A new houseguest who cries for rest.

Today after work I drove to the city and in the parking lot saw a small, beat-up sparrow. It was hot today, around 32 degrees Celsius (about 90° Fahrenheit) and the bird was just sitting on the tarmac with its mouth wide open, not daring (or able) to move. It was a miserable sight, but I continued walking because I had things to do and people to see and miles to go before I could sleep.

About two hours later, I returned to the parking lot and saw the same sparrow (in Slovene: vrabec) sitting in exactly the same location as before. I also noticed that he was missing an eyeball.

This time I couldn’t leave him, so I scooped him up and chauffered him home. On the way back, I thought of the old Simon & Garfunkel song, Sparrow, and especially the line that goes:

Who will take pity in his heart,
And who will feed a starving sparrow?

I should mention that I have some experience nursing injured sparrows back to health. Actually, I have just one experience and all I can remember is lots of applesauce administered via toothpick. But that sparrow was in relatively decent shape when I found him. This one was demolished. I already explained that he was a cyclops — but his malfunctions were numerous and included things like a bright-pink head wound. And to top it off, he was young. Too young to be outside his nest.

We stopped at the vet’s for some antibiotics and advice. I initially thought that the sparrow had lost his eye to vicious siblings, but the vet suspected a cat attack. Either way, we went home and prepared a thick brew of oatmeal, milk and egg yolks. We also asked around and found someone with an old cage we could borrow. We cleaned the sparrow, fed him and medicated him.

I’m not sure he’ll wake up tomorrow, but if he does I’ll be ready for him.