When we were in Grade 10 or 11, we had to read A Bird in the House by Margaret Laurence. (She's most known for the Stone Angel, which is what the other schools got to read.) I remember two things about this book: (1) that a bird in the house is a death omen* and (2) of all the book I read in high school this is the one I liked the least** and remember the least about. (Wonder if I actually read it or if I gave up, not that I ever EVER would do something like that.) This is also why I will never read the Stone Angel (I am sure it is your favourite book EVER, but I am electing to miss out on its literary perfection.)
Now, when The Boy saw fit to rescue the injured bird a few weeks ago, the first thing that popped into my head after "birds are cesspool of disease and are going to kill us all" was holy fuck a bird in the house means death. And there was most definitely a bird in my house. Then my grandmother died. Coincidence? More than likely but I am still blaming the bird.
But on Saturday as I was looking up why brown eggs are brown.*** I wondered if it was really a superstition, or just something Margaret "bird lady" Laurence divised to torment future generations of 11th graders. Turns out, it is in fact a real superstion.
Evidently, this whole superstition is why many cultures do not keep birds as pets. Very wise cultures might I add. Birds are scary, icky, and probably out to exterminate the human race. (Yes, I realize this is irrational.)
I also learned a bunch of useless things that are sure to stay with me a long time:
- Being buried in black means you will haunt the family. (Note to my family: you may not have a choice.)
- I am worried about my twitchy eye. It's my left one -- somebody is going to die.
- Dropping an umbrella -- also sudden death.
At this rate I'm taking out the block.
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*Death omens... I love that phrase... death omens DEATH OMENS death omens DEATH OMENS
**Second Least like was Bonheur d'Occasion in which, with a nod to Melville perhaps, Gabrielle Roy sees fit to spend 100 pages describing a snow storm, yet, the main characters gets raped and I totally missed it. I reread it... subtle... 100 pages on snow. That one I know I didn't finish.
***They are from a species of chickens that are brown-ish red. You can tell the colour of the eggs by the feather over their ears. Yes. Chicken's have ears. My child knew this. Steel trap that kid's brain. Micheline also says that if her chickens lay blue-ish-green eggs -- maybe Dr. Seuss wasn't on THOSE drugs. (If you follow me on Facebook, you know all this already.)
