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The day was very sunny and it was getting hotter. Kookie the kookaburra got up early in the morning and had been searching for food all day. He was tired and hot and decided to take a rest. He flew across the trees and was looking for a nice place to rest when he saw a lovely blue swimming pool. He flew down and settled on the fence around the pool. Taking a deep breath he sighed and decided to close his eyes and rest there for a while.
A little later he was startled by a noisy bird. It was Willie the wagtail. “Get off my fence,” he chirped, “It’s my fence and my pool. Go away!”
Kookie slowly turned his large head towards Willie but didn’t say a word.
“Go away Kookie, you’re not wanted here. This is my place. I found it first,” Willie screeched.
“Please let me rest a while Willie,” said Kookie. “I’ve had a busy morning looking for food and I need a little time to gather my strength.”
Willie twitched his tail one way then the other like all wagtails do and chirped louder and louder. This didn’t seem to make Kookie move so Willie decided to peck Kookie’s back. Kookie still didn’t move or try to peck Willie back. He just sat still and tried to take no notice.
“Can I have a dip in the pool Willie?” asked Kookie.
“No you can’t, it’s my pool only my friends can go into my pool."
“Aren’t I your friend?” Kookie asked.
“No you’re not, you are too big for the pool,” replied Willie wagtail.
“But I only want to cool down and I wouldn’t be a minute. The pool is large enough for me and all the birds in the woods. Please be friendly and share,” said Kookie.
Willie tried to frighten Kookie off by flying behind him and pecking his back again and chirped, "No, no, no, go away Kookie.”
Willie thought it would be a good idea to make Kookie jealous so he decided to go into the pool himself. He flew low across the water and landed on the other fence. He turned and wagged his tail several times before he flew back and gently landed on the water. It was so cool, and Willie smiled at Kookie as if to say, “Look at me, I’m having a lovely, cool time in my pool. You can’t come in.”
Kookie looked on and felt envious that he wasn’t in the cool water for there was more enough for both of them. Willie splashed the water with his tiny wings and chattered away. His long tail was getting too wet though and when he tried to fly up from the water his tail held him down because it was too heavy. He tried again but his tail was getting even heavier. Willie was now getting frightened and unsure of what to do. If he couldn’t get out of the water would he have to stay there for ever?
Kookie watched and could see Willie had a problem but didn’t know if he could help.
Willie by this time had decided to flap his way to the edge of the pool and try to climb up. But when he got there he could not hold onto the side and it was too high to climb up. He needed help.
“Help me Kookie, help me!” he cried.
Willie was losing his breath and he kept on taking mouthfuls of water. He was also getting very tired with all the wing flapping and trying to get out of the pool.
“Hold on,” said Kookie.” Let me see if I can help.”
Kookie swept down onto the side of the pool and reached down to Willie. He gently held onto Willie’s wing with his beak and pulled him up onto the path around the pool. Willie lay panting on the tiles.
”Are you all right Willie?” asked Kookie.
Willie was so out of breath, he could barely say a word. “Yes... I think I am.”
“Good,” said Kookie.
“Oh, you saved my life Kookie, I’m ever so grateful.”
“No problem,” said Kookie, “I couldn’t let you struggle like that.”
Willie managed to get his breath back after five minutes and this gave him time to think about what had happened. He realised he had been really mean to Kookie by not letting him into the pool and also for pecking him on the back. He had also showed off by flying into the water when Kookie wanted to go in. Willie felt really bad.
“I’m sorry I was so nasty to you Kookie, you did help me when I was in trouble. Can we be friends? You can go into the pool any time you want.”
“Of course I will be your friend Willie and I’m sure you would have helped me if I was in trouble.”
“Yes, I would,” said Willie.
With that said, Kookie swooped down onto the water and took a nice cool dip in the pool. Luckily he managed to fly away after he had his dip. He said goodbye to Willie and said, “Thanks for the swim Willie, I might come back later.”
“You can swim in my pool anytime,” chirped Willie, grateful that he had found a new friend.
The end
Alfred Rogers © 2006
Category: Children's Stories
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