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The next morning Mr. Jones went out to throw seed for the snowbirds. Inside, Mrs. Jones was preparing Sunny a special treat with her seed. She crushed up the yolk of a hardboiled egg. She gave this treat to Sunny a couple of times before and she loved it.
As she was taking it outside with her morning coffee she met Mr. Jones coming in. The look on his face worried her.
"What is it, Dear...is it Sunny?" She asked tearfully.
"We can skip our coffee on the porch this morning, Mother...Sunny is nowhere to be found. I've called and called...she didn't show up. I guess she decided to try to find her friends." He told his wife as he wiped a tear from his eye.
Mrs. Jones didn't say a word. She was ever so quiet for a long time. She knew if she started talking about it she would burst out crying. She was trying to be brave for her husband...he was trying to be brave for her.
Weeks passed and the winter was becoming more and more harsh. One morning the Jones' received ten inches of snow. It was a bit of a surprise when they awoke to it because no weather station had predicted it.
"Oh my, Dear...how will the little snowbirds find the seed in all this snow? We must do something...but what?" Mrs. Jones worried.
"Not to worry, Mother, I have a plan." He told her as he was bundling up in heavy clothes to go outside.
Mrs. Jones watched from the kitchen window. She saw Mr. Jones shoveling an area about five feet wide all the way down to the ground. He then threw the bird seed on the ground for the snowbirds to find...it worked. Soon there was dozens of birds in the small area eating seed. Mr. Jones watched for a few minutes then returned to the warm house where he and his wife watched as the little birds ate.
They both sat quietly watching. Each one knew what the other one was thinking. Yes, they both were thinking of Sunny...wondering if she was okay, if she was finding something to eat, if she found her friends...dare I say it...even if she was alive because the winter was becoming so very cold. Each one's eyes began to tear up in their silence but neither would say a thing about it.
Time seemed to drag bye for the Jones'. Now it was time to be thinking of the Christmas decorations they had stored in the attic. This was usually a happy time for the old couple. They loved decorating for the holidays but this year it wasn't the same. Oh sure, they went about the house decorating but their hearts weren't really in it.
It had been too cold to leave Sunny's open cage in the window anymore but Mr. Jones always left it on the open porch. From time to time he would throw out the old seed and replace it with fresh. He was hoping against all odds that one day Sunny would return.
Mrs. Jones peered through the small window on the front door and saw Mr. Jones putting a big red Christmas ribbon around Sunny's cage. She smiled because she knew what he was feeling at that moment. She too was feeling the same thing. Yes...wouldn't it be wonderful to have our beloved Sunny home for Christmas she thought.
The tree was up and the lights were lit. Christmas Eve the Jones' celebrated alone. All their children phoned them of course to wish them the very best holiday cheer but something didn't feel right and they each knew what it was but they decided not to speak of it.
They awoke Christmas morning, exchanged a few small gifts then went about the business of getting ready for church. Mr. Jones first had to go out to shovel some snow, take care of a few last minute chores outside then feed the snowbirds.
Mrs. Jones was putting her husband's clothes on the bed to wear to church when she realized she couldn't find his favorite holiday tie. She decided to go out and ask him where it was.
She stepped through the front door to the screened in porch then through the next door on the open deck. What she saw, she thought, was nothing short of a miracle. She was stunned...she couldn't speak for a moment. Then...
"Father...Father...oh Father, come quick. Look what Santa brought us for Christmas." She screamed.
Mr. Jones couldn't imagine what in the world got into his wife. She was acting like a small child that saw her gifts under the tree on Christmas morning. He hurriedly ran around in front of the house. To his amazement he saw Sunny sitting inside her little snow covered cage.
"What in the...where in the...well, look at you..." The old man grinned.
There in her old cage sat Sunny. Other than being cold and hungry she seemed to be fine. The Jones' hurriedly brought the shivering bird inside near the fireplace. Mrs. Jones began preparing her cage with all kinds of toys and treats. The old couple couldn't quit grinning at one another. Mrs. Jones was so happy she couldn't quit sobbing. They couldn't help but wonder where Sunny had been all this time but they were grateful just to have her home.
The mood became festive and Mr. Jones put a record of Christmas songs on the stereo to listen to while they dressed for church.
"Hurry up, Father, we'll be late for Christmas services." Mrs. Jones told her husband.
When the Jones' returned home they listened to more music, drank egg nog and watched Sunny play with her toys. They decided to leave her cage open so she could go anywhere in the house she wanted to. They were surprised when she wouldn't leave the cage. She was now content to remain in the Jones' home.
"You know Mother, I think this time she is genuinely happy...don't you think so?" The old man asked as he watched Sunny play.
"Mrs. Jones smiled, wiped a tear then said. "Yes Dear...home is, indeed, where the heart is."
The end