Following that sad day when Papa Sparrow fell, it seemed to Son and his Beautiful Sparrow that each hour dragged and crept by.  Then they gradually learned that when they were out flying around together, the hours whisked by in a flash. 

One day, as the two silly, much-in-love sparrows flew along, they had fun making time pass a little quicker by singing their loud but sweet songs into the wind.

Even without much discussion they both understood when they saw the tiny, white buds pushing out of the dark branches on the dogwood trees that soon, very soon, spring would be bursting out all over the forest.  Son Sparrow was the first to put something into words that they both had been thinking about a lot, “My darling, I wonder if Mama is still having a very difficult time with Papa being gone.”

Beautiful Sparrow dipped her head to the side signaling him that she had been thinking the same thing.  Calling out back to him, she said, “My love, do you think that maybe Mama  has those dark shallow places in her heart like she told you about.”

Son Sparrow smiled under the feathers that covered his chest.  He was so pleased.  His darling was smart and sensitive, and she had remembered the “shallow places.”

Of course, they were right about Mama.

To everyone in the forest Mama held her head up high, but inside it was a different story.  At the same time, there was another side of her that was deliriously happy for Son, his Beautiful Sparrow, and the love they were sharing.  However, she also suspected that her son’s beautiful love was getting homesick for her parents…and that she was more than a little worried about them.

One night as Mama thought about all these things, and after she talked with the Creator about them, it all came to her.  “Bless their sweet hearts,” she murmured to herself.  “They are really trying their best to get me through this hard time.”  Suddenly, she knew what she had to do.  She smiled at the thought and said aloud, “It’s time for me to have a little ‘Mama’s talk’ with them.”

The next day, as the three of them were exploring a new patch of grass and eating up the seeds they found, Mama said softly, “Could you two precious ones stop for a moment and listen to me?”

      “Sure, Mama Sparrow,” they chirped in unison as they hopped over to her.

     “Well, Son, I know that it’s about time for you to leave the forest for a while and for both of you to take a trip back to the city.”  Nodding her head towards his lovely Sparrow, she said, “Your darling needs to see her parents and they need to know she’s all right.”

     Then, continuing on, she explained, “I feel my heartache of losing Papa has blinded me a bit, and before now I haven’t really seen your heart, Beautiful Sparrow.”  She paused, and, looking directly at her, added, “How homesick you must be…I’m so sorry.”

     Beautiful Sparrow put her protective and comforting wing around Mama to let her know it was all right. 

     Mama thought, Oh my, she’s a very special girl!

     It wasn’t as if the two young Sparrows hadn’t heard Mama’s words.  They had.  But suddenly all they could think about was that going back to the city would mean leaving Mama in the forest.  They agreed that was not an option!

     Son Sparrow and his love looked at each other and then he blurted out, “Mama, I have an idea!  Why don’t you come with us to the city? You could meet Beautiful’s family, and then,”  he hesitated a moment, “then maybe being in a new place would help you not miss Papa so much.” 

     Mama looked at them both and quietly said to her son, “No, no, you go on with  Beautiful Sparrow.  She’ll need your companionship and protection.  Especially if anything should go wrong as you fly back to the city.”  Then, looking away from them, she said, “I’d like a little more time here in the forest . . . to let my heart heal and possibly I will grow stronger. I think it will help me to feel close to Papa.   I think he would want me to be near our home and old friends for a while.”

     The next morning the two young Sparrows, their eyes glistening with tears, reluctantly said their goodbyes to Mama.  Spreading their wings, they began their flight through the forest back toward the city.  Flying high over the forest, they talked and talked about so many things…that the snow was all gone…missing Papa… seeing Beautiful Sparrow's parents, and of course, pondering the question of what they should do for Mama Sparrow. 

     Finally, they found themselves coming near the edge of the forest.  They were pretty tired and their wings felt heavier than usual.  About that time, Son Sparrow spotted the cottage where the little boy lived, but it didn’t look to him like anyone was at home.  Just then they both saw the boy down by the stream and quickly realized he wasn’t alone.  At first, it appeared that he was building something with a bigger boy, but Son Sparrow figured out that it was the boy’s father.  He turned to Beautiful and explained, “Oh look, the boy and his father are building something in their yard.”  Puzzled, he asked her, “What are they making?”

     As they flew lower and got closer to the cottage, Beautiful Sparrow smiled to herself because she knew exactly what they were making.  “Oh Darling, I know!” she blurted out.  “I’ve seen hundreds of them in the city.  It’s a birdhouse, and look, there’s another one up closer to the cottage.”

     “A what?” he asked.

     “Birdhouse!” she repeated.

     She had seen many birdhouses, in fact many different kinds of birdhouses.  Some were rather simple, tiny, or old and plain.  Others were bigger and had been made quite beautiful.  Some even had little windows and others were surrounded by ledges. She also knew that occasionally someone left seeds on the ledges for the birds to eat.

     Beautiful Sparrow’s parents had taught her that birdhouses were built to protect Sparrows and other small birds all year long.  But Son Sparrow had absolutely no idea what they were looking at.  He and his love flew to the nearest tree, landed on one of the strongest of branches, and he asked again, “Now, what are they building?” 
     She answered, “My Darling Sparrow, they are called ‘birdhouses.’  You have never lived in one.  Your home is in the forest.  And you lived in that old oak tree all your life.” 

     Sparrow still wasn’t sure of what she was saying.  So, when she saw his look of concern she said, “When we fly into the city you will see all different kinds of birdhouses.  They protect many of our families.”

     “From what?” he asked, rather shocked.

     “Why, from the cold, rain, cats, and other birds.” 

Still puzzled, he asked,  “Cats?”  

She decided to wait and let him see for himself, so she changed the subject.  “Please, let’s talk about this later.  I want to see my mama and papa. I miss them so much.”

     Beautiful Sparrow deftly lifted off the tree limb, flew a short circle around her love, and motioned him to follow her.  In half a second they were flying toward the city again.

     Finally they reached Beautiful’s home and family. Her parents were overjoyed to see her, and they were pleased that she had brought Son.  Quickly, they asked about Mama and Papa Sparrow.

  “How are they doing?” they asked.

     As soon as Son Sparrow began answering them,  his eyes filled with tears, especially as he told them that his papa had fallen. 

     Then as he explained how much he missed his papa, he glanced over at Beautiful Sparrow.  He was rewarded by the sweet look of love and kindness shining in her eyes.  It gave him courage to continue to express his heart with her family.

     The more Son Sparrow talked, the more he felt hope and a new beginning welling up in him about his life with Beautiful Sparrow.  He actually felt he was becoming a part of her family.  But as he was talking he also wanted, so much, for his mama to be here and to be a part of this family. He ached for her to be surrounded by their love and comfort.  Just as he wanted it for himself, he wanted to give his mama a new start.  To give her fresh hope and to hear her sweet laughter again.  But he wondered how he and his love could possibly convince Mama Sparrow to leave the only place she had ever known as home?  Even more, it didn’t seem terribly fair because, how could they ever ask Mama to leave the one place she’d lived and felt closest to Papa?

     Beautiful Sparrow and Son Sparrow spent several very good days visiting with her parents and meeting a whole bunch of relatives who flew in from around the city.

     Then, his thoughts about Mama made Son Sparrow begin to feel that it probably was important for both of them to get back to her. 

     Bright and early the next morning, Son awoke first and gently whispered to his love, “We should say our goodbyes to your parents… so we can get back to the oak tree and Mama Sparrow.”

     She nodded in agreement.  So soon they left her parents and began their journey back to the forest.

     They had been flying only a little while when Beautiful Sparrow looked over at her love and said, “Oh dear, I’m sorry, but I already miss my family and home.”  And then she added hurriedly “Of course, I miss your mama, too.” 

     Just the mention of Mama reminded them of the conversation they had a few days earlier when they saw the boy and his father building a birdhouse.  Though they hadn’t actually said it to each other, they both had thought a lot since that day about how great it would be if they could live in one of those birdhouses . . . and if Mama could live in the other.  That way, they reasoned, Mama could be with them most of the time, but she’d be close enough to the oak tree to go back and visit her old friends once in a while. And they would be close enough to the city for visits with Beautiful’s mama and papa.

     Then, at exactly the same time, they said, “Remember the other day when we….”  And they both knew what they were about to talk over.

     All the way back to the forest the two Sparrows talked about the birdhouses in the city, and especially about the two that were at the little boy’s cottage by the stream. They knew they would just love for Mama Sparrow to live in one of the birdhouses, and for them to live in the other. But how, they wondered, would they ever be able to convince Mama of that idea?  Especially when they were so sure she would not want to leave the forest, her home and her old friends.

     The two young Sparrows talked about stopping at the cottage on the way home to get a better look at the new birdhouses, but they were both so worried about Mama that they decided to fly as hard as they could and get home as quickly as possible.

     With weary wings, heavy hearts and very somber spirits they arrived back home in the Sparrow’s oak tree. 

     Mama Sparrow was relieved that, though they were very tired, they were safely home.  She had grown so lonely for them. At first they were all talking at once, but before very long she sensed that something was wrong--at least not quite right--with them. They had become too quiet, and actually didn’t seem all that excited about being back home.

     Mama knew she had to find out why.  “I must talk with both of them,” she thought.

     “Son Sparrow,” she began, “talk with me.  I need to find out what’s bothering you and Beautiful Sparrow.”  But Son, afraid to risk pressuring Mama with their new idea, fidgeted and gave his attention to a Red Tailed Hawk that was flying low over some nearby  hickory trees. So Mama turned and looked at Beautiful. 

“What seems to be upsetting you both so much?” she asked.

     Beautiful Sparrow paused awkwardly, trying to gather the right words – and enough courage – to reply.  “Well, Mama, we know these last three months without Papa have been very painful for you.”  Mama nodded her head.  “And you know that my parents live quite far away in the city.  So here’s our problem. We want both you and my parents to live close to us.”

     Son Sparrow stared down at the ground and kicked up a bit of dust.  He couldn’t bear to look at Mama’s face or even listen to what his love was saying.  He was so afraid of how Mama might feel about all that he and Beautiful had discussed on their journey home.

     By the time Son got bold enough to start listening again, his love was telling Mama about the birdhouses at the cottage.  She was describing them with such passion, sentiment and love that Mama felt her heartbeat rising.  For the first time since Papa fell, there was a special kind of stirring in her heart and a small hope was growing inside her that maybe, just maybe, she could be happy once again. But as she glanced around the forest and her home she wondered if she would ever have the courage to go with them.  However, she mused to herself, the birdhouse idea definitely sounded like an interesting possibility.

     As Beautiful Sparrow continued talking, Mama realized there was something she wanted to say to them.  Something she hadn’t thought about in quite some time.  She thoroughly surprised them with her response to their birdhouse idea.

     “Sweet Darlings, it’s true, I have been lonely for Papa. But I also was lonely for  you while you were away in the city.  I have been thinking how hard it would be for me to stay in the forest without you.”  She closed her eyes and stopped talking for a moment.  Then, looking directly at both of them, she began again.    

     “When I was a little Sparrow, I had so many wonderful times with my family.  As you well know, Son, I lost my mama just before I had you and the other babies.  I wanted so much for her to be there with Papa and me.  But most of all, I wanted her to share in the most precious gifts I had ever been given.  You, Son Sparrow, and your brother and sisters and, of course, Papa.  But as you remember, my mama became very ill. 

     “Just before she fell she said to me, ‘Oh, my sweet Sparrow-Honey, I think of all the years we’ve had together.  I can close my eyes and it’s as if real pictures of those memories come before me. In fact I can look at each one and remember the moment in detail.  And you know what? After I’ve fallen, you will have your own pictures stored in your heart.  And just when you need them, you will be able to close your eyes and recall them, one by one.  Oh, how they will bring you laughter, comfort, joy and tears.  I always called these memories ‘frozen pictures.’  They are wonderful pictures you keep in your heart and mind, and, believe me, no one can ever erase them or take them away from you.’”

     Then, with tears gathering in their eyes, Mama gently caressed them in the warmth and comfort of her wings and said, “Beautiful Sparrow and Son Sparrow, that was one of the best gifts my mama ever gave me.  Now, with our Papa Sparrow gone, I have so many frozen pictures to enjoy. And my mama was right.  No one can ever take them away from me!”

     As she looked lovingly at the two young Sparrows before her, she said, “I think that at first it might not be easy living in what you call a ‘birdhouse.’  Leaving the forest, my friends and our beautiful oak tree will be even more difficult.  But, as my mama said to me, I want to say to you.  I will always have my frozen pictures of you, our home in the forest and many pictures of my dear sweet Papa Sparrow.”

     Beautiful Sparrow and Son Sparrow knew Mama was right.  They, too, would share in a lifetime of frozen pictures.

     Long after the sun sank behind the trees and the light slowly gave way to darkness, Mama Sparrow, Son, and his love talked far into the night.  They whispered about all the exciting possibilities of living at the edge of the forest near the cottage … and, best of all,  what it would be like to live in birdhouses just practically next door to each other.