Tweet

Long before X, formerly known as Twitter, I was tweeting. Perhaps I should have copyrighted the word.

Because 'Tweet' was ours.

We first met Tweet while on a bike ride through the Docklands. As in, I was riding with Manny on the back. I was tired and so we stopped for an ice cream. Manny inhaled his long before I was ready to get riding again- what could I do?

Tweet to the rescue.

Tweet is a cute little sparrow and he adopted us, Manny specifically. Everywhere we went, there was Tweet. He was in our backyard, in the village in Italy, in playgrounds, cafes, grandparents' backyards, the city, the beach.... what a bird! (Thank goodness for the ubiquitous sparrow.)

And every time we saw him, Manny would ask for a 'Tweet Story'. Daily, I would come up with any number of stories about the adventures of Tweet. Some more creative than others, which relied heavily on adaptations from common fairy tales. Often a morale, always silliness. Tales that wove haphazardly through multiple character encounters, fantastical dilemmas and super powers. Tweet was amazing!!!!

Sometimes the creative well was dry, but Manny would insist and never seemed to tire.

We went on adventures, Tweet, the boys and I.

The moment he could, Manny introduced Lorenzo to Tweet and internally I groaned- seriously, how many more stories could I invent??? Over 15 years of them!! (Lorenzo was just as entranced.)

Gosh I miss Tweet.

Have you noticed how the sparrows are much less common in our backyards these days? Perhaps it's the Myna Birds? Cats?

Or maybe Tweet is off on an adventure with Manny somewhere. I hope so.