15 The Needy Orphans

The Needy Orphans It's amazing how quickly a day can change. Less than five minutes beforehand, they had all been feeling pretty jolly about life. "I ain't feeling jolly about life," moaned the bird-keeper. "Neither am I," said Bethany. "I'm also far from jolly," added Ebenezer. Like most un-jolly people, all three of them wanted to have some time alone with their

thoughts. The last thing any of them wanted to do was make conversation, and so it was highly irritating when they heard the shop door swing open. "Good day!" shouted a voice, which was infuriatingly chirpy. When you are feeling un-jolly, there is nothing worse than having to deal with someone who is in a good mood. Ebenezer, Bethany, and the bird-keeper stumbled to the front of the shop. They discovered that the owner of the chirpy voice was Miss Fizzlewick, and that she had arrived with a box. Each of them groaned. She was unable to tell that her presence was unwelcome. "Good day to all of you!" said Miss Fizzlewick. "Well, two of you anyway," she

added, on spotting Bethany. "Have you had a haircut, Mr. Tweezer?" "No, I'm just an old fart," he answered grumpily. "Why are you here?" asked the bird-keeper, even more grumpily. "That's a very good question!" shrieked Miss Fizzlewick. Her enthusiasm was relentless. "And the answer is that I want to offer you the chance to feel good about yourself." The bird-keeper perked up at this. "As you probably already know, at the Institute for Gentlemanly Boys and Ladylike Ladies, we can't always give as much as we would like," said Miss Fizzlewick. "What with all the money it takes to feed the children and

clothe them and keep them in school, we don't have much left to treat them." "Ever," muttered Bethany. Miss Fizzlewick narrowed her eyes but carried on. "Yes, well, we can't always give them the presents and rewards for good behavior that some of them deserve." "Your office seemed awfully nice for someone who can't afford presents," said Ebenezer. "I am a lady, Mr. Tweezer, and I have grown accustomed to ladylike things. My luxurious lifestyle is a necessary expense for the orphanage," said Miss Fizzlewick. The bird-keeper was losing interest. He couldn't see how any of this would help him feel better about the fact that his favorite bird had died in suspicious circumstances.

"Now then, you're probably wondering what this all has to do with you," continued Miss Fizzlewick, addressing the pressing issue. "Well, I have been visiting all the business owners in the area, and I have asked them all whether they have anything they might be able to donate to us." Miss Fizzlewick put her box on the counter and showed some of the things that had already been donated. The items in the box included twelve bags of licorice from Miss Muddle's sweetshop, a stack of unwanted books from the local library, a bottle of full-fat milk from the milkman, and a trio of trumpets from Mr. and Mrs. Cussock's theater school. "And so now, I come to you," said Miss Fizzlewick to the bird-keeper. "Is there

anything you might be willing to give to those who need it most?" "But Miss Fizzlewick, this is a bird shop!" protested the bird-keeper. "That hardly matters," said Miss Fizzlewick. "Surely, in all your shop, there must be at least one thing you can share?" This sort of request would never have usually worked with the bird-keeper. He was a money-minded businessman, and he was not in the habit of giving away his birds for free. However, on this day, he was suddenly struck with a wonderful idea. The bird-keeper went to the back of the shop and returned, a few moments later, with the hoatzin. He placed it in Miss Fizzlewick's box and smiled. "It's all yours," he said.