The Adventures of Jimmy the Sparrow (from Glasgow)

‘Well,’ thought Jimmy as he flew home. ‘It's been an interesting day today. But there is one more thing I have to do before I get back,’ he remembered. He was amazed how quickly he could fly now. He was not tired at all. The food must have given him extra strength, he thought. He flew to the balcony where he had heard the bird crying out before. It was still there and still shouting. ‘Let me out of here, I tell you. Let me out of this prison. I have been here all my life and I am going crazy. Let me out. I WANT TO FLY!!!’ ‘The poor bird,’ Jimmy thought. ‘It has never been able to fly, like me. It must feel terrible. I wonder if I can help?’ Jimmy went right up to the cage and said hello to the bird. He had never seen a bird like it before. It was all blue and yellow, but it looked nice. The bird jumped of his perch and hopped right to the front of the cage. ‘Get me out of here. Please, please!’ he cried. ‘I’ll give you all my seeds. Look how many I have. You can have them all. All, I tell you!’ ‘How can I get you out?’ said Jimmy. ‘There are wires all around you…’ ‘Easy, easy, easy,’ came the frantic reply. ‘That little bit of wire there, see it…. Just lift it up with your beak and I can get out of here. Be quick, the wicked witch will be out with my water any second…’ Jimmy looked at the cage and saw the little latch that the bird was talking about. He started to lift it up, but just as he did the balcony door opened and an old scowling women came out. ‘Out of the way sparrow,’ screeched the caged bird and flew straight at the cage. Its little door burst open and before the women could do anything, both birds were flying away. ‘Thank you, thank you. I am free...free, I tell you,’ said the blue and yellow bird, laughing hysterically. Jimmy told him his name and the bird informed him that his name was Barry Budgie, or B.B for short…