Copyright 1999 -- Robert Baer Jr. PROLOGUE Ever wonder what would happen if the entire world had "gone to the birds?" IT HAS! In BirdWorld. This is the continuing tale of one Robin Mallory and her family, their triumphs and trials of everyday life. How are they managing now? We'll ask Robin's father, "Chipper" Birdwell, to tell us about it. BirdWorld -- "The Petition" We find Chipper out on a limb, literally! "Hi there!" he chirps from overhead,"spring will be here soon, y'know! Spring can be a very stressful time for you humans, as I understand it. This is the time of year when high school students in their final year apply to attend college. I can remember long ago when my Robin did that, she and her future husband BOTH attended college in the outside world. Last week it was Peter Delmar's turn to apply for college, he too wants to go to the outside world. I've known Peter since the day he was hatched, he's a bright student, any college would be proud to have a smart Cardinal like him in their student body! First, however, he had to appear before the BirdWorld Council and asked them to grant his petition to go to college in the outside world. The meeting room at the Council Hall was filled with spectators that day, Edward R Sparrow was, as he usually was, there to cover the meeting for the radio station. At Peter's table sat his proud parents, Robert and Carla Delmar as well as Robin and Joe. They argeed to help "plead Peter's case" to the Council. A hushed silence fell over the crowd as the five members of the Council walked in and took their places. There was Rowland T Dove, Gloria Songbird, Miles Milner and Daniel Quail all seated waiting for the proceedings to begin. Fred Kite was late, walking in the room holding a large stack of papers in his wings. "Now I'm ready!" he squawled as he sat down behind the table. Miles stood up with his gavel and shouted,"this special meeting of the BirdWorld Council will come to order! The council's clerk will read the petition set before us at this time." A Baltimore Oriole stood before the Council and read the petiton outloud. "Ladies and Gentlemen of the ruling Council of BirdWorld, I, Peter Allan Delmar, this day seek the Council's permission to attend college in the outside world beginning with the upcoming semester. I have been in contact with the college, and they have accepted my application, see enclosed letter of admission. I humbly ask that I may be permitted to seek higher education as Robin and Joe Mallory have done many years earlier, in the outside world. I know that the outside world is filled with danger, Robin and Joe have told me so, but I'm willing to face any obsticles in the interest of higher learning. Submitted faithfully, signed Peter Allan Delmar. Also enclosed find signature page with over 1000 signatures of BirdWorld citizens urging your approval of this petition." "Thank you, Janice, for that reading," Miles said,"and I see that you, Peter, are here today in person to discuss your petition, is this correct?" "yes sir!" Peter said proudly. "You do realize, Peter, that we Council members will be asking you a series of questions about your petition, are you ready to begin?" "Yes sir!" Peter answered. The questioning started with Rowland, who asked simple questions like "What do you plan to study?" "Will you have the finances to pay for college?" and "Are you prepared for the perils of the outside world?" Peter answered each question to Rowland's satisfaction. Each Council member asked their questions, each received well worded, truthful answers from Peter. Finally, it was Fred Kite's turn, and the crowd began to boo and hiss loudly. Miles had to pound his gavel and call for order several times to calm the audience down. "Peter, my dear lad," Fred began,"so you want to be like your 'heroes' Robin and Joe Mallory, right?" "Yes sir!" Peter chirped,"they've always served as an inspiration to me...." "I see," Fred interrupted,"and what strange and vicious creatures will YOU be bringing to our fair land?" Peter looked at Fred with complete amazement,"I don't understand the question, sir." he stated. "What so-called friends will YOU be making at college, my conceited young Cardinal?" Fred snarled,"maybe a huge grizzly bear, or perhaps a King Cobra, and invite them to BirdWorld like your so-called heroes did?" "That's not fair!" Robin yelled. "What gives you the right to say that!" Joe screamed. "My son knows better than that!" Carla shouted. "You're full of accusations again, aren't you?" Robert asked. "SHUT UP!" Fred chortled,"Let Peter answer for himself, OK?" "I'd be more than happy to, sir!" Peter began,"there is no doubt that I'll meet many new creatures in college, and make many new friends. I have no intention of taking a map of the portal and posting it up on the campus bulletin board, if that's what you're afraid of, but I will probably make some very good friends in school, and they'll invite me to visit them, why can't they come here to visit me?" The crowd burst out with applause and cheering. This made Fred very upset. "Although it is true that Robin's friends DID save our land from invaders, would these 'new' friends of yours do the same? I say that it is dangerous to let any more of our citizens venture outside the portal, many evil creatures are in the outside world, and they'd LOVE the chance to destroy everything we've built here!" "You're speculating again!" Gloria scolded,"won't you ever learn? All strangers are not evil, all non-bird creatures aren't our enemies!" The audience applauded even louder! Fred got angry,"I have evidence here in front of me of a plot to overthrow BirdWorld! I hereby accuse Robin and Joe Mallory of high treason! And furthermore ...." The crowd booed and screamed at Fred, some even began hurling objects in his direction! "Stop this at once, all of you!" Miles said with stern authority in his voice,"Fred, you better have some hard evidence this time, or so help me I'll hold YOU in contempt of this Council!" "Allow me to proceed," Fred chirped,"I have evidence that the Mallorys have a crude, communication device in their home that allows them to speak directly to creatures from the outside world! Confess, I am right, aren't I?" "Fred, we do have a shortwave radio designed by Otto's creator, and with it...." "With it you're plotting the overthrow of our civilization!" Fred interrupted. "With it, we have contacted fellow BirdWorld citizens Otto and Computer Dinosaur as well as contacted the college Peter will be attending to help his application get accepted!" Robin answered sternly,"we have no intentions of trying to take over BirdWorld!" "So YOU say, Mrs Mallory," Fred gruffly mumbled. "Now that's enough of this!" Daniel Quail chirped,"Fred, you and that Kenneth Starling tried to accuse these fine folks before, can't you just give it a rest?" More applause thundered from the crowd. "WILL YOU PEOPLE SHUT UP?" Fred roared,"YOU DON'T KNOW HOW DANGEROUS THESE TWO BIRDS REALLY ARE!" As Fred was yelling, Rowland and Gloria grabbed some of the papers that he had brought into the room. "HEY!" Fred screamed,"GIVE THOSE BACK!!!" "This is interesting," Gloria commented,"this report says that Robin and Joe Mallory are in league with the Devil because they ate a deviled grub sandwich last month..." Laughter echoed from the audience. "Get this!" Rowland chuckled,"this report says that the fact that Joe and Robin Mallory have some red colored feathers proves that they're both Communists!" More laughter from the crowd. "I found this paper on the floor," Daniel chirped,"and this is a private memo to the 'Kite for Councilman re-election committee. It's a schedule of events that says ....." "GIVE ME THAT!" Fred yelled as he reached for the paper Daniel was reading. "that ruining Peter's petition to the outside world will score political points for his campaign!" Daniel finished. Now the crowd was furious! The chant of "FRED MUST GO!" rumbled throughout the Council hall. Carla wheeled her chair toward Fred and yelled,"you should be ashamed of yourself, you mean old buzzard! I have half a mind to grab Miles' gavel and knock some sense into that bird brain of yours!" "Now, ma'am," Fred said politely as he stood up and walked backwards,"let's not do anything rash..." Fred tripped on his stack of papers on the floor and fell flat on his back with a loud thud! The audience roared with laughter, even the other council members couldn't help but laugh at that hilarious sight! Embarrassed and angry Fred grunted,"I'm leaving!" as he flew out the open back door. "Now, let us proceed without any FURTHER interruptions, shall we?" Miles calmly said. The rest of the meeting went very smoothly, and by a four to zero vote, the Council approved Peter's petition! We were all so happy for him, the audience cheered wildly when the decision was read. Now Peter Delmar will be able to attend college in the outside world! I'm so glad, I know he's always dreamed of it, now his dream is reality! It's truly amazing what hard work, dedication and desire can help one achieve in life, that's a good lesson for all of us, whether you happen to be a human or a feathered creature like me! Well, time for this old bird to take him mid-afternoon nap, bye for now, come again soon! ----------------------------------------------------------------------