Parrot to the Rescue in English by Mia Bowen Copyright © 2014. All Rights Reserved
	Jack and Lisa were on school holidays, but it hadn't been a fun holidays yet. It had been raining every day!
"Look!" cried Jack, pointing out the window. "Finally the sun is out!" "Why don't you go on a picnic? You can spend all day outside," suggested Mum.
	First they went down to the shed to find Pete. "Hello! Where are we going today?" squawked Pete.
"We're going to the lake for a picnic," replied Jack.
	"Let's go to the lake!" squawked Pete. And with a big flap of the wings, he was off leading the way up the path.
"It's hot," said Lisa, wiping her face with her hand. "I need something to drink." "I'm thirsty too," said Jack. "Where is the lemonade?"
Suddenly, something large swooped down from the sky towards Lisa. Lisa screamed, "Ouch!! Help! Help me!"
It was a ferocious magpie and she was on the attack. She thought they were too close to her nest.
"What's happening?" cried Jack in alarm. "Go away!" shouted Jack, flapping his arms around his head as the magpie targeted him. "I'll help you!" squawked Pete. He chased the magpie high up into the tree, while Jack and Lisa disappeared down the path.
	They ran and ran and ran until they were out of breath ... "Slow down!" cried Lisa. "I think we're lost! I can't see the way to the lake any more."
Lisa looked up into the sky and saw Pete flying above. "Stop, Pete!" called Lisa. "We're lost! Where is the path? We can't find it."
	"I can find it for you!" squawked Pete as he zoomed down through the trees and along the path. "Follow me!" he screeched.
"Slow down!" puffed Jack. "We can't fly like you! We have to go through the bushes," he called.
"There's the lake! Finally!" cried Lisa.
"Thank you for all your help, Pete!" said Jack. "You're welcome," replied Pete, preening his feathers in embarrassment.
	They sat down beside the lake and started to set up their picnic.
First, they started with some fruit. Pete called out as his favourite food appeared out of the backpack ...
"... a peach, strawberries, apricots, a banana, an orange ..."
"... cherries, a pear, grapes ..."
Pete eyed all the food with interest as it was placed on the picnic blanket. "I'm very hungry. Can I try that, please?" he asked, bobbing his head towards a slice of fruit cake.
...............	"Don't eat it!" said Lisa, grabbing the cake. "It's covered with ants." She tried to brush all the ants off. It was difficult. "The ants are hungry ..." said Jack. "And they like cake." "Don't worry!" squawked Pete. "I like cake and I like ants too!" Lisa raised her eyebrows at Jack. "Ugghhhh!" laughed Jack and Lisa together.
"The bread!" squawked Pete. "Did you remember the bread?" "Yes," replied Lisa. "I didn't forget it." Pete happily grabbed a chunk of bread in his beak.
"Have you got any cheese?" asked Jack. "Sure! Here it is," replied Lisa as she pulled it out of the backpack. "Give me a knife, please," he added. "Thanks," mumbled Jack through a mouthful of cheese and bread. They all ate for a while, chatting and laughing together.
"Is that enough?" asked Lisa. "Do you want any more?" "No ... I've got a stomach ache. Perhaps it was too much," said Jack. "Never!" squawked Pete. They all laughed.
They spent the rest of the afternoon climbing trees, exploring and running around.
The sun was starting to get very low in the sky. "It's late," squawked Pete. "Yes, we have to go home now," said Jack.
They packed up their things and headed home down the path away from the lake .... tired, happy and not the slightest bit hungry. Soon they could see the roof of their house through the trees. It was good to be home.
...............	Magpie was happy to be alone again. She was even happier when she discovered some bread they had left behind.