The Parrot and the Rabbit

In a sunny meadow, an emerald-green parrot named Polly chatters from a tall oak tree, greeting the flowers, clouds and wind. Nearby, Benny the rabbit lives in a cozy burrow under a bush; quiet and gentle, with cream-white fur and a small mustard-yellow scarf, he enjoys calm afternoons watching butterflies. When Polly lands near his home one day, the two become friends, and each afternoon she perches on his shoulder and talks about everything she sees while Benny nods and listens.

One afternoon Benny is unusually quiet and sad, and Polly is too busy talking to notice. Only when she stops does she see his drooping ears and trembling paws, and she understands that her friend needs someone beside him rather than more chatter. Remembering how patiently Benny has always listened, she folds her wings and simply listens as he explains what happened. This gentle story by Jane MEADOW about friendship and empathy can be read on Kids Tale Book.