CHRONICLES

The birds held a conclave to discuss their servant. There was a majority of complaints regarding scheduling, irregular seed distribution, delayed breakfast service, and occasional failures in water replenishment.

Mr. Blue Jay presented the motion of submitting the matter directly to a Higher Authority, perhaps Lady Owl but Sir Grackle disagreed.

"The matter should first be discussed with Her Buttlership. Procedure exists for a reason."

A heated debate followed. The sparrows chirped all at once while the doves cooed and the grackles objected. Blue Jay demanded order.

At last Tiny Sparrow, who had been silent until then, raised one wing. "Maybe she has my problem."

Everyone turned to look at the small fledgling.

"What problem?" asked Blue Jay.

"Sometimes I cannot sleep."

The Parliament fell silent. Blue Jay looked at Grackle. Grackle looked at the Dove Family. The Dove Family looked at the baby sparrows. And then a murmur spread through the assembly. If that were true... If the servant was suffering from Wakefulness... Then perhaps her failures were not failures at all. Perhaps she was simply tired.

The possibility disturbed everyone. For although the birds frequently complained about their servant, they had grown rather attached to her.

The meeting was suspended. A Committee for the Study of Human Sleep was immediately established, and Mrs. Eurasian Dove was appointed chairwoman because she appeared to sleep twenty-two hours a day and therefore qualified as an expert.

For three days observations were conducted. And the findings were alarming: the servant did indeed wake during the night. Sometimes she wandered about the house. Sometimes she stared at glowing rectangles. Sometimes she worried. Sometimes she sat quietly in the darkness while the world slept around her.

The Committee returned with its report. The conclusions were unanimous. The servant was not lazy and she was not negligent. The reality was that the servant was afflicted.

Blue Jay read the report aloud: the subject appears unable to perch properly, remaining mentally active after sunset and exhibiting excessive concern regarding matters beyond her control.

She frequently revisits previous events and anticipates future events before they occur so at the end, she is incapable of achieving satisfactory sleep.

The Parliament gasped. Even Sir Grackle was moved.

"What shall we do?" asked a sparrow.

Nobody knew. The meeting dragged on until sunset. Then, as the birds settled into their evening places, Tiny Sparrow had another idea.

"Show her."

"Show her what?" asked Blue Jay.

"How we sleep."

The proposal was adopted immediately and that night, every bird on the estate participated.

The sparrows tucked their heads beneath their wings. The doves settled into feathery cushions. The grackles balanced effortlessly on branches. Even Blue Jay abandoned his dignity and went to sleep. No bird worried about tomorrow's seeds or about yesterday’s mistakes. Nobody worried if rain would come, or wind. They just trusted the morning. Meanwhile, the servant stood at the glass door watching them.

A fence full of sleeping sparrows. A railing full of sleeping doves. A tree full of sleeping grackles. In fact, an entire world at peace.

And for one brief moment she understood not how to sleep, that lesson would take longer. But she understood why.

The next morning breakfast was still late. The seed distribution system remained imperfect. Water service continued to suffer occasional interruptions.

The Parliament met once more. Blue Jay called for the final verdict. After much discussion the conclusion was entered into the official record.

Her Buttlership is guilty of many administrative deficiencies. However, the Parliament recognizes mitigating circumstances. Furthermore, the servant appears genuinely fond of birds. Therefore, she shall remain in office.

The motion passed unanimously.

Only Tiny Sparrow added a final note: "She worries too much."

And for once, not a single bird disagreed.