The Someday Birds

Charlie’s family has dinner at the tavern. While eating, they try to make plans for the next two days. Charlie still wants to see the marsh and Tiberius Shaw’s house, but the twins insist that birds are boring. Ludmila decides to call Gram to see what she thinks about their schedule. On the phone, Gram reveals that Dad must have another surgery and that they should come to the hospital as soon as possible. Back in the RV, Charlie worries about Dad while clutching Shaw’s journal.

Charlie and his family meet Gram at the hospital early the next morning. She leads them to Dad’s room, where Dad is waiting for surgery in a hospital gown. Charlie wishes he could tell Dad about the birds he found, but there isn’t time. The nurses come in and take him to the operating room. Outside the window, Charlie spots a mourning dove.

Charlie and his family sit in the waiting room while Dad goes into surgery. Charlie searches Davis’s and Gram’s faces for visual cues as to what they’re feeling but can’t read their expressions. He takes out Shaw’s journal and his Bird Book and starts a new sketch. An hour later, Dr. Spielman comes out to talk to Gram. Charlie can’t hear what they’re saying but watches as Gram’s shoulders slump and she bursts into tears. Convinced Dad is dead, Charlie races out of the hospital, hails a cab, and asks the driver to take him to the marsh.

Charlie uses his allowance money to pay for the cab. The driver drops him off, and he looks around to see endless marsh surrounding him. He starts walking, determined to find Shaw’s house. He spots a heron but doesn’t see any other people. Finally, he encounters a tour guide leading a group through the marsh. Charlie asks if Tiberius Shaw’s house is nearby, but the guide doesn’t know where it is. Charlie leaves the group and continues walking. He wishes he could find Shaw and ask him what he learned from being in nature. Suddenly, Charlie notices a Carolina parakeet. Charlie follows the bird because these parakeets are supposedly extinct. The bird leads him towards a cluster of trees. Charlie notices a mailbox and decides to put Shaw’s journal and a letter and drawing for Shaw inside. He then follows the parakeet up to the cluster of trees, which is filled with more parakeets. He sits on the ground studying the birds and feeling soothed.

Realizing he “can’t stay here forever,” Charlie leaves the trees and returns to the trails (299). He finds a bathroom where he washes his hands repeatedly. A marsh ranger finds him and introduces himself as Rodney. Rodney asks where Charlie’s family is, and Charlie tells Rodney his whole story. Rodney listens intently and encourages Charlie not to lose hope, then he helps Charlie call his family.

Ludmila arrives at the marsh with Tiberius to collect Charlie. Charlie doesn’t want to go back to the hospital, but he cheers up when Ludmila tells him everyone’s been more worried about him than Dad.

Charlie and Ludmila head back to the hospital. Charlie says that he saw Gram crying and thought Dad was dead. Ludmila explains that Gram was crying because the surgery went well and she was happy. Charlie doesn’t understand but feels relieved. At the hospital, Gram hugs Charlie and tells him how much she loves him.

Charlie reflects on everything that’s happened to him during his trip and all the people he’s met. He can’t wait to tell Dad his stories. When Dad gets out of intensive care, Charlie and his family visit him. They’re all thrilled when Dad talks to them. After Dad falls asleep, Charlie remembers the stories he used to tell him and his siblings when they were little.

Charlie and his family talk to Dr. Spielman about Dad’s recovery. Afterwards, the family introduces Ludmila to Dad for the first time. Ludmila starts crying when he calls her Amar’s Ludmila.

Old Bessie dies out, and Dr. Joan tells Ludmila to donate the RV. She, Charlie, Davis, and the twins will fly back to California together. Gram is staying behind with Dad until he’s ready to leave the hospital. On the plane, Charlie reflects on his and his family’s final days in Virginia. They went to some museums, and Charlie got to tell Dad about the birds he found during their visits. Dad also told Charlie they could go on more birding adventures when he gets better.

Right before they got their flight, Gram gave Charlie an envelope addressed to him that came to the hospital. On the plane, Charlie reads the letter inside. It’s from Shaw, who found the journal, letter, and drawing Charlie left for him in the marsh mailbox. He thanks Charlie, tells him he’s strong, and encourages him to keep drawing, studying birds, and writing. Charlie is thrilled. He and his siblings settle in for the rest of the flight. When the flight attendant brings them a strange snack, Charlie decides to try it, even though he doesn’t know what it is.