Because That's What Friends Do

Book 2 - Boo Books Series: Meet Seymour the parrot, Steve the pigeon and Robin the lark

Because That's What Friends Do
by Lynn Burks

In a high-rise apartment on the twenty-first floor, lived a family named Stein and their parrot, Seymour.
Now Seymour the parrot was a sight to behold, with feathers of red, green, purple, and gold.

Seymour perched high with a balcony view, telling tales to his friends of adventures he flew.
Steve the pigeon, who lived in a coop on the roof, would stop by to visit each morning or two.
He would land on the rail every day without fail and wait for Seymour to start a new tale.

Robin the lark, who lived in a tree, would also stop by for Seymour's story.
She would come a long way and visit each day, Eager to hear what he had to say.

Seymour would brag of the things he had done, the places he'd traveled, the fights he had won.
He'd tell of great battles where he saved the day-- Where he was the hero, so bold and so brave.

Now Robin and Steve knew Seymour's tales weren't true, but each day brought a story exciting and new.
He claimed that at night he would boldly take flight, Free from his cage, prepared for a fight.
He'd battle with snakes and lizards and bats, He'd battle with raccoons and possums and rats.

Returning to his cage on the twenty-first floor, after winning each battle--because he was Seymour!
And Seymour the parrot was a sight to behold, With feathers of red, green, purple, and gold.

Once Seymour had finished his tale for the day, "I must be on my way," Steve would then say. "I have work to do, searching for food. I must scour the streets for something to eat. Maybe the park will have something to spare-- The man with the cart is usually there. And sometimes, if luck is coming my way, He'll toss me warm peanuts to brighten my day."

Robin would chirp, "I must leave too. I also must go searching for food.
I'll fly to the woods and dig in the dirt-- I won't find good worms if I don't get there first! Digging for worms is what I love to do-- Fat, juicy worms are the best kind of food."

One day, as Seymour was telling his tale, A rat scurried by just under the rail.
He heard Seymour brag of defeating the rats; He heard him tell it as if it were fact.
He knew Seymour was lying about battles at night, He knew he was lying about all those fights.

Seymour stayed in his cage unless let out to play-- Then he'd flutter and flap in a most joyful way.
He'd soar through the rooms on the twenty-first floor, calling out proudly, "My name is Seymour!
I'm a grand parrot, a sight to behold, With feathers of red, green, purple, and gold!"

Then back to his cage for a fine little treat, He'd nibble on seeds--his favorite to eat.
He'd swing on his perch, take a sip from his bowl, Calm and relaxed in his cage made of gold.

But the rats in the alley did not like what they heard--
They did not like the lies that were told by that bird.
"That bird in the apartment on the twenty-first floor,
That bird that the Steins have--that bird named Seymour."

The rats decided they would show up for a fight;
They'd visit Seymour when the clock struck midnight.
They'd sneak through the window while the Steins were asleep--
Under the cover of darkness they'd silently creep.

Seymour heard scuffling--an odd little sound.
He opened his eyes... there were eyes all around!
Some up on the ceiling, some down on the floor,
Some peeking from corners, and some by the door.

There were big eyes, wide eyes, and eyes in the middle,
Bright eyes and dull eyes, and eyes that were little.

"Hey, Seymour, we heard you were wanting to fight!
Come down from your cage--we'll fight you tonight!"
"Oh no!" said Seymour. "I don't want to fight.
You must go away. You must leave tonight."

The rats glared at Seymour and said, "We will not leave.
We heard all the lies you told Robin and Steve.
We heard how you said that you're ever so brave--
Come down now and show us! Come down from your cage!"

"I'm not coming down. I don't want to fight.
You must go away. You must leave tonight!"
The rats gave a sneer as the morning grew bright.
"We'll go for now--but we'll be back at midnight.
We'll keep returning until you come down and fight."

The next morning Seymour perched high with a view,
Waited for Robin and Steve to ask what to do.
What to do about what had happened last night--
About the rats with those eyes, wanting to fight.

"Seymour, that was a nice story," said Steve,
"But I must go now--I have to leave."
Robin said, "Yes, I enjoyed it too--
But I must be going; there's plenty to do."

"Wait!" cried Seymour. "You can't leave me now!
I don't know how to fix this--I just don't know how!
Those rats will be back here. They'll be back at midnight.
They'll be back at midnight--and ready to fight!"

Robin looked at Seymour, then glanced at Steve too.
She said, "Come on, Seymour, we know your tales aren't true.
" Steve said, "Yeah, Seymour--we like them, we do.
But everyone knows you're not telling the truth."

Seymour said, "I know I have lied About things I've done, and the places I've flied.
I've lied about battles where I saved the day, Where I was the hero, so bold and so brave.
But I'm telling the truth--those rats came last night! They'll be back at midnight; they'll be back for a fight.
I'm sorry I lied all those times before. I won't tell any more lies--not even one more."

Robin and Steve looked unsure what to do. "So many lies... could this one be true?"
"But you have to believe me--I'm begging you!
Those rats will be back, and I don't know what to do!"

"My name is Boo, and I'll help you tonight."
Seymour looked down--what a curious sight!
A very small rat, with a soft little squeak,
Stood under his cage, looking timid and meek.

"Wait a minute, Boo--you're a rat too! Why in the world should we trust you?"

"Those rats aren't my friends--they just like to fight.
They fight in the dark and the cover of night.
You guys are good friends, so I'll help you too.
I'll help you--because that's what friends do."

"All right then, Boo--what should we do?"
"The plan is easy; I'll share a secret with you.
The rats from the alley sure do love to fight,
But one thing they can't stand is fighting in light.
That's why they do all their fighting at night."

"Oh!" said Seymour. "I see what you mean.
We can hide in the dark and not be seen.
When the rats show up as planned at midnight,
Our plan will be simple--we'll turn on the light!"

"That's right!" said Boo. "Then the rats will flee,
When they see your friends--Robin and Steve.
Those rats are all cowards; they won't bother you.
They know your friends will protect you-- Because that's what friends do."

As nighttime approached by the light of the moon,
Seymour waited nervously, filled with doom.
At the stroke of midnight--and not a moment too soon--
The rats arrived, and their eyes filled the room.

As Steve swooped down from the ceiling, And Robin flew up from the floor,
Boo hit the light switch on the wall by the door.
The room filled with brightness from ceiling to floor!

The rats were surprised, when the room filled with light,
They came to fight under the cover of night.
They did not come to fight in the light--
With birds swooping left and birds swooping right,
They scattered and fled--they did not want to fight.

The four of them knew they'd see those rats no more.
Those rats wouldn't come back to the twenty-first floor.
Those rats wouldn't return to settle the score.
They wouldn't come back to bother Seymour.

Seymour learned a big lesson--it's true:
That lying is wrong--it's not the right thing to do.
Telling tall tales will always be wrong.
Telling the truth is what makes you strong.
Your friends will stand by you if you're honest and true--
He learned this big lesson from a small rat named Boo.
Your friends will stand by you, because that's what friends do.