The Shriek.

It was a cold, blustery November day when he first heard it. The shrill shriek made his body tremble, his hair standing on end. "Are you okay Luther?" His mum asked seeing his Jerky movements.

"Did you hear that?" Luther asked in a small voice.

"Hear what?" His mum replied.

"That noise?" The bewilderment made Luther's voice raise a few octaves.

"Oh that? That was just a bird. Come on, let's get home where it's warm." Mum pulled her scarf tighter around her as she spoke.

His mother's dismissal still ringing in his ears, Luther picked up speed and walked a little faster. He had never heard a bird sound like that before, but maybe his mum was right. After all, he was only 7, he still had a lot to learn, and his mum was a lot older. It had been a long day at school and he just wanted to get home and play games. He pushed the noise out of his mind and walked to the top of the hill. The steep incline was still enough to take his breath away, especially when he ran most of the way.

He sat down on a wall to catch his breath while he waited for his mum to catch up. The cold red brick was almost painful on his bum and legs as he sat. That's when he heard it again. The Shriek seemed even louder this time. Luther could swear he had heard the noise somewhere else before, and it definitely wasn't a bird like his mum had said. He couldn't place it at that moment, but it was familiar to him. It wasn't a car, it wasn't a hinge or tools, it wasn't the sounds of the younger kids playing at school. But what could it be?

Luther's mum reached the top of the hill where he was sitting. "You were super fast today!" She seemed oblivious to the noise.

Luther got off the wall and started to walk, still pondering what the noise could be. They crossed over a road and started on the final stretch of the journey home. Luther walked in silence, still trying to figure out the noise. They were just around the corner from their home when it happened again.

"It's a dolphin!" Luther exclaimed.

His mum laughed. "There's no dolphins around here silly! They live in the ocean not the sky! It's just a very happy bird."

"No mum, I've hears that before, it's a dolphin!" He looked up at the sky. He couldn't see much, the white clouds obscured the sky above them.

"Okay babe, whatever you say." His mum smiled.

Luther ignored her. He made it to their house without really paying attention to where he was going. His mum in theory, was right, however that noise was unmistakable. Dolphins don't live in the sky, but that was a sad, desperate cry.

When they got in, Luther took off his coat, his gloves and his hat. He set them down on the brown recliner in his living room, he said hello to his pet dogs, then grabbed his tablet. He pulled up his favourite games, but couldn't focus on any of them. He got up and walked to the kitchen to find his mum.

"Why would a dolphin be sad?" He asked her.

"I'm not sure, probably the same reasons you would be, what makes you sad?" Mum replied.

Luther pondered for a moment. "Lots of things make me sad."

"You know you can always talk to me about things that make you sad?" Mum asked, a little taken aback by his answer. Luther was a happy, bright boy. He had almost everything he wanted, and he was loved by everyone.

"I know mum, I love you." Luther gave his mum a hug and a kiss on the cheek.

"I love you too honey." She returned the hug and kissed him on his forehead. He wasn't much smaller than her anymore, so she took every opportunity to get in the hugs and kisses before he was too grown up.

"I'm going to my room for a while" Luther said, then turned and left. He needed to figure out what was making the dolphin sad.