Birdie For Now by Jean Little Page B

she almost al-ways comes when I say, ‘Birdie, come!’ She knows more than Ruff and she is far better than Tallboy although Poppet is better at some things. But Jody had already worked with her before the class began. Oh, Mum, Mum, MUM, I never ever did anything so wonderful before. Never, ever, EVER!”
    He bit back the flood of words. If he told, she might forbid him to go near the Humane Society. She was staring at him now with bewildered eyes.
    â€œDid you take your pill at two?” she asked.
    He felt like a time bomb ticking down to the moment when it would blow sky- high.
    â€œYES! I am fine as fine as fine,” he shouted, leaping up and rushing to pour himself a glass of water. The chair fell over with a crash, and whenhe turned the tap on, water sprayed in all directions.
    â€œOh, baby, watch what you’re doing!” she wailed. But he saw relief in her face. She knew this boy. He was hers.
    Maybe she wanted him to stay this way. Did she like his being her own special wild Birdie? If she saw him with the others, acting like everybody else, would she want to change him back to Dizzy Dick? He could not bear the thought.
    â€œI’m watching every minute. It’s only water, Mum. It’s not the end of the blasted world. It’s not dire. And I’m OKAY. Don’t make a big production out of it,” he said, struggling to stay in control.
    â€œI’m sorry, baby,” she said, her eyes filling with the tears he so hated. “I know you’re trying hard. But you’ll have to get yourself to settle down if you are to go to the regular school, Birdie.”
    Don’t call me “Birdie,” he thought. Don’t call me “baby” either.
    â€œI KNOW!” he cried aloud, his eyes wild. “Don’t you think I know anything?I’m weird. Your weird kid. So weird I can’t even have a dog like other kids.”
    His last few words had dropped to a whisper. Had she heard? No. She had turned to get out two frozen dinners. If she had caught what he had whispered, she would just say for the millionth time that he could not possibly take care of a dog — even if he could find one who was guaranteed not to be vicious or dirty. If Birdie were frightened, how could he be sure what she would do?
    â€œI gotta pee,” he cried, and ran, shutting the bathroom door behind him. For the first time in his life, he locked it. He needed to have a minute really truly to himself.
    No, that wasn’t it. He needed time to BE his new self. Not “Julie’s baby bird” but Dickon Fielding.
    â€œAre you all right?” she called.
    He flushed the toilet, splashed water on his hands and face and unlocked the door.
    â€œOf course,” he told her.

They Might Want Birdie

    The next morning, his mother felt his forehead.
    â€œOpen your mouth wide,” she told him. “I think you must be coming down with something.”
    â€œI feel great,” he said, frantic to get her gone. “Maybe I stayed out too long in the sun yesterday.”
    â€œBird, where were you? You promisedto stay inside the house while I’m at work. How could you get too much sun?”
    His thoughts skidded into each other like bumper cars at the midway. But, just in time, he pounced on one that saved him.
    â€œMrs. Nelson took me over to watch Charlie have a bath,” he said. “I was out with her while she was drying off in the sunshine. She’s so cute, the way she stretches out.”
    â€œAll right. I just can’t help worrying about you. Well, if you really are fine, I must fly or I’ll be there late. Does she really bathe a hedgehog?”
    He nodded, smiled and opened the front door for her. After she drove away, he counted to one hundred three times. Then he took off.
    Here I come, Birdie, his heart sang. Here I come, girl.
    He went straight to where the brushes were kept and got what he needed to groom his dog. But when he