Best of Friends

By Oishee
Bhattacharyya
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Little Peter Parrot sat on a branch. He was deep in thought.

His teacher, Mr. Crow, had asked his class to bring a friend to the school party. Who
could he ask?

He thought of his friend next door, Olly Owl. Olly went to a different school. He could not
see very well in the sun. All the other birds made fun of Olly.
“Hey, Olly!” Peter flew to Olly's
branch.

“My school is throwing a party.

Would you like to come?”

“Umm” said Olly, looking at his feet.

“I don’t know”.

“Come on, it’ll be fun! I’ll show you

my classroom. You'll like it!”

“They won’t like it, Peter,” Olly

lowered his head and turned away.
“They don’t like me.”

“What?” thought Peter. “Why would

Olly think that?”
Later that night, he asked his
mother, “Ma, why don't the
other birds like Olly?”

Peter’s mom looked at her

son. “Do you like him?”

“Yes!” replied Peter.

“Then does it matter what

they think?”

“No. But Olly doesn’t want to

go.” said Peter.
“Oh, that sweet kid. He’s just as
good as anyone. They don’t like
him because they cannot
understand him. He’s a bird of the
night, you see. He can see better
at night. They think he’s different.
He is different. But isn’t it
wonderful? To have such a talent?
This world is home to every bird,
dear Peter, and every bird is
beautiful in their own way.”

Peter smiled at his mother. While

in bed, he thought about what his
mother said. “Every bird is
beautiful in their own way.”
Next morning, Peter met
Olly again.

“I know you think they

won’t like you. But I
promise I will stand with
you. It will be no fun
without you, Olly. Not
without my friend."

Olly stared at Peter for a

moment and then
hugged him.
The next day was the school
party. All the birds had come.
The Crows, the Pigeons, the
Sparrows, the Nightingales,
the Magpies, even the
Eagles.

They were all sitting together

when Peter walked in with
Olly.

“What’s he doing here?”

asked Nat Nightingale.

“Isn’t he a bird of the night?”

cried Sally Sparrow.

“He doesn’t belong here.”

frowned Eli Eagle. “He’s not
like us”.
Olly sighed. He turned to
walk away, but Peter
stopped him.

He remembered his
mother’s words.

“You’re wrong. Olly may

not be like us, but he's
just as talented! Do you
know he can see at night?
None of us can. He may
not be like us, but he’s
beautiful in his own way.”
The tree was quiet.

“That’s right!” said Mr. Crow. “I hear from his teachers, he’s very good. Join us Olly, we
would love to have you here!”

Sally Sparrow stepped forward, followed by Nat. “Olly, is it true? Can you see at night?
Come on in, tell us all about it!”

Olly smiled. But before joining them, he walked back to Peter and held his hands. “Not
without my friend.”