Andrew - the Hopeful Bird

The Hopeful Bird

Although Andrew, a 7 year old, and his dad are homeless and live in an airport, Andrew learns that there is still hope and a chance that he will be in a house someday soon. Some of the challenges Andrew and his dad face are that they don’t have a home and they live in an airport. Since they live in an airport, Andrew and his dad can’t be seen. Andrew observes a little brown bird that was stuck in the airport for many days. Finally, it took a while, but the brown bird got out. Someday, he to thinks he will leave the airport. Andrew’s negativity towards living in the airport is shown when he says, “ My dad and I live in the airport because we don’t have a home.” (5). This shows that both Andrew and his dad are forced to live in the airport and Andrew resents this. Andrew longs to not be forced to blend into the crowds, carry other bags, and call taxis for other people. Andrew recalls observing a bird fly away from the airport that has been stuck there for a long time. He says,
“ Then I remember the bird. It took a while, but a door opened. And when the bird left, when it flew free, I know it was singing.” (32). The bird is a symbol because it’s saying that the boy and the dad will get out soon. Even though they are homeless they still have hope, it just may take a while. The reason why “ it took a while, but a door opened “ and “ it just may take a while” are bold is because that’s what the theme is. This is a metaphor. Eve Bunting is comparing the bird to Andrew and his dad because it’s going to take a while, but it will happen. In Eve Bunting’s touching story, Fly Away Home, it emphasizes that when everything is tangled, symbol, person, or movement can change your