To see the rōmaji pronunciation, let your mouse hover over the Japanese text. Parrot to the Rescue in Japanese (Kana Text) 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 Taku. " こんにちは！きょうはどこへいくの？ " squawked Taku.
" ぼくたちはみずうみまでピクニックにいくんだ。 " replied Jack.
	" みずうみにいこう！ " squawked Taku. And with a big flap of the wings, he was off leading the way up the path.
" あついね。 " said Lisa, wiping her face with her hand. " なにかのみたいな。 " " ぼくものどがかわいた。 " said Jack. " レモネードはどこ？ "
Suddenly, something large swooped down from the sky towards Lisa. Lisa screamed, " いたっ！たすけて、 たすけて～！ "
It was a ferocious magpie and she was on the attack. She thought they were too close to her nest.
" どうしたの？ " cried Jack in alarm. " あっちにいって！ " shouted Jack, flapping his arms around his head as the magpie targeted him. " いまたすけるよ！ " squawked Taku. 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 Taku flying above. " ちょっとまって、タク！ " called Lisa. " わたしたちまよっちゃったわ！ みちはどこ？ わからないわ。 "
	" ぼくはわかるよ！ " squawked Taku as he zoomed down through the trees and along the path. " ぼくについてきて！ " he screeched.
" ちょっとゆっくりいって！ " puffed Jack. " きみみたいにとべないんだから！ やぶをとおりぬけなきゃ。 " he called.
" みずうみだわ！よかった！ " cried Lisa.
" たすけてくれてありがとう、タク！ " said Jack. " どういたしまして。 " replied Taku, preening his feathers in embarrassment.
	They sat down beside the lake and started to set up their picnic.
First, they started with some fruit. Taku called out as his favourite food appeared out of the backpack ...
" …もも、いちご、アプリコット、バナナ、オレンジ… "
" …さくらんぼ、なし、ぶどう… "
Taku eyed all the food with interest as it was placed on the picnic blanket. " おなかがペコペコだよ。 たべてみてもいいかな、ねえ？ " he asked, bobbing his head towards a slice of fruit cake.
...............	" たべちゃだめ！ " said Lisa, grabbing the cake. " ありがいっぱいついてるよ。 " She tried to brush all the ants off. It was difficult. " ありはおなかがすいているんだね… " said Jack. " それにケーキがすきなんだね。 " " しんぱいしないで！ " squawked Taku. " ぼくケーキもありもすき だよ！ " Lisa raised her eyebrows at Jack. "Ugghhhh!" laughed Jack and Lisa together.
" パン！ " squawked Taku. " パンの ことおぼえてる？ " " うん。 " replied Lisa. " わすれてないわよ。 " Taku happily grabbed a chunk of bread in his beak.
" チーズもってきた？ " asked Jack. " もちろん！どうぞ。 " replied Lisa as she pulled it out of the backpack. " ナイフをちょうだい。 " he added. " ありがとう。 " mumbled Jack through a mouthful of cheese and bread. They all ate for a while, chatting and laughing together.
" たりたかな？ " asked Lisa. " もっと ほしい？ " " ううん・・・おなかがいたい。 たぶんたべすぎたんだよ。 " said Jack. " そんなことないよ！ " squawked Taku. 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. " もうおそいよ。 " squawked Taku. " そうだね、おうちにかえらなくちゃ。 " 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.