Copyright 1998 -- Robert Baer Jr. 

PROLOGUE

Ever wonder what would happen if the world had finally "gone to the
birds?"  IT HAS!  In BirdWorld.  This is the saga of Robin Mallory,
devoted wife and working mom.  How is she managing to keep everything in
perceptive?  Let's ask "Chipper" Birdwell, Robin's dad, about this:

BirdWorld - "First Snow"

Winter has arrived in BirdWorld, we can't help but notice all the
beautiful trees decorated with snow all around us.  Chipper has his snow
shovel in hand, clearing off a place on the front porch of his birdhouse. 
 "Well, hello there!" he says to us,"it's quite beautiful here in
BirdWorld now, isn't it?   We do get snow here, only not as often as you
do out there in the "real" world!   I must confess that winter is one of
my favorite times of the year, especially with Christmas only a few weeks
away!   I know what you're thinking, why would birds celebrate Christmas? 
 My response to that would be 'why not?'   God made ALL of us creatures,
didn't he?   Jesus even mentioned sparrows in his teachings, right?  
Well, I'm an old robin, not a revival preacher, so let me tell you how my
daughter Robin and her husband did on the day of the first snow....

It was evening, and I was getting ready to take the children to Christmas
play practice.   Their class had been rehearsing for the past week for
their performance the week of Christmas.   Mr Appleby, the kid's teacher,
made sure that every kid had a part in the play:   Zoe was cast as Mary,
Nancy would serve as narrator.   Chuck was to play the role of a shepard
while James asked to be a stagehand.   "Well, Robin, I'm off to play
practice with the youngens, what will you two be doing while the rest of
us are gone?"  I asked with a grin.   

"We have plans," Joe answered, "don't worry about us."

"Make sure the kids arrive safely." Robin warned,"it's snowing and the
wind may pick up, and ...."

"Daughter, relax"   I said with confidence,"I'll keep the kids safe and
sound, OK, let's go!"

"Goodbye Mom and Dad!"  Zoe and Nancy said in unison.

"Bye!"  James said as he flew out the door.

"I'm outta here!"  Chuck yelled as he too flew out the door, but both
James and Chuck were quickly blown back into the living room."

"Boys!"  I screamed,"how many times to we have to tell you, NEVER fly into
a headwind!   Oh well, perhaps we all had better walk to town."

"Walking is for the humans!"  James yelled in protest.

"No more back talk, James!" I said sternly,"now let's go, we don't want to
be late for play practice!"

With that being said, the four children and I shut the front door and
began our journey to the school.   So after that Robin and Joe went
outside too, for a long quiet stroll in the nearby park.   "Remember our
first Christmas together?" Robin asked her husband.

"Yes I do!" Joe answered with a chuckle,"we had only been married a few
months, we didn't have much in those days, but we did have each other. 
You had just been hired at the radio station, and I was a struggling young
chef."

"We couldn't even afford any Christmas decorations, mom and dad gave us
some, said that you'll always remember your first Christmas together, so
make it special!"

"Yes, honey, I can still heard old Chipper saying those words, he was
right, you know."

As they continued to walk together reminiscing, Robin could see in the
distance that there was another couple out for a walk this evening.  She
and Joe both knew who they were, it was Carla and Robert Delmar!   Robert
was gently pushing Carla's wheelchair along the sidewalk, they too were
talking about 'old times.'   

"I'm glad we came out here tonight,"  Carla told Robert,"the falling snow
makes everything all around look so wonderful."

"Yes, darling,"  Robert replied,"I couldn't agree with you more."

"I know this winter weather can be rough on us birds, but I still enjoy
viewing all this snow-covered scenery."

"Yes, we've had many winters together, haven't we?"

"We certainly have!   Look up ahead, isn't that Robin and Joe Mallory?"

"Yes!   Let's go talk to them about Peter, ok?"

Carla and Robert waved to the Mallorys as they came together near the
middle of the park.   "Robin, Joe, may we ask you both a big favor?" 
Carla asked.

Robert continued,"you see, our son Peter is a high school senior this
year.   He has heard your legendary stories about the outside world and
how you two petitioned the BirdWorld counsel for permission to attend
college in the outside world so we were wondering ....."

"Carla, Robert,"  Robin interrupted,"of course we'll help your son follow
in our footsteps."

"The outside world can be rough, though,"  Joe cautioned,"Robin and I were
very lucky to have a good friend like the Computer Dinosaur there to help
us!   We'd study together because we shared many of the same classes. 
Every once in a while when our other classmates tried to make trouble for
us, he'd just smile and threaten to squish them!   I don't believe he ever
would have, but that's all it took to keep folks from bothering us!"

"Are you sure Peter understands the dangers?"  Robin asked,"Joe and I
would be more than happy to talk to him about it."

"Would you?"  Robert said with a grin,"Peter would be thrilled!"

"Ok, how about later in the week?"  Joe asked,"we'll give you a call, OK?"

"Great!"  Carla shouted,"Peter is a bright student, we want him to pursue
a college degree."

"But he wants to do it in the real world, like you two did,"  Robert added.

"We're more than willing to help him all that we can,"  Robin stated.

Later, the four of them went to a nearby coffee shop for some hot cocoa.  
Robin and Joe returned home in plenty of time to have some hot cocoa ready
for me and the children when we returned home.   Play practice went fairly
smooth, except for the 'whoppie cushions' that James secretly placed at
various locations all along the stage!   Mr Appleby would have probably
threw James out of the play if he hadn't been laughing so hard!   Oh well,
that James better behave himself when the class puts on the play for real!
   Well, it's freezing out here, and I better get inside before I turn
into a Birdsicle!    Be sure and drop by again, won't you?


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