Off We Go!

• Sophie Maddock, Grade 7
• Short Story
• 2013

"See ya birdies!" Sarah cried as she went out the door to school. Her mother followed her out to give her a lift.
"Finally!" sighed Honey as she opened the cage door to the budgies cage with her paws. Honey is a dog, but no ordinary dog. Honey had a brain more like a human. She could talk, and so could the budgies. Out hopped the only talkers, Nana (because she had grandchildren), Winter (with her snowy white head), Angel (a glowing white girl), Pluto (very purple) and King (no prizes for guessing why!) Pink the Parrot was standing on Honey's back.
"Hey guys!" Pink yelled. "Where to?"
"Let’s visit the island!" squeaked little Angel.
"Great idea!" agreed the others.
Honey ran to Sarah’s room on two paws. She came back with a small red wagon. She pushed a button and it converted into a small speed boat, just big enough for them. She fetched an old backpack and used it to put the budgies (and Pink) in carefully.
She climbed in and started skimming across the river to the island. The island was covered in palm trees and surrounded by rocks and turquoise water. They arrived and pulled the boat onto the sand then played on the beach for hours, building sand castles big enough to fit them all inside. Honey suggested they go back and off they went. When they arrived at where the boat should have been, they realized that the boat was not there, but floating away on the river. The budgies (and Pink) kicked into action, flying off to drag the boat back for Honey. Suddenly, the dreaded Magpie Bully Boys came whooshing out of the trees and attacked the budgies (and Pink!) Honey sprang into the water and swam to the boat. She jumped aboard, picking up a stick from the water and pegging it at the head Magpie. It hit him in the wing, and they all retreated to the trees. The budgies (and Pink) landed, pretty much unharmed except for the odd bruised claw. They sped home, making it into their cages just in time for Sarah to look in and see them exactly as she left them.