Chapter 1
The sun shines brightly down on the little farm as it sets for the final time today. I watch the birds fly to their nest settling in for bed, wishing I were them. I often watch the birds wake up and go to bed. Then I go in for supper.
Jonah Miller is a thirteen-year-old boy living in the outskirts of Redbury County. He lives with his younger brother, Billy Miller, and his parents Mary and Luke Miller. They all live on a little farm with an acre of land to grow all kinds of fruits and vegetables. Jonah and his father love their farm but Mary and Billy don’t like it at all. Every morning Jonah gets up to watch the birds wake up to catch food for their little birds. Billy always comes into his room sleepy eyed.
“What’re you doing Jonah?” Billy asks
“Watching the birds again. Why are you awake, it is still too early.” Jonah replies
“Because you’re up and I want to watch the birds with you.” he says
“Okay, but you have to promise to be quiet so you won’t scare them.” Jonah says
Billy nods his head as Jonah carefully lifts him up to sit on his waist. Billy wraps his small arms around Jonah’s neck and lays his head on his brother’s shoulder. The young boys watch the birds gently flap their wings against the early morning breeze with their catch in their little black beaks. After awhile Jonah notices that Billy had fallen asleep. Careful not to wake his sleeping brother, Jonah walks into Billy’s room and lays him back into bed, covering him with his blanket and placing his favorite stuffed bear next to him. Jonah quietly walks back to his room to watch the birds one last time.
After awhile the sun’s bright gleaming rays begin to shine behind the ground before it. As the sun slowly rises behind the world the crows begin to call and the birds sing their song. Jonah’s father, Luke, calls from downstairs. Jonah turns away from his golden feathered world to enter his family’s bitter one.
