Copyright 1999 -- Robert Baer Jr.

PROLOGUE

Ever wonder what would happan if the whole world had "gone to the birds?" 
IT HAS, in BirdWorld!   This is the story of Robin Mallory, a "bird with a
mission."   Can she make it in this rough and tumble world?   We'll ask
"Chipper" Birdwell, Robin's dad and see how things are going.

BirdWorld - "Why Not?"

As we leisurely walk up to Chipper's tree today, we see the old bird on
his perch, deep in thought.   "Hi there!"  he chirps merrily to us,"you
know something, sometimes we can miss an opportunity that right under our
beaks!   Sometimes the obvious things can escape our mind's grasp.   For
example, look at what happened a few days ago at the radio station......

It was late in the afternoon and Robin had just finished her radio show.  
As she was preparing to go home, the others in the office began asking her
about the recent trip that her and her husband had made to the 'outside
world.'   Robin enchanted her co-workers with her story about how she and
Joe had stayed with their large reptile friend, the Computer Dinosaur.  
She told how they had visited Otto, the dog, and his canine wife Samantha
along with Nathan Lovejoy and his wife Wanna.   Her account of the events
told how much these two married couples loved each other and were very
happy together.   Robin even mentioned Dree'el, the lady dinosaur who was
currently seeing their old college classmate.   All this sounded very
exciting to everyone in the room, except Babs Finchly, who kept looking
out the window, staring out into space.   It was only after she was done
telling everybody about her 'adventures' when Robin noticed Babs, and
understood why she was just standing there, looking outside.

"Oh Babs," Robin said apoligeticly,"I didn't mean to upset you, I didn't
mean to make you sad..."

"It's OK, Robin," Babs said sadly,"I'm not upset, other creatures can have
romantic encounters and have loving marriages, just not THIS creature...."

"Babs," Robin said,"don't sell yourself short, you're a wonderful lady
with a lot to offer ...."

"Now you sound like Wild Bill!"  Babs chuckled,"he's always saying things
like that to me."

"Really?"  Robin said in wonderment,"now that you mentioned it, I have
noticed him say those kind of things to you also, remember when we all
went to dinner a few weeks ago and...."

"..and I saw my ex-boyfriend with his new lady,"  Babs laughed,"boy, ole
Wild Bill sure put THEM in their place!"

"and remember what ELSE he said, Babs?"  Robin said with a smile.

"Of yeah, he said if he had me for a girlfriend, he'd treat me like a
queen!   Yes, I remember..." Babs said softly.

"Well, why not?" Robin asked.

"Why not....what?"  Babs answered.

"Why not ask Wild Bill out on a date?"  Robin said happily,"look, you've
known him for years and although he is a bit strange, he seems like a very
sweet, charming guy."

"But what would I say to him?   How would I ask him?"  Babs begged.

"Why not just say, ' let's go grab a cup of coffee and a plateful of
worms?" a strange voice yelled out from above.

"Who said that?" Robin shouted as she looked all around the room.

"Hey, who are you?" Babs screamed, peering into the now empty front lobby
area.

"Everyone else has left, except for Thrush Limbird, and he's in the booth
doing his radio show,"  Robin said in wonderment.

"Where did that strange voice come from?" Babs asked in frustration.

It was at that moment, the two lady birds noticed plaster from the ceiling
was beginning to fall down, and with a loud 'swoosh' the overhead air vent
cover fell to the floor followed by a very familiar looking bluejay.

"Wild Bill?" Babs asked in astonishment.

"Will Bill!"  Robin said tersely,"what were you doing up there in the
ventelation shaft?"

"I was just looking for a new way out of the building," Wild Bill said as
he stood up and dusted plaster off of himself,"what's wrong with having
another emergency exit?"

"Wild Bill, are you alright?" Babs said.

"Sure I'm fine!"  Wild Bill said with a smile,"I've had worse falls than
that, and see, I'm perfectly normal!"

"Will Bill!" Robin said angerly,"I want you to fix the ceiling and replace
this air vent cover, NOW!"

"Ok, Robin!"  Will Bill said,"all I need is a ladder, some used chewing
gum, a surfboard, a sledgehammer, and  ...."

"Never mind," Robin said with distress in her voice,"I'll have maintenence
repair it in the morning."

"Ok, Robin!   Whatever you say!"  Will Bill said as he turned to
Babs,"that means that you and I can go out tonight, if you still want to."

"Yes, I do!"  Babs said excitedly,"where would you like to take me?"

"How about the Lucky Leaf?" Will Bill said,"I wonder if we could have
pickled ice cream for dessert?"

"Will Bill, you are SO FUNNY!" Babs chuckled.

"Funny?  What did I say?" Wild Bill said.

"Alright, you two just go out and have a good time, I'll stay here and
call the custodian," Robin chirped.


So, Babs and Wild Bill DID go out to dinner and had a wonderful evening
out together.  Even though Wild Bill spent a good part of the next day in
Mr Biszop's office explaining his newly discovered 'emergency exit' it was
still worth it to see those two young birds enjoying each other's company.
  I wonder if that will be the start of a beautiful relationship?  Who
knows?   I'll keep you posted, OK?   Now, if you will please excuse me, I
have a world of new and exciting things to discover, I'm cleaning out my
attic!   Maybe I'll have a limb sale with all the excess items!   Bye for
now, and thanks for dropping by!

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