The Owl Who Was Afraid of the Dark (Character Classics) by Jill Tomlinson

Author:Jill Tomlinson [Tomlinson, Jill]
Language: eng
Format: epub, azw
ISBN: 9781780318127
Publisher: Egmont UK Ltd
Published: 2016-09-08T06:00:00+00:00

5

DARK IS FASCINATING

Plop, having slept nearly all day, was very lively that evening – very lively and very hungry. He kept wobbling along the branch to where his father was roosting to see if by chance he were awake and ready to go hunting.

Mr Barn Owl was drawn up tall and still. He seemed hardly to be breathing. Plop stretched up on tiptoe and tried to see into his father’s face. What a strong, curved beak he had.

‘Daddy, are you awake?’ he said loudly. ‘I’m hungry.’

Mr Barn Owl did not open his eyes, but the beak moved.

‘Go away!’ it said. ‘I’m asleep.’

Plop went away obediently – and then realised something and went back again. ‘Daddy! You can’t be asleep. You spoke – I heard you.’

‘You must have imagined it,’ said his father, still not opening his eyes.

‘You spoke,’ said Plop. ‘You’re awake, so you can go hunting.’ He butted his father’s tummy with his head. ‘Come on! It’s getting-up time!’

Mr Barn Owl sighed and stretched. ‘All right, all right, you horrible owlet. What time is it?’ He looked up at the sky. ‘Suffering bats! It isn’t even dark yet! I could have had another half hour.’ He glared at Plop. ‘Dash it, I’m going to have another half hour. I will not be bullied by an addled little – little DAY BIRD. Go away! You may wake me when it is dark, and not before, d’you understand?’ He suddenly leaned forward until his huge beak was level with Plop’s own little carpet tack. Plop could see two of himself reflected in his father’s eyes.

‘Er – yes, Daddy,’ he said, backing away hurriedly.

‘Good,’ said his father, drawing himself up to sleep again. ‘Good day.’

Plop went back to the nest-hole to complain to his mother. A sleepy Mrs Barn Owl listened sympathetically.

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