Copyright 1998 --  Robert Baer Jr

PROLOGUE

Ever wonder what would happen if the whole world had gone "to the birds?" 
 It has, in BirdWorld!   This is the continuing story of Robin Mallory,
young, well educated working mother and her family.   How does BirdWorld's
most famous radio personality handle every day living?   Quite well
actually!  Let's ask Robin's father, "Chipper" Birdwell about it, shall we?

BirdWorld --- "Robin's Day Off"

As we approach Chipper's birdhouse one can see from a distance that the
old bird is resting comfortably on a small hammack, just leisurely swaying
back and forth.   "Please come closer!" he shouts,"don't mind me, I'm just
taking a little time out to relax, rest and unwind.   Some folks in this
old world can't seem to do that very well.  Many bring all their problems
from the office or jobsite "home" with them, and that's no way to be!  
Take my daughter Robin, for example.   She and her husband Joe always take
time to relax, to be a family, in spite of their busy work schedules. 
Last Saturday was a great outing for all of us!   

After a rousing breakfast, the entire family flew over to the City Park.  
Zoe and Nancy at first seemed unwilling to go, those two seem to want to
spend more time behind a book or computer screen than outside playing with
other children.  That's where I kind of lent a hand by saying that the
City Park has lots of plants and insects to study.  That did the trick! 
Although they each brought backpacks full of "scientific gear" at least
they were willing to come!  Their brothers Chuck and James needed no such
prodding, the mere mention of a trip to the park excited them both to no
end!   Of course I came along, to keep an eye on all of them!  Yep, I like
the park also!

I watched the "kids" while Robin and Joe took a quiet stroll around the
park.  I swear I never thought two girls would be so fascinated with
biology as Nancy and Zoe were!   They set up their "field lab" on a park
bench and proceeded to collect specimens to examine.  Chuck and James ran
toward the playground to join all those happy children who were swingng,
teeter-tottering and sliding on the huge slide!   I was keeping a close
eye on James, sometimes he can be a bit of a prankster.  Robin and Joe
were walking wing in wing slowly down the nature trail.

"You are quite a celebrity now, aren't you dear?"  Joe softly said to
Robin.

"I wouldn't call myself a celebrity, honey, just because my visiting
college classmate happened to be a dinosaur..." Robin replied.

"But look at all the publicity you and the station got, not to mention a
medal of bravery from the mayor..."

"I didn't deserve that!   The Computer Dinosaur wasn't going to EAT the
town!   I didn't do anything..."

"You proved he wasn't an enemy, that's why everyone now knows how brave
you are."

"Brave?   I knew he wouldn't eat me, long necked Baerasaurus's are
herbivores, remember?"

"Well most people don't know that, that's why you're a star!"

"I wish people would forget about it, did you know that Howard wants to
run a new promotional campaign based on my very large friend?   'Listen to
WBIRD, the FRIENDLY GIANT of the radio world' and 'WBIRD -- Jurassic Talk
Radio'?   I told him NO!   Wild Bill thinks it's great!   He keeps calling
me the great 'Dinosaur Tamer.'  Thrush Limbird won't hardly speak to me
anymore, I believe he's jealous because of all the attention I've been
getting lately, and then there's Meadowlark ....."

"Robin, please, let's change the subject.   We came to the park to relax,
not to get worked up over our problems at work."

"You're right, darling!   So how are things at the restraunt?"

They both laughed outloud!  As they looked deeply into each other's eyes,
Zoe and Nancy ran toward them chirping with excitement!  "Mom, Dad!"  Zoe
shouted,"look what we have!"

"See," Nancy added,"this is a rare insect, we're not sure what species it
is now, but I'll bet that my laptop PC will be able to tell us!"

"Hey, what's all the excitement?"  James squawked as he ran up to his
sisters.

"Just look at this!"  Zoe said, showing James the bug.

"Wow, a snack!"  James exclaimed as he ate it in one swallow,"so what's
the news?"

"MOM!!!   DAD!!!!"  Nancy and Zoe screamed in unison.

"Did you girls want to eat it first?"  James politely asked.

With that, Zoe and Nancy went into a mad rage, chasing James all around
the park!   I tried to stop them, but none of those kids seemed to be
listening to anyone right now!   Oh well.   It was at that moment that
Chuck walked up to his parents and said,"Mom, Dad, can I ask you
something?"

"Go right ahead, son!"  Joe answered.

"Yes, ask us anything!" Robin added.

"OK," Chuck said timidly,"what's a divorce?"

"Divorce?" Joe replied.

"Why do you want to know, dear?"  Robin asked.

"Well Mom," Chuck explained,"when James asked that dinosaur friend of
yours about his wife, he said he didn't have one anymore, that he was
divorced, what does that mean?"

The question truly surprised Robin and Joe, each looked at each other and
then looked at Chuck.

"Will you and Daddy ever get a divorce?"  Chuck asked sincerely with
sadness in his eyes.

"Son, your mother and I love each other very much," Joe said calmly,"don't
worry, I'd never leave your mother..."

"Nor wiil I desert you or your father," Robin added as she put her wing
around Chuck,"we'll always be here for you and your brother and sisters."

"Why do so many get divorced anyway," Chuck asked,"I don't understand it."

"My son, there's no simple answer to that question," Joe replied.

"Chuck, sometimes marriages don't work out," Robin added,"but your father
and I continue to make our marriage great because we work together, love
each other and love you and the rest of our children very much."

"Chuck, my son, you're too young to spend your time worrying like this,"
Joe calmly stated,"why not go over to the swingset and play with the other
kids, OK?"

"OK, Dad!"  Chuck said as he hugged his dad, and then his mom.  As he
trotted away, Joe and Robin looked at each other lovingly, and kissed.

"I love you, Robin!"  Joe chirped happily.

"I love you too!"   Robin chirped in response.

Yes, I knew those two were meant to be together even from the first date! 
  They're raising a fine family, and working hard to keep it that way!  
Zoe and Nancy never caught James, it was a good thing he ran into a clover
patch and the girls thought the plants were more interesting than he was! 
 Well, I'm going to stay here in this hammack until the sun sets!   Don't
get me wrong, I do work a lot during the day, but everyone, even my
wonderful daughter and her hubby, need to take time, even 'make' time to
enjoy the simple pleasures of life, especially when you happen to be
married!   Life is rough sometimes, leisure time can be the best 'remedy'
for that!

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