42 A WISH

MAY: Oh, see the pretty birds!

How fast they fly!

They look so happy.

I wish I had wings.

Then I could fly, too.

But I have only legs.

My legs are short, and they are slow, too.

Wings can go fast.

When I go home I must walk.

It will take me a long time.

I must go through the meadow.

Then there is such a hill to go up!

I do not like to go up high hills.

Oh, if I were only a bird!

How fast I would fly home to mother!

BIRD: Are you sure you would like to be a bird?

I eat worms for my dinner.

MAY: Oh, dear! I did not think of that!

I should not like to eat worms.

I like bread and milk for my dinner.

BIRD: Would you like to sleep up in a tree?

My little ones like a tree-top bed.

MAY: Oh, no! That would not do at all!

The wind sometimes shakes the tree.

It would shake me out of the nest.

My little white bed is best for me.

BIRD: What would you do when the hawk came?

My little birds hide from the hawk.

MAY: I am so big the hawk would see me.

Oh, I am so glad I am not a bird!

It is best for me to be a girl.

Word list

hawk: a large bird that hunts other birds and small animals

shake: to move from side to side or up and down

You Practice

A) Answer the following questions.

1) What does May wish for?

2) Why does May dislike going up high hills?

3) Who helps May realize that being a girl is best for her?

4) What would May have to eat if she were a bird?

5) If you could have any wish, what would it be?

B) For each sentence, choose May, Bird, or Both.

1) _____ I have legs.

2) _____ I have wings.

3) _____ I sleep in a tree.

4) _____ I can fly.

5) _____ I can walk.

6) _____ I sleep in a bed.

7) _____ I eat worms.

8) _____ I eat bread and drink milk.

C) What's the word? Using the clues, write the correct words from the story.

1) birds eat these: w _ _ _ _

2) the highest point: t _ _

3) to move in the wind: s _ _ _ _

4) not fast: s _ _ _

5) a meal eaten late in the day: d _ _ _ _ _