A father's courage saves family

Once there was a family of birds who lived in a huge tree near a paddy field.The two parent birds were very attached to their adorable little ones.They regularly fed them and took care of them However, as the monsoon season had started there was heavy rain and strong winds blowing most of the time.

The birds were in a mighty hurry to find food and get back to their nest. Unfortunately one day it rained continuously and the parent birds could not even go out. The three nestlings started to cry in hunger .

The father bird was very concerned because he knew the little ones were very hungry.He knew he had to go out and find some food even though it was raining very heavily.

"Stay inside with mama , my little ones. Don't try to go out,"said the father. "I will somehow find some food for all of you and get back as soon as possible." Then he flew away.During his absence the rain became heavier and heavier with strong winds making the tree shake.The mother bird was worried. Then all of a sudden there was a huge crashing sound. A large branch which sheltered the birds nest from the heavy shower and wind had fallen off.

The nestlings who were sleeping were now wide awake. They began to cry .The birds were getting wet for the pouring rain without any shelter. The little ones were soaking wet and mother bird soon covered them with her wings and said, "Don't cry,my darlings.Daddy will be back soon."

Meanwhile, father bird was flying around looking for food. He also wanted to find out how the humans managed to find food during heavy rains. So, he plucked up courage and decided to go near a large bungalow.He sat on a branch of a tree and watched some people coming out of the house under some big cover. They were not getting wet at all. The cover was being held by one person by a stick that took the shape of the letter J towards the bottom..He then heard one of them say, "Pass me the umbrella," and the huge cover was given to that person who had a small basket in the hand. Father bird knew then that the cover was called an umbrella by the people and it sheltered them from the rain. Father bird was overwhelmed with joy.

He knew what to do to protect himself from the rain. So , he plucked some leaves from the tree and made an umbrella and also a small basket. Then holding the umbrella in one of his feet he started catching insects.

He put them and also some tiny fruits he had gathered into the basket made out of leaves.And he flew away to his home tree.But he was shocked at what he saw. His family was totally exposed to the rain and without shelter.

He said, "Wait. I will hunt around for another tree and we will set up home there."He then kept the umbrella over the nest and gave the basket to the mother bird to feed the young and went to a tree nearby to make a new nest.

Then he took one by one to the new nest under the umbrella.In the new home he related the whole story to his family while the mother bird was feeding them.

Later he made umbrellas for every member of his family. They all stayed safely, sheltered from the rain due to the love , courage and wisdom of the father bird.

J.Randhula Gajadheera,
Willesden College
International, Battaramulla.