By Kabeer Khan

“Let’s try flying!” said Billy, a cute little blue robin, to his brother Chubby.

It was their first day alone after getting a one-week flying training from their mum and dad. Billy was smart and intelligent, a quick learner, unlike his brother Chubby, who was lazy and whose fat round figure was a big hurdle in everything he did.

Even eating the yummy worms their mum and dad brought was not possible for him because whenever Chubby tried to reach the meal, his big round tummy came between the meal and the beak. So Chubby’s mum would put the meal in his beak and all Chubby did was eat and sleep.

When the time came for them to start flying, Chubby avoided it by making various excuses — sometimes he would say he was not feeling well while at other times he would snore as if in deep sleep. Poor mum robin would fret over Chubby’s habits. Now that his own brother Billy was ready to fly, Chubby felt horrified at the thought of doing it too.

So on that day, mum and dad robin were ready to see their darling kids take their first flight alone. Billy was excited so he quickly stepped on the twig and spread his little sparkling blue wings. And off he went … down the tree …

“Billy!” mum and dad shouted seeing Billy go down in terror. But Billy quickly went up in the air again and off to the top of the tree! The parents chirped in joy and Chubby looked on in horror! It was his turn now and he started crying …

“Ohh … I’m gonna vomit. I’m feeling sick!” and he closed his eyes while holding his fat round tummy with both his wings.

Daddy robin went close to Chubby and said, “Dear Chubby, look I know why you are making this up!”

“I am really feeling sick!” said Chubby.

“Don’t ever lie … come what may. If you don’t want to fly then don’t, but if you ever lie to me again I will never talk to you my whole life!” and he flew away.

Never had Chubby seen his dad so angry. Mum robin too flew behind him in anger. Chubby was now alone in the nest. He was sad and thought that he should at least once try to fly. So he stood on the branch, and Billy, who was hovering over their tree with his new friends, saw Chubby at the edge of the twig. He called out to his brother but by then Chubby had taken the next step and he went down!

Falling too fast, Chubby became terrified and he flapped his wings but he couldn’t balance himself. Chuddy realised that his wings couldn’t bear the weight of his round fat body. He hit a tree and hurt himself.

Billy reached him immediately and without wasting time, he called the wise Dr Owl. Taking Chubby back to his nest was tough and Chubby too was embarrassed.

Dr Owl bandaged cubby and said, “Son, you are too heavy to carry your weight while flying. What if the big falcon catches you? Would you be able to fly fast? You don’t even know how to eat with your beak! You are only making your parents worried by being dependent on them. Look at your brother, he is independent. If you don’t try for your good now you will soon be a feast for the big falcon!” saying this wise Dr Owl flew.

Billy looked at his sad brother and put his wing over his shoulder, “Don’t worry bro, I’ll help you!”

Mum and dad would bring food and fed him but didn’t talk to him. Days passed. Chubby was cured and ready for lessons.

Billy told him to cut down the amount of food he took and also gave him some exercise tips. After doing exercises for just some seconds, Chubby would gasp for air but Billy would force him to continue. So Chubby lost a lot of weight and he too looked smart now! He could now pick worms with his own beak. He also started to fly a little from one branch to another. Then came the day, Billy thought Chubby was ready for his first flight.

Billy told Chubby, “After three counts we both will fly. So be ready, one, two and three!”

Billy flew! Chubby was still on the twig!

Billy turned red in anger and cried, “Chubby! You were supposed to fly with me! You are hopeless!”

Annoyed Billy flew to the top of the tree.

Chubby felt ashamed but he gathered all his strength and murmured, “Okay bro, I am coming. One, two, yes, I am smart and I can do this! And three!” he spread his wings shivering and jumped in air.

He stumbled in the air first but managed. He flew well because he was not heavy so he felt confident and then he soared to the top. Billy was sitting on the tree top with his friends. He saw something shooting from below the tree and it went high and came down to their branch and chirrup with joy. It was Chubby!

“Chubby, you made it!” Billy shouted and joined him and they crisscrossed each other. Their parents, who were observing this, were overjoyed to see their kids flying with so many other birds of their age.