One word after the other. One line after the other. I can do this. Aspiring author Rob O’Mallard was willing himself to write but after two lines his thoughts wandered to the birds lined up outside his window.
What a peaceful and uncomplicated life these birds have! How romantic that they mate for life!
That thought led his eyes to his baby’s hook nose. The O’Mallards never had a hook nose.
“I’m as monogamous as those birds you romanticize”, his wife had sworn on her father life.
Still something bothered him. His thoughts wandered again.
The third line was never written.
–end —
I read a story as a child of a bird killing itself when it’s mate was shot by a hunter…science supported the story with it’s observation that birds mated for life…it was so romantic and then DNA technology came along and ruined the romance:
PHOTO PROMPT © Roger Bultot
This 100 word story was written for the 100 word photo challenge. More details about this challenge can be found at:
https://rochellewisofffields.wordpress.com/2016/05/04/6-may-2016/
Click on the Froggy below for other amazing takes on the same prompt by fellow “Friday Fictioneers.”
Roots & Water 
Really? Never knew that and glad you shared.
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I never knew that too until a few years ago…it was disappointing to have such a romantic myth invalidated. But that’s life…we have to constantly learn and unlearn.
Thanks for reading Parul.
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I don’t think he’ll ever find peace until he knows for sure, though pushing it could ruin his marriage. Nicely wrapped together with the “birds mating for life” theory (or is that now “ex-theory”?).
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It’s an ex-theory for sure unless the scientist find their DNA matching method was wrong.
Thanks for reading Ali.
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Oh dear. It sounds like he might be right to be suspicious, unless it skips a generation?
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Not all birds mate for life, in fact, most of them chose a new mate every year. There are some species, like geese, that mate for life. But, just as with monogamous humans, that’s not an absolute. Temptation lurks around every corner… 😉 Great story, I love the musings of the aspiring writer.
Also, judging on looks based on genetics is tricky. He’ll have to do a DNA test if he wants to be sure. There was the belief that two blue-eyed parents couldn’t have a brown-eyed child (because brown-eyes are dominant), but that’s not absolutely true either. So better not be so quick with the divorce. 😉
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There are always exceptions to the rule…around 30% it seems are “non-monogamous”. I wonder if the geese stats are similar to humans.
DNA is fascinating – to think that of all that information coded in there to be invoked at any time at random…
Thanks for reading Gah!
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pathetic man. he was letting his suspicion led him by the nose. when push comes to shove, dna testing could settle it.
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There is a 30% chance that the baby is not his 🙂 His wife may have read the NY times report and made a promise that was vague.
Thanks for reading.
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There’s always one in every family that resembles the mailman or someone other than the husband. Maybe he can take the kid fishing when it gets older. Hook some bait on its nose and dunk it in the water. 🙂
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ha ha. O’Mallard might act on your suggestion if he continues to think that the baby is not his.
Thanks for reading Russell.
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The animal kingdom is fascinating. Rob O’Mallard what the duck is he thinking about so much? It could be the trace of a long lost ancestor.
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It could be the trace of a long lost ancestor ..or an ancestor who he didn’t know was his ancestor…or it could be the trace of the mailman as Russell suggested 🙂
Thanks for reading.
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Dear Ansumani,
Heredity is an odd thing. As Subroto pointed out, the hook nose could come from generations prior. Good story.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Thank you Rochelle.
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He no writer then, or he would have turned his concern into a best seller.
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He is still an aspiring one 🙂 Thanks for reading Mike.
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Oh such a suspicion… there is only two choices though… accept that it can happen or leave his wife I guess…
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Or he can find out it’s not his but still love and raise the baby …
Thanks for reading Bjorn.
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Sad song. Cheating hurts.
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With babies, it’s unfair to use looks as proof. There are little things called recessive genes that can be the culprits. Asking for a DNA test alone could cause the end of a marriage. It shows a lack of trust. Baby could look like a great-great-great grandfather, grandmother, uncle, aunt, etc., no one has a picture of or remembers.Well done, Ansumani. —- Suzanne
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