The Tiny Bird

 

Midge was sitting on the front porch staring at the bush near the house with pretty red flowers on it. Booker-T came through the gate and sat beside her on the porch.

“What are you doing?” asked Booker-T.

“I'm watching this tiny bird,” said Midge. “See it on the flowers?”

Booker-T started at the bush and didn't see the tiny bird. “What bird?” asked Booker-T.

“That little one over there,” said Midge pointing to the bird with the very fast wings. “See it?”

Booker-T stepped closer to look and something flew over his head. “I don't see it.”

“It just flew over your head,” said Midge. “I think you scared it.”

“How did I scare it?” asked Booker-T. “I didn't even see it.”

“It is really tiny and the wings are fast and always going when it is at the flowers,” said Midge. “It has a long little beak and it pokes the little beak into the flower. Do you know what kind of bird it is?”

“I didn't see it,” said Booker-T. “I don't know. Maybe Gabby knows. He is a bird.”

“But I haven't seen Gabby,” sighed Midge. “Maybe Jake knows.”

“Maybe he does,” agreed Booker-T. “He knows a lot of things.”

“Who knows lot of things?” asked Gabby as he flew down from the tree and landed on the porch rail.”

“Hi Gabby,” smiled Midge. “We were just talking about you.”

“Why?” asked Gabby. “You think I know a lot of things?”

“We were taking about Jake knowing a lot of things,” said Booker-T.

“You don't think I do too?” asked Gabby. “I get around town a lot and I see and hear a lot of things.”

“We know you do,” said Midge.

“Maybe I know whatever you are talking about,” said Gabby. “Try me.”

“Okay,” said Midge. “There is a tiny bird with fast wings that has a long beak and sticks it inside of flowers. Do you know what it is?”

“It sounds like you are talking about a hummingbird,” said Gabby. “They are very small.”

“They are small but fast,” laughed Booker-T. “I didn't even see it.”

“They are very small,” said Gabby. “If you go to the flower garden in the park, there are a lot of them feeding on the flowers.”

“Lets go,” said Booker-T. “I want to see the tiny bird.”

“When Jake and Lucy get here,” said Midge. “We can go see the birds.”

“That's funny name,” said Booker-T. “Hummingbird, is a big name for a tiny bird. Why is it called a Hummingbird?”

“I think it is because when they flap their wings fast it sounds like they are humming,” said Gabby.

“Wow a hummingbird that hums,” said Midge. “That is funny. I didn't hear it humming.”

“Maybe because you weren't close enough to here the humming,” said Gabby.

“Hm,” said Midge. “Maybe.”

“Have you ever heard them hum?” asked Booker-T.
“I heard them once,” said Gabby.

“Hey guys!” called Jake as he and Lucy walked through the gate and sat down with

Booker-T and Midge on the porch.

“What are you doing, Gabby?” asked Lucy.

“I was sitting here talking to Midge and Booker-T about a bird,” said Gabby.

“A bird?” asked Jake. “You are a bird. Were you talking to them about yourself?”

“No,” laughed Gabby. “I was telling them about a tiny bird called a Hummingbird.”

“I've seen one of them,” said Lucy.

“Where?” asked Midge.

“They come to the farm sometimes and I see them on the flowers behind the house,” said Lucy.

“I saw one here on the flower bush this morning,” said Midge. “They are really tiny.”

“They are,” agreed Lucy.

“I want to see one,” said Booker-T.

“Didn't you see the one Midge saw?” asked Jake.

“No,” said Booker-T. “I tried and when I got a little closer to look, it flew really fast past my head and I didn't see it.”

“Maybe you moved too fast and scared it,” suggested Jake.

“Have you ever seen one, Jake?” asked Midge.

“No,” said Jake. “Lets go find one.”

“Where should we go?” asked Midge. “I want to see one.. Lucy said they are at the farm and Gabby says they are at the park.”

“Lets go to the park,” suggested Lucy. “It is a bigger flower garden than my house.”

The four friends hurried through the gate and skipped along the sidewalk to the park. They stopped at the corner and looked up the street and then down the street before crossing

to the park.

“Lets ride the train,” said Booker-T.

“I want to ride the train too,” smiled Midge. “We can get to the flower garden faster.”

“Okay,” said Jake as they ran to the little train depot and leaped on the train in the back car.

They rode the train around to the flower garden and leaped out of the train when it stopped at the garden depot. They walked through the flowers looking for the tiny birds.

“Hey!,” said Booker-T. “Look over there. It is a tiny bird. Why don't it land on the flowers and eat. Why does it keep flapping it's wings? Gabby don't do that.”

“I don't know,” said Jake. “Do you know why, Gabby?”

“Do you think one will talk to us?” asked Lucy.

“I don't know,” said Midge as she walked closer to the tiny bird at the flower.

She stood staring at the tiny bird.

“Why are you staring at me?” asked the tiny bird.

Midge raised her eyebrows and said, “I'm sorry little bird. I think you are so little.”

“I am little,” said the tiny bird. “My name is Buzzer. Do you have a name?”

“Yes,” said Midge. “My name is Midge.”

“What kind of bird are you?” asked Buzzer. “I've never seen one like you before.”

“I'm not a bird,” said Midge. “I am a dog.”

Buzzer flew around her head and looked her over.

“What are you doing?” asked Midge.

“Just checking you out,” said Buzzer. “Who are those others who are with you?”

“This is Jake, and this one is Lucy,” said Midge. “That other one Is Booker-T and

one the bush is Gabby.”

“I don't have any friends,” said Buzzer.

“Why?” asked Booker-T.

“They all want to take my food away from me,” sighed Buzzer.

“They don't want to share?” asked Jake.

“No,” said Buzzer. “I have to go now and get something else to eat. Bye.”

“Bye,” said Midge as they stood and watched him fly away going from flower

to flower.