The Fable of the Rainbow

PART I. THE FABLE OF THE RAINBOW:

The rain began to subside. A frog sat on a fallen tree branch under the cover of low hanging leaves strumming his ukulele a song about rainbows. High above, within the canopy, a male macaw sang to his beloved, Scarlet, and their newborn chic, Maco; he placed his wing around his lifelong mate, his foot playfully on his son’s head, and belted out the chorus of the frog’s tune, “the lovers, the dreamers and ma maa maaaa mmmmmeeeeEEEEEEE!”

“Daaaaaaaaa,” and Maco pushed off his dad’s foot and smoothed out his still puffy newborn hair embarrassed.

“Oh Henry,’ his beloved laughed as she nuzzled closer under his wing, “you sure do love that song.”

“Me. E. EE. EEE?!? C’mon bunch. How great did Pops do?!? Huh? Huh? Look, look, look at this prime real estate,” as Henry did a three-hundred-sixtey degree turn on the branch and waved his wings around every direction. We are in beeeaaaaaUUUtiful Belize! Tropical climate. Great trees. I mean, look at this tree; ‘Mr. Tree, I have to say, you are great.’ Blue whoo whoo waters. Best of all, perched above a ukulele playing frog, obsessed, simply obsessed, with rainbows. We are just a short flight to our macaw friends in Mexico, Brazil, Honduras, and CooooWoosta Ricaaaaaa! Who wants some Pura Vida? We want some Pura Vida! Am I right? Right? Right?” and held out his wing for a wing bump from Maco, and the two made a blowing up sound with the bump.

“You know we aren’t really the migratory kind of bird,” said Scarlet, and then she leaned back and questioned, “and who are these friends we have all over Central America?”

“You know. Our Friends,” Henry responded hesitantly.

“Name . . . one. One friend?” Scarlet challenged him.

“Oh. Oh. The one I call, ‘hey buddy’ or ‘hey friend.’ That one. We are so tight we don’t even use actual names anymore. Just buddy. Yep, the friend named, ‘Buddy,’ ‘Buddy da Friend,’ 'Who-da-friend - Buddy-da-friend,' and Henry smiled big at Scarlet.

Scarlet didn’t say anything. She just folded in her wings and stared back at him, with a look.

“Oh noooo, not the looook," Henry pulled back with a gasp. "You’re giving me the look. I hate the look. Don’t give me the look. Okay okay. We don’t have any friends in any of these places,” and Henry paused for a moment, and with renewed exuberance exclaimed, “but I have connections!”

“Connections?” and Scarlet raised an eyebrow at him.

“Oh, that look is still looking at me. Yes. Con-nect-ions. I have em,” Henry said proudly yet avoided 'the look' by looking away while whistling.

“I would like to hear about these, ‘connections’, as Scarlet lifted her wings and folded them to make the sign for quotations.

“You know,” and Henry whispered a name under his breath.

“What was that?” asked Scarlet.

Henry again whispered a name under his breath.

“Still can’t hear ya babe. Maco, can you hear your father?” asked Scarlet rhetorically and Maco shook his head no.

“Alfred,” Henry said a little louder.

“Alfred!?!” exclaimed Scarlet. “Oh, not this again. The toucan?” as Scarlet threw her wings up and Maco threw his wings up mimicking his mom’s manners.

“Yes, the toucan. I know. I know. He’s a travel agent, but he’s been to all the places; Honduras, Mexico, Costa Rica, and even North America. Sometimes, you know, we talk, and I think it might be nice to take a family vacation. Wouldn't you like to go on a family vaca?"

“Babe,” and Scarlet pressed her head against Henry’s chest, “I’m happy here. We have a beautiful home, and, annnd, annnnnnd a seranting frog. She covered Maco’s ears with her wings, and said, “Maybe that frog can learn something a little slower with a little more funk. It’s almost that season,” and Scarlet raised her eyebrows twice and followed it with a wink.

Henry pressed his wings over Scarlet’s wings so they were tight against Maco’s ears, “I like reggaeton. I could request the frog play some reggaeton. I haven’t properly introduced myself to the frog. We are pretty new here, but I would be happy, very happy, very very happy to go, ummm, go, talk to the frog. How does that sound?”

Scarlet bobbed her head up and down and the two kissed. Maco pushed all their wings off his ears, smoothed out his hair again, yet still puffy, and gave them a funny look, and just said, “Yuck.”

Henry and Scarlet giggled as the last of the rain disappeared along with the strumming of the ukulele below, and Henry, Scarlet, Maco, and presumably the frog way down below stopped to behold the arch of the rainbow that appeared before them.

“Tell me the story again Ma,” Maco requested.

“I guess a rainbow would be a perfect time to tell the fable of how we get our colors. Okay Maco. The story goes that every newborn macaw flies to their parents from heaven and its spirit enters the egg. Flying is such a gift. It is freedom. When the chick hatches, it is too painfully difficult for the chick to wait for its flying feathers to fly here on Earth. So the original macaws struck a deal with heaven. When macaw chicks sleep, their spirit flys the rainbow bridge back to heaven where they can still fly free, and then fly back to be awoken. Everytime the chick flys through the rainbow, the rainbow paints the chick with colors, and by the time you have colors like your father and I, you have passed through many rainbows and your flying feathers have come in. A chick can now fly free around the Earth, yet rainbows become something allusive, always in the distance, until, until . . . well, maybe another 50 years pass, a rainbow shows you the way back to heaven where you get to stay for a while, and your spirit soars free. In the meantime, we wear the rainbow in our colors to remind ourselves and others of the great closeness between heaven and earth, until maybe one day being on earth feels heavenly,” and Scarlet looked down at Maco who had fallen fast asleep.

“Good, the little guy is sleeping,” Henry whispered.

“He’s so cute when he sleeps,” Scarlet spoke so gently caressing sleeping Maco.

“We made that. You and I. We made that,” Henry puffed with pride.

“That thing we made, it’s going to be pretty hungry when he wakes up,” Scarlet shared.

“Ok, I’ll go get us dinner. Takeout it is!”

“I want to go with you. The last time you got dinner for us babe, it was chewy. Besides, my wings could use a good stretch, and it would be nice to just fly with you. He’ll be ok. We’ll be quick.” Scarlet said assuredly.

PART II: THE PHOTOGRAPHER AND THE POACHER

The two birds took off and far in the distance their departure was captured within the circular lens of a photographer who quickly snapped photos. Adam looked at the camera reel with awe of the colorful beauty of the two macaws. “Awww,” he spoke to himself, "they must be lovebirds. Macaws mate for life. Wish I had a mate for life. Wish my mom would stop asking when I’m going to meet my mate.

No ma, haven’t met anyone yet. Yes ma, I know, how will I ever meet someone if I don’t get my nose away from the camera. Yes ma, I know it’s a big nose. Yes ma, even with a nose this big I can still see through the camera lens!

It's a special way to capture life without confining it. You capture a feeling but not hold a hostage,” Adam continued his outloud talking to himself.

He looked back through the eyehole of the camera at the tree where the macaws took off. Halfway up, he saw a rope tied to the tree and a man ascending the tree. “No no no no!” Adam exclaimed in dismay and zoomed in to capture the face and form of the man ascending the tree. He spoke the one terrible word so dangerous to this habitat, “Poachers!” Adam looked back through the lens to see the Poacher had already ascended the tree, and caught on camera in the hands of the Poacher was little Maco.

The Poacher looked at Maco, and said, “sorry little buddy, you are cute and all, but I’ll get about $60 for you, and I got a family to feed. Yes, I know you got a family too but they'll give you to a new family. Yes it’s illegal, but they will just say you were born there, and then the other ‘they’ will say it’s okay. Don’t worry little guy, you’ll probably end up in America, land of the free. I guess you’ll be in a cage, sorry about that, but you’ll have all the food you can eat. There will probably be a little kid who gets you as a present and gets all excited when you make sounds and phrases that sound all human. The kid will show you off to other people who will applaud and be fascinated by your human talking, because people think wildlife mimicking them makes them special, and people don't know how to feel special on their own."

Maco squealed but the sound the Poacher heard was a sound from far away going, “Heeeeyyyyy yooooouuuuuu.”

“Wow!” that really does sound human like. So young. You must be a prodigy,” the Poacher spoke to Maco.

“Put back that biiiiiiiiirrrrrrrrrrrd,” came the distant voice.

“Oh, that’s not you little guy. That’s a regular guy. We got to get out of here,” and the Poacher placed Maco in a sac while he sped his way back down the tree and ran to his orange truck.

The photographer ran as fast and as far as he could just in time to snap the license plate of the orange truck as it sped off leaving tracks in the dirt. “Cardio. Whew, cardio,” Adam said to himself. "I really should start some cardio," as he bent over resting his hands on his knees trying to catch his breath. “Maybe jogging. Yeah, jogging. Who am I kidding, I hate jogging. Rock climbing perhaps. Zumba. Hey, I hear that’s fun,” panting as he spoke to himself. Above, Adam heard the heartbreaking sound of the parental macaws returning to find their baby missing.

PART III: THE SEARCH FOR MACO

“Where! Where is he?!? Where is Maco?” Scarlet screamed frantically.

“Maco. Macoo. Macooooo,” Henry turned in all directions shouting.

“YOU!” and Scarlet sighted down below a man placing something into a sac and without hesitation she sped down the tree to grab the sac.

“Hey, that’s mine,” Adam protested as Scarlet grabbed the sac away from him and brought it up to the nest.

“What is that?” asked Henry as the camera fell out of the sac. "What magical spell transformed our baby into that."

"That's NOT MACO. That's one of those extra eyeballs humans hold up to their faces or turn to themselves. When it blinks, it puts whatever it blinked here, and then they stare at their own blinking and show it to other people, many of whom are also blinking," replied Scarlet. "I don’t think this man took Maco, but maybe his blinking can help us locate Maco.

“Hello,” said a friendly Adam.

“Ahhhhh,” screamed Scarlet and Henry and Henry jumped forward and hit Adam several times with his wings. Scarlet joined in too.

“Wait. Wait. I know who took your baby. I know who took him,” Adam said with urgency. Henry and Scarlet stopped. “If I could just get my camera, I could show you,” implored Adam pointing to the camera.

"I think he wants the blinky thing," Henry said to Scarlet.

"It seems this eyeball of theirs is called a camera," responded Scarlet, placing the camera in front of Adam.

Slowly, Adam reached for his camera and brought up the photos of Maco’s abduction. “I’m really sorry. I tried to stop him. But I’m not a fast runner. I don't like jogging. I really need to do more cardio. I’ve thought about Zumba. I’m sorry. I’m sorry. I’m nervous. I'm having a converstion with two macaws. Anyways, the guy who took your baby sped off in this orange truck not too long ago. I don’t know where he is going. I hope this helps. Oh my gosh, people will think I'm bird brained.”

Scarlet gave Adam, 'the look,' upon his bird brained comment.

"Uh oh, better watch yourself buddy, she gave you the look, and trust me, you don't want the look," Henry said scared for Adam.

“Orange tuck. Orange truck. Orange truck,” Scarlet spun frantically scanning the area. “We’ll split up and find the orange truck and rescue our son!” declared Scarlet.

“That's too risky," expressed Henry. "We should stay together. We're better together. We. We. We need a direction. We need a connection. Con-nect-ion. Connnection! That’s it. I have connections!” and Henry got excited.

“This isn’t the time. Our son is in danger!” pressed Scarlet.

“Alfred. Alfred has told me about poachers in the past. He warned of this boat they take them to and the boats motor away and the birds are never seen again. He would know which direction the orange truck is heading. He gave me his card.”

“That’s a stick,” as Scarlet pointed at it.

“Alfred said break this stick, it makes a certain sound, and . . .”

Scarlet grabbed and broke the stick and a snap went into the air.

“Why hello. Are we ready to take that vacation,” said Alfred who appeared instantly like a genie.

“Ahhhhhhh,” Adam screamed. “Where did you come from? How did you do that? What’s with the stick?”

“Whose the human?” asked Alfred.

“There’s no time Alfred. We need your help,” Henry said distressed.

“They took Maco!” said Scarlet.

“Who?” Alfred looked back and forth and Scarlet pointed her wing at the photo on the camera.

“Poachers!” and Alfred's beak made all kinds of angry movements. "I know where it's going. Follow Me!"

The birds flew from the nest.

“Where is eveyone going? asked Adam. "Is there a plan? I think there is a plan. I want to be part of the plan. We’ll be like ‘the A team.’ I’m coming too. Maybe you’ll need me?” and Adam grabbed his camera and descended down the tree and to his jeep. Keys in the ignition, the engine turned over, and he sped down the dirt road following the two macaws and toucan overhead.

The toucan flew faster and further and then began circling overhead.

“Look,” said Henry to Scarlet, “I think Alfred has found something.”

Scarlet’s eyebrows forrowed with furious determination and she flew as fast as she can toward Alfred, and then she saw it, the orange truck in the photographer’s photos. “That’s him,” she said with anger.

“I see him. I see him,” and Henry darted with equal ferocity.

“Orange truck. Orange truck!” Adam shouted with excitement, and pressed the gas peddle down to the floor. The jeep fishtailed and then sped forward. “Phone, phone, phone . . . hello . . . policia.”

The Poacher looked up and in the rear view mirror. He saw the jeep in pursuit. “Oh little guy. That guy. You know. The other guy. The one I called regular guy since you know, you’re little guy, well it seems like that guy wants you back. The poacher pulled the sac in between his lap and petted Maco’s head. Hold on little guy, this is going to get hairy,” and he pushed the gas peddle to the floor.

There the Poacher sped pursued by Adam, with dirt being kicked up by tires as they wound their way through roads on the way to the dock. They came to an elevated bump and the truck went airborn, landing roughly and continuing down the road. The jeep followed in pursuit. Overhead, a toucan circled and then in front of the windsheild a mama macaw flew in blinding the sight of the truck.

The Poacher was startled and swerved but regained control of the car. The male macaw did the same and when the Poacher could see the road again police cars had blocked the road ahead, and then the Poacher slammed on the breaks. The jeep rolled up blocking the path behind the Poacher, and Henry and Scarlet landed on the car and demanded Maco back.

“Your parents must really love you little guy. I love my children too. You know, I got two. The Poacher petted Maco’s little head. I’m sorry little guy. I'm sorry for what I've done. I can see that now. You should be here flying free with your family and not in a pet store destined to be caged doing voices for people.” The Poacher rolled down the window and held the sac which was grabbed by Scarlet and took off with Henry back to their nesting tree.

“Maco, I’m so sorry. Are you hurt? Are you ok?” Scarlet asked with concern.

“Ma, that was fun. I like trucks.” Maco replied.

“No cars or trucks for you son. Hold on, I’m going to turn around and poop on the truck. I’ll show . . .”

“Honey!” Scarlet interjected, "let’s just go home."

The macaw family flew back toward their nest and the toucan followed.

“So, how’s about some Pura Vida. You guys want to take a vacation?” asked Alfred.

“Vacation is the furthest thought right now,” said Henry. "Home sounds great."

“What about Brazil? How’s about Samba dancing?” Alfred questioned.

“Alfred!” Henry and Scarlet stopped him.

“Ok ok. Well, here is my card again, and handed Henry a twig. Just break it and I’ll be there. He winked at the macaw family and flew off.

~ ~ ~

“Come out with your hands up.” came the sound of the Policia to the orange truck. The Poacher came out with his hands up and the police arrested him.

“Wow, I love it when a plan comes together!" exclaimed Adam. "I’ve always wanted to say that,” and Adam waved to the macaws and toucan as they flew off.

“Can we get a statment please,” a police officer asked Adam, and when there eyes met, there was undeniable chemisty.

"I. Umm. I. Wow. Hee Hee. Statement. Sure. And photos. I have photos," and Adam blushed.

Part IV: One Month Later . . .

“Mr. Alexa, you have pled guilty to the charge of illegal poaching. However, the court has heard your testimony, and it seems you have gained some empathy for the needs for your family, and we also have heard how much you have come to care for the plight of the macaws. In the spirit of paving way for human and wildlife conflict resolution, The Belize Conservatory would like to offer you a deal; community service in exchange of jail time. You'll care for the macaws at their wildlife conservatory. We hear they just got a new xray machine and can use someone smart to train as an xray tech, plus you'll be immersed in all operations of the conservation. Following your community service, if you do well, they have agreed to offer you a job at $8 an hour. We hope that protecting the wildlife is sacred enough to someone's heart, yet we recognize the need to create a monetary value for time invested protecting and supporting our wildlife. We hope doing so nullifies any value people seek in poaching, and instead turns them towards protecting. People love this land. We share a dream of its wildlife flourishing and our colorful macaws flying in flocks like before. We understand that macaws are like rainbows, bridging our connection from our land to our sky. So, Mr. Alexa, will you join the lovers, the dreamers, and me, in protecting our land, our wildlife, and our macaws?”

“Your honor, yes, that, that would be wonderful. I do accept. Thank you. Thank you.”

~ ~ ~

"Are you ready," the police officer asked Adam.

"Oh, I'm nervous," he replied.

"Happy one month anniversary babe," replied the police officer. "I can't wait to see your moves."

"My moves. That's what I'm nervous about. Okay. Breathing. Staying calm. Not sweating it. Well, I guess I'm supposed to sweat. This is cardio after all."

The instructor stood in front of the class, "Welcome to Zumba."

~~~~~

Musical sounds from the frog below lifted to the canopy above.

“Is that? Is that what I think it is?” asked Scarlet with tingles.

“Oh yes,” replied Henry, “that is raggaeton the frog is playing,” and lifted his eyebrows twice and winked.