Fiction | Monday Mashup | Frank the Pigeon
Reclaiming the Roost
Frank’s Triumph in Brooklyn
Frank placed another X on his mental calendar, a silent reminder of the days he had spent trapped in this human existence. He struggled desperately to hold onto the fading memories of his life as a pigeon in the heart of Brooklyn, but they slipped through his grasp like feathers in the wind.
His futile attempt to revert to his avian form by indulging in another grilled octopus burrito had backfired spectacularly. Instead of soaring through the skies, he had spent most of the day chained to the office restroom, the subject of office jokes and ridicule. It was a stark contrast to the respect and camaraderie he had enjoyed as a pigeon.
Frank’s footsteps echoed in the dimly lit alley as he trudged along, his heart heavy with disappointment. He couldn’t help but wonder if this was to be his fate for the rest of his days — trapped in a human body, with no purpose or connection to the world around him.
Lost in his thoughts, Frank barely noticed the two looming figures by the dumpster until it was too late. They blocked his path, and their words sent a shiver down his spine.
“Hey, you gotta pay the toll to get through,” one of the goons declared.
Frank, his weariness evident, tried to avoid trouble. “I’m good,” he muttered, turning to leave. “I’ll just go a different way.”
But the second goon, more aggressive and menacing, swung a baseball bat menacingly. “Nah,” he sneered, “you entered our alley, you gotta pay the toll.”
Frank’s heart raced as he attempted to make a desperate escape, his lanky human legs unaccustomed to the swift, coordinated movements of his pigeon form. However, the goons were faster and stronger. They quickly closed the gap, and with a cruel tackle, they knocked him to the unforgiving pavement.
Agonizing pain radiated through Frank’s body as the thugs relentlessly pummeled him. Their fists and feet seemed relentless, each blow pushing him closer to the brink of unconsciousness. Blood trickled from his nose, and his vision blurred as he fought to stay conscious.
“You should have just paid up,” one of the goons growled, his voice filled with malice as he delivered a punishing kick to Frank’s side.
Desperation welled up within Frank as he tried to crawl away, to cry out for help from the oblivious passersby on the nearby main road. His voice, a mere whisper of its former pigeon coo, failed him as he reached out to anyone who might come to his aid.
But the shadows closed in on his vision, and the cacophony of the city seemed to fade into oblivion. Frank’s world dissolved into darkness as he teetered on the precipice of unconsciousness, his fate uncertain in this cruel, unforgiving human world.
The world around him dissolved into an indistinct haze of pain and despair. He felt like he was being pulled into a bottomless abyss, a place where there was no escape from the brutality of the human world.
But then, against all odds, a glimmer of hope flickered in the darkness. Frank felt a strange sensation, as if his very essence was shifting. The pain began to ebb, and the disorienting maelstrom of his human existence receded.
When he finally regained consciousness, it was as if he had been reborn. He was no longer trapped within the confines of his human body. Instead, he found himself in the familiar form of a pigeon, his feathers ruffled and his wings aching but whole.
Frank blinked his avian eyes, taking in his surroundings. He was no longer in the dark alley, but in a sterile and well-lit veterinary office. The scent of antiseptic hung in the air, and strange equipment surrounded him.
Confusion and relief warred within him as he cooed softly, testing his newfound freedom. His avian heart swelled with gratitude for this unexpected second chance. But he couldn’t shake the question: how had he returned to his pigeon form, and where was he now?
Frank’s heart raced as he realized he wasn’t alone in the sterile veterinary office. A woman emerged from the shadows, her face concealed by a mask, and she held a long needle in her hand. Panic surged through him as he suspected that she had been sent by Penelope to finish the job.
“Ah, you’re awake,” the woman said softly, her voice doing little to ease Frank’s anxiety.
His eyes darted nervously to the needle as he backed away. He attempted to test his injured wing, hoping he could take flight to escape, but a searing pain shot through him. He needed another way out.
With a burst of pigeon agility, he jumped from the examination table and managed to skid to a stop on a nearby counter. The assailant rushed towards him just as Frank grabbed hold of a scalpel. With this improvised weapon clutched in his talon, he began to wildly swing it about in self-defense.
In the chaotic struggle that ensued, Frank managed to nick the woman’s hand, causing her to yelp in pain. Seizing the opportunity, he dove for the floor and darted past the entrance just as an assistant entered the room, creating the perfect distraction. He slid between her legs and made a triumphant escape.
“Ain’t no one getting the jump on Frank the pigeon!” he cooed triumphantly as he reached the city sidewalk.
But his victory was short-lived. Just as he celebrated his freedom, a teenager on a skateboard collided with him. Pain seared through his body, and the world went black.
It felt like changing clothes, as if he had slipped out of one version of himself and into another. When he opened his eyes, he was back in the dark alley, trapped in his human form. The abrupt shift left him bewildered and disoriented. Could it be possible that he had somehow gained the ability to travel between his two bodies?
Frank groaned in pain as he struggled to get up, his human body battered and bruised. The goons, still nearby, overheard his cries of pain and returned to the scene.
“Hey, he’s getting up already!” one of them hollered.
“Not for long,” the second grinned wickedly as he raised the baseball bat high, ready to strike.
Moments later, he regained consciousness, this time in his pigeon body. He found himself cradled in the hands of a young boy who had apparently come to his rescue. Not one to be underestimated, Frank launched into action. With a flurry of feathers, he battered the surprised kid’s face and hopped away.
He landed on a cart that happened to be rolling by, tucking himself amidst the merchandise just as the vet tech burst outside, searching for him.
“Gotta play better than that to stop ole Frank,” he cooed triumphantly to himself, finding refuge in the rolling cart as it carried him away from the danger, deeper into the labyrinthine streets of the city.
Under the cover of night, Frank returned to his beloved neighborhood, the place where he had once reigned as a respected and powerful pigeon. The familiar rooftops stretched out before him, and the city’s twinkling lights cast a magical glow over the urban landscape. The moment felt surreal, almost like a dream, and he prayed desperately that he wouldn’t wake up to find himself trapped in his human form once more.
From the shadows, Frank observed the preparations that Penelope, the treacherous owl, had made. Several flocks of birds from various neighborhoods had gathered, their presence a testament to her growing influence. She was poised to be crowned Queen of Brooklyn.
Determination burned in his pigeon heart. He knew he had to stop this coronation, to reclaim his throne and the respect of his fellow birds. But it wouldn’t be easy; Penelope had cunningly orchestrated her ascent to power.
As he watched and planned from the shadows, Frank knew that the fate of Brooklyn’s bird kingdom rested on his wings. This was his chance to prove that he was still the true ruler, that no one could usurp him without a fight. The night was young, and the battle for the rooftops was about to begin.
As Penelope’s ceremony continued with the opening of gifts in her honor, the atmosphere was charged with anticipation. Birds from various neighborhoods had brought offerings, ranging from birdseed to small trinkets and baubles, all paying homage to the treacherous owl who sought to become the Queen of Brooklyn.
But Frank had a plan, and his eyes were fixed on one innocuous box among the gifts. It was a little something he had swiped from the merchandise cart earlier, and it held the key to his scheme. As Penelope sliced through the ribbon and opened the box, it exploded with a thunderous bang. The sudden explosion sent shockwaves through the assembly of birds and erupted with a flurry of confetti that rained down from the heavens.
Panic overtook the birds as feathers and paper alike fluttered about, obscuring their vision and sowing chaos. Seizing this moment of confusion, Frank emerged from the shadows and lunged at Penelope. He forced a leather hood over her head, plunging her into a world of darkness. Taken completely by surprise, Penelope had no chance to react as Frank carried out his daring endeavor, even though he was still nursing his injuries.
Amidst the settling chaos and the ensuing bird battles, alliances and rivalries came to the forefront. The Blue Jays of the West side clashed fiercely with the Sparrows of the South side, while Frank’s once-loyal pigeon crew fought valiantly against the menacing Crows from behind the 2nd street dumpster.
In the midst of the fracas, a familiar voice cut through the turmoil. “Yo, is that Frank?” Milo’s voice cried out from the crowd. “I thought you had died?”
Frank, struggling to maintain his hold on the thrashing Penelope, retorted, “Do I look dead to you, foo?”
Milo’s eyes widened in disbelief. “Penn said you got hit by a bus!”
“Only thing I got hit by was a talon to the back,” Frank sneered into Penelope’s mask, his determination unwavering. “Now, it’s time to take back the fam.”
With renewed vigor and determination, Frank managed to force Penelope into submission, and his gang, once scattered and disarrayed, regained control of the rooftop. The Crows, Sparrows, and Blue Jays, their spirits dampened, took flight and hastily retreated from the scene, a series of expletives echoing in the night air as they departed.
As victory settled in, Frank and his loyal gang shared a moment of celebration. But the battle had been won, and the question of what to do with the treacherous Penelope hung in the air like a shadow.
“Yo, dawg,” Sammy said, bobbing his head in thought. “I knew something was up with that whack owl. What do we do with her now?”
“We should throw her off the roof,” Milo chanted, seeking a swift resolution.
However, Frank, ever the strategic thinker, had a different perspective. “No, I don’t think so,” he stated.
“But she tried to pop a cap in you!” Sammy exclaimed, incredulous.
“Yeah, but I think death is too easy for her,” Frank replied, his gaze unwavering. “I think banishment would be a more suitable punishment for the so-called queen of Brooklyn,” he added with a hint of mockery in his voice.
This episode is the resolution to Feathers and Footsteps (Medium link), the episode in which Frank was betrayed and first found himself as a human. That piece, and this one, was written in response to Jonathon Sawyer’s Monday Mashup #32 (Medium link). I would like to challenge Aria Wraithe and FJCMontenegro to take on the Mashup!
Main Theme Worth 2 points Prompt #1:
Your protagonist becomes the head of 'The Family'! - Frank retakes his
place as head of the pigeon gang/family
Constraints: Worth 1 point each (Choose 4 or roll 4 6-sided dice):
A baseball bat - One of the goons use it against Frank
Tons of confetti! - Confetti rains down from above
A calendar with days “X”ed out - Frank crosses out a mental calendar
An improvised weapon - Frank uses a scalpel as a weapon
A leather object - Frank brought a leather hood
Hardcore Constraint: Worth 2 points (Flip a coin or choose one):
An innocuous box that, if opened… EXPLODES!!! - Penn's gift explodes
Literary Device: Worth 5 points:
Outline a classic “Hero’s Journey” that may or may not get completed. -
Frank's call to adventure is his need to get back to his pigeon body. He
endures trials and challenges along the way while discovering his ability
to change between bodies through some supernatural means. Frank regains
control of his family and now runs the pigeon gang once again.
+1 for tally box
14 points for the win!
Want more of Frank the Pigeon? Check out my list of various other stories in which he makes an appearance.
