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 saga of Robin Mallory,
dedicated wife, mother and radio personality.  How is she faring these
days?   Let's ask "Chipper" Birdwell, Robin's father, about that subject!

BirdWorld - "The Dare"

This time we find old Chipper under his tree, examining the apples that
had fallen to the ground.  "Oh, hi there!" he chirps happily as he looks
up at us.   "Y'know, pecking at these apples down here sure takes me back
to my childhood.  I can remember back when I was a young hatchling me and
my friends would do a lot of foolish things sometimes, things like power
diving, chasing hornets and stuff like that.   Just last week, my
grandchildren found themselves in a difficult situation during a field
trip into the wilderness.

Mr Appleby, the elementary teacher at my grandkid's school, decided to
take a field trip to the portal to the outside world.  We all left the
school that morning, I came along as a chaperone.  James was doing his
usual "flying tricks" and not staying in flying formation.   I had to
scold him several times, I realize he was just being a class clown, but
this was not the time for such stunts.   Although the portal is usually a
safe place, lately there has been some activity there, like that trash bag
that came through a few weeks ago.  

As Mr Appleby was lecturing the students on the history of the portal,
James and Chuck began whipsering to some friends, Steve and Alex
Turtledove, Amanda Bluefinch and Jack Worbler.   

"Hey guys," Jack whispered,"I wonder what is on the other side of that
portal." 

"My mom and dad has been there," Chuck said timidly,"they say the outside
world is beautiful, but very dangerous sometimes."

"They're just telling you that because they don't want YOU to try to go
there!" Steve said sarcasticly.

"Yeah," Alex added,"grown ups are always telling little kiddies scary
stories to keep them from doing fun things."

"Not my parents!" James said sternly,"I know they're telling the truth."

"How do you know that?" Amanda asked.

"Because I know!" James answered,"even that big dinosaur creature said the
outside world was ...."

"Oh, stop talking about him!"  Jack snorted,"that's all you Mallory kids
talk about is that big dumb lizard and that big dog, why don't you just
stop ...."

"Hey guys!"  Steve interrupted,"look, the rest of the group is over at the
big oak tree, let's all take a quick peek into the portal!  No one will
ever know!"

"I don't think that's a good idea!" Chuck whispered,"no bird is allowed to
go through the portal without council permission."

"Oh c'mon!" Alex urged,"we'll all jump into the portal and back out, just
to have a look around."

"No, we can't do that!" James chirped.

"We DARE you to!"  Steve and Alex said in unison.

"No, I won't do it!" James answered.

"Neither will I!" Chuck said.

"Guys, let's forget this and rejoin the group," Amanda said urgently.

"I agree with Amanda!" Jack replied.

"The rest of you birds are all cowards!" Alex laughed.

"Yeah," Steve teased,"well, my brother and I will show you that we're not
afraid!"

And with that, Steve and Alex Turtledove jumped into the portal.   Seconds
later they both returned.

"See!"  Alex said,"we were in the real world, and nothing happaned to
either of us!  Now, you guys do it, that is if you're not a bunch of
hatchlings!"

"I'm going over to the oak tree," Amanda said,"and if the rest of you are
smart, you'll come with me."

"I think that's a good idea," Chuck said.

"COWARDS!  CHICKENS!!  MOMMA'S BOYS!" Alex giggled.

"Count me out," James agreed,"that's one thing I will never do is go out
through the portal."

"We'll show you cowards!"  Alex said as he looked at his brother and both
jumped into the portal again.   This time a minute passed and they hadn't
returned.

"ALEX!   STEVE!  STOP CLOWNING AROUND!" James yelled, not realizing that
he had drawn the attention of Mr Appleby and myself, who came running over.

"What happaned here?" Mr Appleby asked impatiently.

"Alex and Steve jumped into the portal, and they haven't came back out
yet!" Amanda said in tears.

"We have to go in there and get them back!"  James said courageously.

"NO!" I shouted,"you and none of the rest of us knows the outside world.  
Mr Appleby, use your cell phone to call my daughter and her husband."

Within minutes, Robin and Joe Mallory were flying into the portal in
search of the young turtledoves.   They didn't have to look far, they
could hear the two frightened birds calling for help, although their cries
sounded a bit muffled.  No wonder, they were hiding in a hollow tree stump
surrounded by angry squirrels!   

"What can we do?"  Robin asked her husband,"we have to distract those
squirrels!"

"I hate to say this," Joe answered,"but I think our best approach would be
to try a Wild Bill style power dive!   That might scare those creatures
away without hurting them."

"Ok, let's do it!"  Robin said as the two robins flew down upon the wild
squirrels.   As Joe had predicted, the "low flying raid" made the
squirrels run away in fear!   "C'mon you two, let's get out of here!"
Robin yelled as the four birds flew quickly back through the portal.

Upon their return and landing, all the students cheered!   "WOW Mom and
Dad!" Zoe shouted,"you two are the best rescue birds in all of BirdWorld!"
  Nancy added,"by my calculations, that rescue took exactly 3 minutes and
34 seconds!"

"I'm so disappointed in you two turtledoves," Mr Appleby scolded,"when we
return to school I want you both to go straight to the principal's office!"

"Yes Mr Appleby," Steve and Alex said together.   

"Robin and Joe, thank you for bringing them back!" Mr Appleby said,"did
you run into any trouble?"

"Let's just say that the outside world can get 'squirrelly sometimes!" Joe
replied with a chuckle.

"Is that what those little furry creatures are called?" Alex asked.

"Yes!" Robin said,"and you two are lucky we came along!"

"We're sorry," Steve said sadly," and thank you for saving us!"

Alex looked at James and Chuck and said,"your parents were right!  The
outsdie world is a dangerous place."

"Well, it appears you two DID learn something after all!" Mr Appleby said
sternly,"now, it's time for all of us to return to school."

We all flew back to town.   Alex and Steve were given detention, but I
have a feeling that the near fatal experience with those squirrels was
more scary than facing the principal was!   I'll bet you humans are like
that, too!   We parents aren't perfect, but usually we know best!   Listen
to good advice and heed all warnings, someday, that may even save your
life!  Now if you will kindly excuse me, I'm checking all of these rotten
apples for worms!   I don't suppose you humans would want to help me,
would you?

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