We Wanted It to Be Something Else

We went out on the trail hoping to find birds we’d never found before.

“What if we see a California Condor?” I said.

“What if we see a Bohemian Waxwing?” she said.

“What if we see an Orange Bishop?”

“Wait, what’s that one again?”

“It’s the one from the documentary about things only found in Africa. Remember it has a poofy orange hood like some kinduv holyman, and it’s nest hangs down from the branches like a finely woven coconut?

“Oh yeah… that would be good, but you know what would be the best?”

“What?”

“A Phoenix. The mythical firebird, who bursts into flames and is reborn out of the ashes.”

“Yesss. Want that one.”