What is the importance of the snow owl in the collection, Doing Time: 25 Years of Prison Writing-a PEN American Center Prize Anthology?

"The Night the Owl Interrupted" was a short story by Daniel Roseboom telling of how the monotonous prison life was broken up. It was winter and the inmates were working out with weights outside. The author's friend Dixon wanted to go inside. The big snow owl that flew by and landed on the prison windows startled them. It then perched on the officer's watch booth. The guards looked nervous as all the inmates were watching the bird. There was an announcement that informed the inmates to return to their blocks. The author wondered about what would happen if they kept watching the owl and did not go inside. After another announcement, the prisoners bonded and felt strong together. There were no divisions by racial groups. However, they filed back inside while the owl was free outside. Reality set back in and they felt restricted again. However, feelings of hope prevailed as their hearts were internally strengthening.