A seagull who is near death after being caught in an oil slick searches with her dying breath for a safe place to lay her egg. She manages to fly to the balcony of an apartment building that is home to an honorable black cat named Zorba. Zorba promises the seagull that he will look after the egg, and promises her that he will teach the hatchling to fly. But how can a cat teach a bird how to fly? Charcoal and pastel illustrations accompany the text.