The White Dove

Phillip walked toward his daughter with a packet of slices of bread," His Grace".he greeted

‘Hi,’ Grace said giving him a grumpy look She was not at all impressed with these new pre-birthday arrangements.

Phillip without looking at his daughter's grumpy face started to unwrap the bread.

‘For the ducks,’ he said when he caught Grace staring at him.

She nodded reluctantly to mention that she was sixteen now and no longer five years old and that feeding the ducks in the park doesn’t exactly excite her anymore.

They headed toward the pond and sat under the big willow tree.

While they quietly started feeding the ducks, memories lingered in Grace's mind, she remember how her dad made her toast with honey for breakfast, drove her to school and said goodnight after telling her not to read for too long.

Suddenly Phillip sighed ‘I’m sorry I’m not seeing you tomorrow, Grace. It really can’t be helped. I—’

‘It’s fine,’ Grace was ready with her answer. ‘Mum and I are going to a movie.’

‘You’re not seeing having the usual birthday party with your friends?’ asked Phillip

‘They’re away – on holiday' replied Grace

Grace tore a piece of bread and threw it into the pond. A female duck swam over and devoured it.

Phillip quietly did the same, the silence between them was a burden

‘You know you shouldn’t feed bread to ducks?’ Grace suddenly said,'It's bad for them'.

'Really?’ asked Phillip

‘Amelia told me' Grace was trying to break the silence

Phillip stopped tearing his slice of bread. ‘I guess a small amount won’t hurt.’

‘I guess noted replied Grace

‘We could feed the pigeons instead? Phillip suggested ‘Like that guy.’

When Grace looked over to where her dad was pointing. On the other side of the pond, a man was feeding pigeons. He’s surrounded by them. His clothes were shabby that look like rags. Some of the pigeons land on his outstretched arms. There was a white pigeon on his shoulder. It was strange how they don’t seem to be afraid of him.

‘No, thanks,’ I say. ‘I don’t want a load of birds to come and land on me like that.’Grace said bluntly, Phillips smsmileGrace thought her Dad would at least talk about her gifts it was her birthday the next day, he won't be there, he had never been there since she turned 6.

Whenever they sat together there was an argument.

As a child she heard her parents argue, they quarrelled every now and then all of a sudden her dad decided to move out with someone else whom Grace hated......She would often say bitter words to her right on the face.

‘You should apologise to Saly,’ Phillip said turning the topic to last evening's quarrel between Grace and Sally says. 

Grace shrugged and push the toe of her track pants into the dirt. There’s no way she was apologising. ‘Maybe,’ she said trying to remain non-committal.

Her Dad sighed and she had disappointed him again, she hates to be like this, she had always liked her parents must stay together.

'What would you like for your birthday?' Phillip asked.

‘I don’t want anything,’ she said though of course wasn't true. There were lots of things she did like. 

‘I saw these great Converse,’ her dad said. ‘They were purple with a skull and crossbones—’

‘I don’t want anything,’ Grace repeated cutting him off, even though the Converse actually sounded pretty coed to her.

‘There must be something,’ her dad nudge. He looked upset.

Grace felt bad now. She feels that he left them because he was no longer happy with Grace's mother.

The birdman has wandered over to our side of the pond. He’s singing a funny song.

Suddenly Grace said,' There is one thing I want, I want you and mum to get back together.

Phillip's face sadden both of the knew it won't happen.

The birdman was quite close to them, I could see his long bread swaying in the soft breeze and his grey eyes twinkling.

The pigeons fluttered at his feet...a dove sat on his head...

A white dove....a symbol of calm and peace...

'That's a dove....and you know what dove is the symbol of peace and love and serenity......can we not have a peaceful life again dad, can't you stop arguing with mum every time you guys meet, I want to spend my birthdays at least with you two together to not end up in quarrels?' Asked Grace.

Phillip chuckled.....'Let's make a deal girl...I would not argue with you m and you would ask for forgiveness from Saly for being rude...sounds good?'

This was peacemaking as long as Grace was with both her parents on her birthday she was ready to say 'sorry and settle the matter with Saly......Grace felt a little relaxed after a long time, the old man seemed like a magic man, hovering his invisible magic wand above them and then suddenly spread out his arms to let all the pigeons fly away, only the white dove stayed with him.....the symbol peace and love.