“The year is coming to an end,” mused Dazel poignantly as she gazed at the sunrise, signaling the last dawn of the year. The trees surrounding her artificial pond were dusted with freshly fallen snow. “What a beautiful scene,” the duck said wistfully.

“Yes, it certainly is,” agreed Swain the black swan flapping his glossy, raven wings to land at the edge of the pond. The swan was Dazel’s classmate and close friend and the two flew to the Aviary School for Birds together each morning.

Dazel remarked thoughtfully, “What a year it has been; so many adventures, so many follies, so many lessons!”

“Come on, let’s get going otherwise we will be late for school,” commented Swain and the two friends flapped their wings and set off towards the Aviary School.

In assembly, Wiz Rooster, the principal, addressed the gathered students, “Good morning birds! Tonight will be the last night of the year and each of us has many reasons to celebrate. The last year has taught us many lessons and the New Year gives us the opportunity to apply these lessons and make a fresh start.”

Back in the class, Dazel and her friends were discussing what they could do to celebrate the onset of the New Year. “Wiz Rooster is right, we must make an effort to remember the lessons of the last year as we step into a new year,” Candy the canary exclaimed.

“We must do something significant that will make us value the lessons of last year,” mused Rita the robin. “How about making a monument to dedicate it to the year that has passed,” suggested Dazel. “Like what? A statue?” quizzed Swain.

“How about we use a tree to hang one item each on a branch? The item we hang must signify a lesson we learnt from the last year,” elaborated Dazel.

Just then Ms Thrush, who was vice principal at the Aviary School, entered their class which was situated in one of the many tree houses which served as classrooms of the Aviary School.

“I couldn’t help overhearing your discussion and I think it’s a wonderful idea. I believe the entire school must participate,” Ms Thrush declared. So the entire class led by Ms Thrush went to hunt for the perfect tree to hang their tokens.

“Look at that fir tree,” pointed Davy the dove. It was a tall tree with long sloping branches right in the middle of the Aviary School grounds.

“It’s perfect,” the birds cried in unison. “So when the sun sets this evening, we will all hang a token on the tree which will be a remembrance of a lesson of the past year,” Swain instructed.

The entire day was spent in anticipation. News about the upcoming activity spread like wildfire and every bird in school desired to participate.

“I will hang a shell I found at the seashore,” shared Pip the magpie. “It reminds me of the time I spent at the beach without my family and how much I missed them.”

“I will hang an acorn from a seed I planted; it’s a tree now. It has taught me that all efforts do bear fruit if one is patient,” confided Rita the robin.

Even the teachers were talking about the wonderful idea, “I think we can make arrangements for the young birds when they gather this evening. How about having a bonfire?” suggested Wiz Rooster the principal.

“Yes, we can even roast a few nuts and berries and make it a feast,” agreed Kia the kingfisher who was the geography teacher in school.

That evening, the Aviary School premises, which remained deserted at that hour usually, was a hub of activity. Birds flew around the tall fir tree finding an empty branch to hang their token. Some hovered in midair inspecting the items their friends had hung.

Wiz Rooster came up to Dazel and Swain who were roasting chestnuts on a small bonfire. He commented with pride, “Great job, my dears! The most wonderful thing about this is that we will all spend the last hours of this last day of the year with each other at the Aviary School.” Dazel and Swain blushed with pleasure.

“There are so many items hanging — each signifying a lesson we have learned. I hung a letter; it is dedicated to the pigeon postal service we started this year. The entire community at D’Land benefited from it,” the rooster shared. “It has taught me the importance of communication.”

“I hung a crystal I found in a cave; I used it for my science project in school,” Swain revealed.

“To me, the angles of the crystal remind me of the various aspects of my life I have to balance; as a young bird, a student, a member of the pond commune where I live.”

“What did you hang, Dazel?” asked Wiz Rooster.

“There were so many things I remember from last year. But the most memorable was our visit to the mulberry tree orchards and meeting the silk worms,” Dazel disclosed. “I have hung a string of silk I got from the worms; remember female moths reproduce and die within five days. Well, these silkworms taught me that we must be of use every single day to do something worthwhile.”

“That is a lesson truly worth remembering,” Swain agreed.

“Look!” came a loud cry. “The sun is setting on the last day of the year!” All the birds looked towards the citrus coloured horizon with reverence. “Gratitude for all the days that were and all the days that now lie ahead. May we make the most of each moment!” Wiz Rooster announced.

“Here! Here!” consented the gathered birds. The fireflies had begun to flicker and cast a mellow light as the darkness of the evening set in. The pleasant sounds of laughter and merriment filled the evening air.

“Welcome to the New Year!” someone cheered.

“Welcome to the New Year,” the birds cried in unison. “To new beginnings!” And every single day, the birds of Aviary School gazed with contentment at the tokens of lessons that hung from the branches of the fir tree and swayed in the breeze.

“The Tree of New Beginnings!” Teak the woodpecker had etched on the trunk of the fir. And what an apt caption it was.

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