Page 60 - English Class 07

It was summer and the mango tree was laden with plump, ripe mangoes. The parrots

were happy. They cackled noisily as they pecked the delicious fruit. Mrs Popatlal and Mrs
Totaben were chatting over a particularly sweet one when Mithu, Mrs Totaben’s son, said,
“Mummy, we have a new neighbour.” “This place is indeed getting too crowded,” grumbled
Mrs Totaben. “Very soon there will be more parrots than mangoes.”

“The new neighbour is not a parrot,” said Mithu. “Must be a crow then,” retorted his
mother. “What is the difference? They eat mangoes, too.” “It is not a crow either,” said

Mithu. “It is a funny, brown bird. It stays there,” he said pointing to a small hollow close to
the trunk.

“Inside the tree? What kind of a bird stays inside a tree?” asked Mrs Totaben. “You must
be mistaken, Mithu,” said Mrs Popatlal.

Mithu was not mistaken. That night, when all birds were fast asleep, they were shaken
by their feathers by a deep, low call.
pecked : bite
“TOO ............. WHIT ............. TOO ............. WHOO!” grumbled : utter in low sound
ruffled : disorder
“That must be the new bird,” said Mithu to his mother.
“No, Mithu, a wild animal, probably,” said his father, Totabhai. “I will see who it is.” He
ruffled his feathers self-importantly. He happened to be the chief parrot. Totabhai stalked

onto the branch and peered into the darkness. He could see nothing. Then, he nearly
jumped off the branch in fright. “TOO ............. WHIT ............. TOO ............. WHOO!” came
the call again.

“Who ....................... Who is that?”
he quavered.

“I am Shri Ullunath, the owl; pleased
to make your acquaintance,” said a deep

voice politely.
“Well, I am certainly not pleased to
meet you,” retorted Totabhai still trying

to focus in the dark. “What kind of a bird
are you? Making such a racket at night
waking all of us up.”

By now, many other parrots and
crows had gathered. “Yes, yes,” they
agreed, “This will not do. We cannot

allow you to stay here. This is our tree.”

English-7 60