The Little Baby

 Midge and Booker-T walked along the sidewalk on their way to Jake's house. Midge looked over toward the little cafe and saw something laying in the grass.

“Wait Booker-T,” said Midge. “What is that laying over there?”

“I don't know,” said Booker-T. “Lets go see.”

They walked across the street and found a baby bird laying in the grass.

“Hi little one,” said Midge. “Why are you laying here on the ground?”

“Please don't hurt me,” cried the little bird.

“It's okay little one,” said Midge. “We aren't going to hurt you. We want to help you if we can.”

“What happened?” asked Booker-T. Are you okay?”

“I'm okay I think,” said the little bird. “See that nest up there?”

Midge looked up at the tree and saw a nest in the tree. “You fell from up there?” asked Midge.

“Yes,” said the little bird.

“What is your name?” asked Midge. “My name is Midge and this is my friend, Booker-T.”

“My mom calls me Bitsy,” said the bird. “Have you seen my mom?”
“No,” said Midge. “How did you fall out of the nest?”

“I was standing on the edge of it, waiting for my mom to come back,” said Bitsy. “A big wind came and I fell to the ground.”

“Are you sure you are okay?” asked Midge.

“I think I am,” said Bitsy.

“Can't you fly back up there?” asked Booker-T.

“I can't fly yet,” cried Bitsy. “I tired.”

“Do you have any brothers or sisters in the nest?” asked Midge.

“I had two sisters but they learned how to fly and they went with mom,” said Bitsy.

“Where did they go?” asked Booker-T.

“I don't know,” said Bitsy. “She goes to get food and comes right back, but she hasn't come back yet.”

“Do you want to come with us?” asked Booker-T.

“That's a good idea,” said Midge.

“You can come with us and we will take you where you will be safe,” said Booker-T.

“But my mom won't know where to find me if I go,” cried Bitsy.

“How long has she been gone?” asked Midge.

“I don't know,” said Bitsy. “A long time I think.”

“Come on,” said Midge laying down beside Bitsy. “Climb on to my neck and we will go to my house.”

“Do you live a long way from here?” asked Bitsy.

“I live right up the street,” said Midge. “You can stay on the porch and Booker-T and I will help find some food for you.”

“Will my mom know how to find me?” asked Bitsy.

“Sure,” smiled Booker-T. “We can try to help you find her and Midge will help you learn to fly.”

“Can you fly?” asked Bitsy.

“Oh no,” said Midge. “I'm a dog. Dogs don't fly.”

“She tried one time and fell to the bottom of the hill,” laughed Booker-T.

“Can you fly, Booker-T?” asked Bitsy.

“No,” said Booker-T. “I'm a cat and we don't fly either. You are a bird and have feathers. Most birds fly.”

“But I can't fly either,” said Bitsy.

“You will learn,” said Midge. “You are just a little bird right now. You can try flying at my house.”

“Okay,” said Bitsy as she climbed up on Midge's neck and held on tight with her beak as Midge and Booker-T walked back to Midge's house.

Midge laid down on the porch so Bitsy could climb down. Booker-T ran around to the back of the house and pushed his way into the house. In the basement, he found a rag and carried it to the front porch. He laid it down near the bench.

“Here is a warm place for you to lay down,” said Midge.

Bitsy slowly walked over to the rag and climbed into the middle of it and laid down. “This is nice Midge,” said Bitsy.

“We are going to our friend's house and will come back later,” said Midge. “He will help us.”

“You will come back?” asked Bitsy.

“Yes,” said Booker-T. “We won't leave you alone for long.”

“Hey you guys!” called Jake as he came through the gate. “What happened to you?”

“Hi Jake,” said Midge turning around. “Sorry, we had a problem.”

“We were coming,” said Booker-T. “But Midge found a sad little bird in trouble.”

“A bird in trouble?” asked Jake. “What happened?”

“Jake, meet Bitsy,” said Midge.

“Hi,” smiled Jake. “I'm Jake.”

“Can you fly?” asked Bitsy.

“No,” said Jake. “I'm a dog and we dogs don't fly.”

“You are a dog too?” asked Bitsy. “But you don't look like Midge.”

“Midge and I are both dogs, but Midge is a different kind of dog than I am,” said Jake.

“Same as you birds,” said Midge. “Our friend is a bird but he is different than you are.”

“I only saw my sisters and mom so I thought we were all the same,” said Bitsy.

“I don't know what kind of bird you are,” said Midge. “Our friend is a bluejay.”

“Can your bluejay friend fly?” asked Bitsy.

“Oh yes,” smiled Booker-T. “He flies all over the place.”

“Can he fly and find my mom?” asked Bitsy.

“I don't know,” said Midge. “But Gabby can help teach you to fly.”

“Maybe if I learn to fly, I can go find my mom,” said Bitsy.

“Gabby is suppose to come here tomorrow,” said Midge. “We can ask him for you.”

“You will like Gabby,” added Booker-T.

“Thank you for helping me,” smiled Bitsy. “I'm hungry.”

“Oh!” said Booker-T. “What are we going to feed Bitsy? Don't they eat worms?”

“Jake,” smiled Midge. “Think you can dig a hole in the back yard and find a worm?”

“But if I find a worm,” said Jake. “How do I get it to Bitsy to eat?”

“You have to pick it up and bring to to her,” said Midge.

“Oh no,” said Jake. “I don't like worms. Bring Bitsy to the back and if I find a worm, she can pick it up.”

“Okay,” agreed Midge.

She laid down so Bitsy could climb onto Midge's neck and she followed Jake to the back yard. Booker-T and Midge stood and watched as Jake started to dig.

“There is one,” called Midge. “Come on Bitsy, he found you a worm.”

She laid down so Bitsy could climb down and get the worm.

“This is good,” said Bitsy as she started to eat the worm. “Thank you.”

They sat and watched Bitsy eat and then carried her back to the front porch where she could get some sleep. Tomorrow, maybe Gabby can help.