and had everything he needed.

The thought of staying with Margaret brought the little bird comfort but he wasn’t fulfilled or at peace.

The little bird realized he was just existing and going through life. He wasn’t going anywhere. He was just in a birdcage watching life go by. He wasn’t free.

The little bird sat going back and forth about what decision to make.

Margaret walked in.

This was his last chance to fly out the window.

He didn’t.

Realizing the door of the birdcage was open, Margaret grabbed the cage, closed the door, took him back through to the living room, and placed him back on the porch in the corner where she put a blanket over the cage.

The little bird then proceeded to fall asleep.

The story ends here.