Short Fiction
short story
3 min
BUTTERCUP’S MIGRATION
Chi Quynh Dinh
Migration can happen in different ways. Sometimes it could be unexpected...
Buttercup pecked at a tiny beetle she found along the sidewalk. Her owner was apparently busy; his nose was stuck on a paper. For some reason, her owner looked up from his weird paper and rushed into his room. "CHIIIRRRRRPPPP" Buttercup yelled. She realized what he was doing. He was packing! That means he was going to leave Buttercup behind! She followed him in his room. He was bustling quickly and grabbing every clothing he could reach. There was suddenly a loud CLANG on the shore. Buttercup's owner raced to the bay near their little house. The usual immense space of the sea was now blocked by a humongous ship. Thousands of people are hurrying to the bay looking like a colony of ants. "GO QUICKLY! BEFORE THE WAR STARTS!" She heard someone say. Buttercup caught her breath and hopped inside the ship with her owner. He looked at her "Go. I set you free!" He ran and disappeared like a gust of wind. No! I don't want to! Buttercup thought. After hours trying in vain finding her owner, Buttercup lumbered around, searching for food. She was super hungry. Finally, she came to a wooden barrel. She pecked it and peered inside. WOW! The barrel was full of millet spray! She hopped inside and started eating. She ate and ate. With a full belly, she fell asleep right in that dim, snug barrel .
When Buttercup woke up, everything was dark. Where am I? She wondered. Oh! The millet spray wonderland! When did I fall asleep? She thought. It must be late now... I must go back to our house. Buttercup pushed and pushed against the barrel. It wouldn't open! She started to squawk but nothing answered. Countless days passed by. She was trapped but at least she had something to eat. Then one day, a bright light shone in as a curious boy came and lifted open the barrel lid. Immediately, Buttercup burst out and flew to the sky. She flew up high and turned toward her dear loving little house near the bay. Wait what? Where was her town? Where was her little house? It was all gone. Only left of a jungle. Only plants and trees. No home... In confusion, Buttercup dropped down and landed on a tree. Where am I? Anyways, I have to eat first. There were some red berries. As I know back home, the red fruits there are edible and delicious! Buttercup thought. She swallowed the berries whole. Buttercup suddenly felt nausea and nearly fell over. She staggered down to a bush and started vomiting. She couldn't walk for the whole day. The next day, Buttercup still felt dizzy but she was hungry. She staggered up and flew with all her might, searching for food. Finally, she couldn't fly anymore. She dropped down and blacked out.
When Buttercup woke up, her vision was blurry. She was even hungrier. She looked up, and she saw a faint red and yellow berry. I hope this is not poisonous... But I am hungry... I can't help it. She slowly got up and nibbled the berry. Wow! This berry was delicious! Buttercup ate half of the berry and saved the rest for tomorrow. With a full belly, she went to search for a temporary home. She found a small hollow in a tree. This is perfect! But I can make it bigger! She used her beak and dug the hole deeper. After an hour, the hole was done! She got some fresh moss and placed it on the bottom of the hollow. She sat down and slept at once.
The next day, she really wanted to go home. She flew and flew and hoped for just something familiar. Tired, weary, and hopeless, she stumbled back to her nest at sunset. She stared outside longingly. Suddenly, a bird just like her flew by. "Chirp Chirp Chirp! How are you? I am Cherry. I see you just moved in here. Wanna be my friend? I will show you all the types of yummy berries!" "Ok!" said Buttercup. "Ok! I will list all the yummy berries then! Be cautious of a red berry called holly berry. It is red, and very poisonous. Don't eat them!" "What about the red and yellow berries?" "Those are cloudberries! They are the best around here..." They go on and on just like they are long lost friends.
A few months later, Buttercup was sitting in her cozy nest. She stared outside the colorful jungle with vines, ferns, lush foliage, tall trees. She felt the cool, refreshing, crisp mountain air filling her lungs. This is not like home... She thought. But it's not so bad at all. In this new life, I can get food myself. And I have new friends (and a special friend indeed) . Actually, I think this new life is great!
The End
Buttercup pecked at a tiny beetle she found along the sidewalk. Her owner was apparently busy; his nose was stuck on a paper. For some reason, her owner looked up from his weird paper and rushed into his room. "CHIIIRRRRRPPPP" Buttercup yelled. She realized what he was doing. He was packing! That means he was going to leave Buttercup behind! She followed him in his room. He was bustling quickly and grabbing every clothing he could reach. There was suddenly a loud CLANG on the shore. Buttercup's owner raced to the bay near their little house. The usual immense space of the sea was now blocked by a humongous ship. Thousands of people are hurrying to the bay looking like a colony of ants. "GO QUICKLY! BEFORE THE WAR STARTS!" She heard someone say. Buttercup caught her breath and hopped inside the ship with her owner. He looked at her "Go. I set you free!" He ran and disappeared like a gust of wind. No! I don't want to! Buttercup thought. After hours trying in vain finding her owner, Buttercup lumbered around, searching for food. She was super hungry. Finally, she came to a wooden barrel. She pecked it and peered inside. WOW! The barrel was full of millet spray! She hopped inside and started eating. She ate and ate. With a full belly, she fell asleep right in that dim, snug barrel .
When Buttercup woke up, everything was dark. Where am I? She wondered. Oh! The millet spray wonderland! When did I fall asleep? She thought. It must be late now... I must go back to our house. Buttercup pushed and pushed against the barrel. It wouldn't open! She started to squawk but nothing answered. Countless days passed by. She was trapped but at least she had something to eat. Then one day, a bright light shone in as a curious boy came and lifted open the barrel lid. Immediately, Buttercup burst out and flew to the sky. She flew up high and turned toward her dear loving little house near the bay. Wait what? Where was her town? Where was her little house? It was all gone. Only left of a jungle. Only plants and trees. No home... In confusion, Buttercup dropped down and landed on a tree. Where am I? Anyways, I have to eat first. There were some red berries. As I know back home, the red fruits there are edible and delicious! Buttercup thought. She swallowed the berries whole. Buttercup suddenly felt nausea and nearly fell over. She staggered down to a bush and started vomiting. She couldn't walk for the whole day. The next day, Buttercup still felt dizzy but she was hungry. She staggered up and flew with all her might, searching for food. Finally, she couldn't fly anymore. She dropped down and blacked out.
When Buttercup woke up, her vision was blurry. She was even hungrier. She looked up, and she saw a faint red and yellow berry. I hope this is not poisonous... But I am hungry... I can't help it. She slowly got up and nibbled the berry. Wow! This berry was delicious! Buttercup ate half of the berry and saved the rest for tomorrow. With a full belly, she went to search for a temporary home. She found a small hollow in a tree. This is perfect! But I can make it bigger! She used her beak and dug the hole deeper. After an hour, the hole was done! She got some fresh moss and placed it on the bottom of the hollow. She sat down and slept at once.
The next day, she really wanted to go home. She flew and flew and hoped for just something familiar. Tired, weary, and hopeless, she stumbled back to her nest at sunset. She stared outside longingly. Suddenly, a bird just like her flew by. "Chirp Chirp Chirp! How are you? I am Cherry. I see you just moved in here. Wanna be my friend? I will show you all the types of yummy berries!" "Ok!" said Buttercup. "Ok! I will list all the yummy berries then! Be cautious of a red berry called holly berry. It is red, and very poisonous. Don't eat them!" "What about the red and yellow berries?" "Those are cloudberries! They are the best around here..." They go on and on just like they are long lost friends.
A few months later, Buttercup was sitting in her cozy nest. She stared outside the colorful jungle with vines, ferns, lush foliage, tall trees. She felt the cool, refreshing, crisp mountain air filling her lungs. This is not like home... She thought. But it's not so bad at all. In this new life, I can get food myself. And I have new friends (and a special friend indeed) . Actually, I think this new life is great!
The End
Third Place Winner, Age 8-9 Category | Fall into Fiction Short Story Contest 2023 | San José Public Library
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