Mudita (noun): delight in the happiness of others

The green bird nearly cried today.

It was minding its own business on a tree, peacefully preening after a long day of exploration.

Then, a horrifying shape shot like a bullet through the leaves, nearly taking half of its feathers in a millisecond. The colorful quadrilateral shuddered into the branch, mere inches away from the bird’s beak.

Right after the bird saw its life flash before its eyes, it heard the voices of small human children.

The infant fools had accidentally flown their kite into the tree.

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How dare they! The little bird screeched at them indignantly. Kids these days have no sense of personal space!

However, their worried little faces made the bird feel guilty.

Ugh!

Thoroughly annoyed and heart still pounding, the little green bird gingerly picked up the vibrant flying object with its beak and sent the miserable kite tumbling down the twigs.

And the children cheered. Big, jubilant smiles radiated from their small cheeks as they scrambled to catch their kite, one stumbling over the other in a light-hearted struggle.

They yelled something, then ran off as if nothing happened.

The little feathered soul was no master of human language, but something about the children’s shout seemed like gratitude and appreciation.

And so, the bird watched their silhouettes disappear in the distance, a strangely warmth blooming in its heart, and a small droplet forming at its eye.