The garden was full of pigeons! The sight would have made anyone’s heartbeat freeze. There were some on the shed roof, some on the patio furniture. There were also some sitting on upturned pots and the wheelie bin. The scariest of all visions, was a line of pigeons wearing black cowboy hats lining the telegraph wire. In the middle of the garden was a large pigeon wearing a dinner jacket surrounded by three muscley pigeons. Matt gulped. The S.P.R started cooing on cue as one of the ‘muscles’ put his wings up. Then there was silence.
Matt drew breath again, he had to keep calm.
“I want to talk to Percy, sorry, Jethro’s dad.”
The pigeon with no name took one final hard stare and stood to one side as he beckoned to one of the heavies to bring the ‘boss’ over.
Now there were four S.P.R members sitting on his windowsill. Matt rubbed his eyes to check that what was happening was actually real.
Matt stood up tall he wanted them to know that he meant business. No name spoke again. “I want to introduce to you, the mighty, the wonderful…”
“Be quiet!” Percy’s dad moaned. No name backed away.
Percy whispered to Matt. “He’s known as ‘The Don’.”
The Don spoke. “Where is…my son?” His voice was like a clap of thunder.
Percy crept around the side of the curtain. “I’m…here…dad!”
Matt held Percy for protection as he froze to the spot.
“You made me sad son, you made me sad. Don’t I deserve respect for being the head of the family… head of…the organization?”
Percy cowered in Matt’s hand.
“You can’t talk to him like that. Jethro deserves a little respect too.” Matt wasn’t going to let them intimidate him or Percy.
All the pigeon’s took a collective sharp intake of breath, at the cheek of someone answering back to The Don.
“Why did you run away? It brought shame to the family…” One of The Don’s eyes had an uncontrollable twitch.
“Jethro ran away because he didn’t feel accepted for…who he is. That’s why he ran away, Mr. Don.” Now it was time for Matt to glower.
No name sniggered. “Well, he’s hardly a hard pigeon is he?”
Everyone joined in laughing under their breath.
“Look Mr. Don, Jethro… who I know as Percy, is faithful, trustworthy and a good friend. He is staying with me. You can visit, but he’s staying here, where he’s loved and cherished for who he is. I won’t take NO for an answer!”
The Don took a step back. “No one, NO ONE, has EVER spoken to me like that before. No one…would have the nerve.”
There was silence. Matt felt the chill down his spine again. Had he gone too far with The Don?
The boss of S.P.R took a long, hard look at Matty-boy before turning to face Percy.
“You can’t desert us for one of our enemies Jethro!”
Percy was getting annoyed. “Matty-boy is not our enemy, he is my friend!” Percy had never stood up to his dad before.
“Yes, that’s right sir. I’m not your enemy. I took Percy in because he had broken his wing.”
There was another few seconds of silence. The Don was clearly thinking as his beak was moving, just like Percy’s did.
“Most pigeons don’t stand up to me. They’re too scared!” The Don turned around as he looked over his dominion. “You get my respect.”
(C) Anita Hunt
