Many different birds lived in a rather big cage. They could fly in that big cage but it was not possible for them to fly in the sky. However, the birds were satisfied with their life conditions . They did not know what freedom was. Only the old green bird knew it because she remembered her life among the big spaces of fields and forests. She was often walking along the cage and looking through the bars.

“Why do you walk along the cage instead of flying in it?” other birds were asking her.

“It is so boring to fly in the cage,” the old bird used to answer them sadly, “You have never known the feeling of the flight in the sky. Now I will tell you about it.”

The birds were not laughing at that strange old bird but they really could not understand the difference between the birdcage and the huge sky.

“They are similar things,” they told each other, “It is a stupid idea to refuse flying in this beautiful cage if there is no other possibility .”

Every day a close-lipped man came and put corn and water for the birds in the cage. The birds did not like him because he always had a frowning face. But they forgot about him readily after he left the cage.

“If this man could be a bird then he would become a vulture. He never looks at us with warm attention. He never smiles to the rays of the sun,” they would say about that man sometimes.

However, they were glad when the hands of that man covered the cage before the rain.

“He cares about us. Maybe he is not so fearsome,” the birds chipper.

Many days passed away.

The birds liked early mornings, the nice corn and fresh water. They sang all days and flew about in the cage. Only the old bird was walking along the cage without any interest in anything.

One usual day the close-lipped man staggered into the cage. The birds were very surprised with that situation because they had never seen the man was in drunk before. The next surprise was the opened door of the cage. The drunken man put the food to the birds and forgot to close the door after he had left the cage. The birds were very scared of that situation. They began to fly about and chipper loudly. Only the old green bird kept a composure.

“My dears,” she told them. “It is your chance. Maybe it is a unique chance that is offered to you so that you could become free birds. I told you many wonderful stories about the free flight and the high sky. You know that the feeling of freedom is one of the most wonderful feelings for birds. Now we must leave this dreadful cage. You will have new emotions beyond the cage. You will have the choice of your way in the sky. You will understand why I have never wanted to fly here and was walking along the cage impassively.”

The old bird was so happy about that surprising event that she did not remark how most of the birds were looking at her. They flocked together in a corner of the cage and were very scared by the words of the green bird.

“What is happening?” the old bird asked them, “I think we have not much time for reflections. This cheerless man can return any moment if he remembers about his mistake. So, the door will be closed again!” the bird insisted.

The scared birds did not want to listen to the words of the old bird. Furthermore, they began to look at her with disfavor.

“We were listening to your stupid stories. We never laughed at your funny walks along the cage on the ground. But it does not mean that we want to be free. We do not know what it is. And we have no wish to try over this experiment, ” the birds cried at the green bird, “You told us that there are many dangers outside the cage. Who will guarantee us that this man opens the door of the cage for us if we return to him after our escape? Or… Do you think that we are such stupid birds as you are? No. We like this corn and water. We have a big space for flying. It is not important that that man has limited our freedom as you convince us he has. But he always cares about us. Go away, stupid old bird! We will close the door by ourselves so that wild animals will not come to us. The man is a very clever man. It was a right act to make such a beautiful cage for us! He defends us. We are little sensitive birds. We need to be protected.”

The old green bird could not believe the words that she heard. It was strange for her that the birds had no wish to be free. She had thought that the cage was painful to them too. The old green bird did not begin to think about that very long because she wished to leave the cage as soon as possible. However, she realized that several young beautiful birds were leaving the cage with her too .

“My small little friends,” she told them later, “I did not know that only you, five young birds, among hundreds birds needed freedom as I do. But I am very glad that you are here because I thought that I would be the only bird among all in that dreadful cage who wished to fly in the free high sky.”

The young colored birds thanked the old bird for her stories, sang their beautiful song and flew away in the sky.