This is my first attempt at a children’s picture book story – very much a first draft, but lots of fun. It’s dedicated to M, J, T, M and K.
The Peacock family lived on a little farm called Paradise.
Daddy Peacock’s name was King because he had the most powerful beak in the world.
Mummy Peahen’s name was Queenie. King and Queenie loved each other very much.
King and Queenie eventually had three peachicks: a little girl called True, and the twins, Kungfu and Mischief. When they were little, Queenie would organize tree-climbing competitions. She would fly to the top of the huge avocado tree and say, ‘ready, set, go!’ True always won because she was the biggest.
The twins, Kungfu and Mischief, tried their best but they could never beat True to the top of the tree.
Sometimes they all fell down to the ground but they never hurt themselves because Queenie showed them how to use their wings like parachutes. True already knew she had wings so, when Queenie was having her afternoon nap, True showed her little sister and brother how to fly.
When Kungfu learned to fly, he was so happy he flew straight into his dad’s feathers – BANG. But King didn’t mind at all because he had plenty of feathers and he loved to show them off.
Mischief was very good at tricks. She would sometimes pretend to fall out of the tree so that King would have to catch her. But King wasn’t fooled. He would play hide-and-seek with Mischief until she gave up and called ‘Daddy”. Then he would say BOO!
Kungfu was the first peachick to grow feathers and every day he practised doing what his dad did. It was very hard to begin with but one day, he did it!
But True, being such a truthful peahen, would say, “Kungfu, you look ridiculous!” Then they would have an argument and Mischief would laugh and laugh and laugh, but very quietly.
Mischief, being such a mischievous peahen, knew exactly how to laugh without looking like she was laughing. After all, she didn’t want to hurt Kungfu‘s feelings.
But Kungfu always knew when Mischief was laughing at him so he would wait until she was looking at her reflection in the pond and WHAMMO he would bite her big toes – both of them.
King and Queenie decided that they needed to talk to their children about their behaviour.
“Do you think Mischief is a bit too mischievous, Darling?” asked Queenie.
“No, Sweetie-pie. She’s just growing up. I’m more worried that she will fall into her reflection in the pond,” said King.
“Yes, I’ll talk to her about that. What about True – do you think she is a bit too truthful, Darling?” asked Queenie.
“Yes and no. She really needs to stop pushing Kungfu‘s buttons,” said King, wisely.
“How can we stop Kungfu from biting Mischief‘s toes?” asked Queenie.
King thought for a moment.
“I have a good idea, Sweetie-pie. Let’s see if True can ask the sky. She is really good at that.”
That night, as the Peacock Family settled down for the night, high up in the avocado tree, True waited until everyone was asleep, then she asked the sky.
And the big, red, pink, orange, yellow, beautiful sky answered her.
Then, all of a sudden, Kungfu turned over in his sleep and accidentally kicked True off her branch.
To be continued ….
jmgoyder 