Monday, April 25, 2011

Cotton the Baby Oriole

This story too is adapted from a real live incident reported by ACRES - one of the animal welfare organisations in Singapore.
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One day, a little baby golden oriole named Cotton, was trying to practise flying. However, it didn't know how to fly and it fell down to the ground. A kind little girl saw the baby bird on the ground and called the Animal rescue company, ACRES, to help the bird.
The ACRES heroes came and picked up the bird and put it in a small cardboard box full of leaves and twigs, like a make-shift nest. Then they placed the box on top of their van right below the Oriole Nest, which they could see from the ground, high up in the trees.
The mummy and daddy orioles were overjoyed to see their baby safe in the box up on the truck. They came and kissed it and then they immediately went to look for food to feed the baby bird.
After eating, the poor baby bird was still too scared to try and fly.
So the ACRES heroes bravely started climbing the tree with the baby bird in their hands. The Mummy and Daddy bird didn't know these people were helping them and tried to attack the climber but the hero perservered. He then put the baby down on the lowest branch of the tree.
The baby bird started hopping up the branch and the tree until it finally reached its own nest. The Mummy and Daddy birds were very happy and showered the baby bird with kisses. And all three birds then lived happily ever after!

Sunday, April 24, 2011

Survivor Baby

This is story based on a news article that touched me deeply.

One day, a naughty person tried to bury a baby alive in a flower bed in Eunos, in a rooftop garden. But the baby was very smart. It started to cry. There was a nice old man nearby who had come to the flowerbed to admire the flowers and smell the flowers. He heard a soft, a soft crying sound. He thought it was a kitten in trouble and decided to investigate, like a detective. So he dug the sand around the flower bed, looking for the source of the sound.
As he kept digging, he suddenly uncovered a foot! His friend said it was probably a toy, but the man perservered. He continued digging the sand until he unearthed a little baby! The baby was still alive and crying. The old man hugged the baby close to him.It had been 10 years since he last held a little baby. Then he gave the baby to another aunty nearby. She helped to wash the baby under the tap and the baby started gurgling! They sent the baby to the doctors and the doctors said the baby was alright. So the baby lived happily ever after. The old man and lady visited the baby often because they were very happy that they saved the little baby's life.

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Some facts beyond the story. The baby was a very newly born baby with its umblical cord still attached. Doctors said it was probably only a few hours old. The old man usually doesn't smoke near the flower bed. He had to go there that day as his usual smoking spot had been occupied by a lovely dovey couple and he felt uncomfortable there - so it was a real stroke of luck he happened to be there then. The child had been buried alive with a plastic bag around his neck - the poor parent(s) must have tried to kill the baby but didn't do the job thoroughly. At this moment police are still seeking them out. They could go to prison for 10 years. I think they need counselling more than a jail term. That aside, it's just a miracle the baby survived! A different person, an ideal person, who had been as moved as I am by this little survivor's story, would offer to adopt this child as my own - but I fall short of my ideals - I'm expecting my second baby, it would not be practical now for me to take in this baby or foster it or anything. I hope the baby grows up okay.