Promises

She looked all around until she noticed the bird. Something in the tilt of his head reminded her of her father.

“It’s me. I came back for you.” Gio the hawk opened his wings to hug her, but she was too startled to understand.

“Papi?” Nina leaned closer to the bird. “I’m surely imagining this. Hawks can’t talk.”

“Usually not, but I’m special, a father’s promise.”

Nina sank to her knees. Her father must be dead. In an instant, she lost all hope of ever hugging him again. Nothing would save her from her lonely life. If only she could return to that awful day, she’d beg him not to go away. After all, their life wasn’t so bad. They had a job, a cozy shack, and a few coins under the floorboards.

“I want my real father back. I don’t mean to offend you, but what can you do to help? You can’t hold a shovel or carry a basket of eggs.”

Gio the hawk considered her question. True, he couldn’t assist with the chores, but he had great eyesight. He could find things like the tiniest vole from high up in the sky. There must be something he could do for Nina. He tucked his head under his wing to think.

“Okay, mija. Can you put a basket on the roof that I can drop things in but won’t be noticed?”

“How about the picnic basket Papi bought years ago? He always said we’d go for picnics, but there was never time.”

“I remember. Perfecto.”

The next morning, Gio the red-tailed hawk took flight. He scoured the land for hour after hour, all day long. He found rings, watches, wallets, silver key fobs, bracelets, gold chains, and earrings that people had lost and brought them one by one to the basket. Each week, Nina would sell the items at the pawnshop.

In a few months, she’d saved enough to quit her job and take a bus to the city. She got a job as a waitress at Lucy’s Café, and the owner let Nina have her daughter’s old room above the shop. After unpacking, she rested on the grassy backyard while Gio perched in the cherry tree until dark.

Gio continued soaring to search for treasures for Nina. They enjoyed many picnics and spent evenings together talking while Nina smoothed his feathers, and Gio nuzzled her chin. Years later when he died in Nina’s arms, she buried him as she’d promised under the tree in the basket, his gift of love to her.