The boy fashioned a tiny bird with arched wings.
Twists and swirls in the glass resembled feathers.
He placed the bird in his father’s calloused hands.
The old man, who was blind, held the bird without looking.
He pressed two fingers to the glass, as though feeling for a pulse.

Bob Thurber is the author of six books. Regarded as a master of Flash and Micro Fiction, his work has appeared in Esquire and other magazines, been anthologized 60 times, received a long list of awards, and been utilized in schools and colleges throughout the world. He resides in Massachusetts. Visit his website at BobThurber.net.