Alex the Rapping Parrot, season 1

© 2023

© Text: Abel Studios, 2023

© Cover art: Abel Studios, 2023

ISBN 978-90-834501-3-1 | NUR 281

No parts of this book may be reproduced in any form by print, internet, photoprint, microfilm or any other (digital) means without written permission from the publishing house.

www.abel-studios.com

Episodes

1. Searching for a New Home

2. Searching for Kate

3. The Talent Show

4. Alex’s Birthday Rap

5. Kristian Gets Lost

6. Alex’s Big Feast

1. Searching for a New Home

Parrot Alex lived all his life in the village of Kwaaiet. Only birds lived in the town. Some lived on the streets, some in gardens, and some had homes of their own. The houses in Kwaaiet village all looked the same: grey, low, and inconspicuous. The front gardens were full of piles of leaves, neatly raked by the birds.

Alex was a giant red macaw. He had beautiful red, shiny feathers, with a touch of blue and green on his left wing. He found a gold link chain in the rubbish, which he proudly hung around his neck. Alex only took it off when he slept. He lived at number eight on Church Street, where he sat inside in his tiny cage. Although there was a large leather armchair, he liked that tiny cage.

His only friend was Cockatoo Kate. Kate was a bit shy. She didn’t like to talk and cackle, but Alex loved her company because she laughed at his jokes. When Alex whistled songs, Kate always whistled the second voice. They often whistled a tune of their own until the birds hung out of their windows and begged them to please stop.

Alex wasn’t very popular in Kwaaiet, and he had made enemies: the members of the Boring Bird Gang. Well, they weren’t really a gang. More like a funeral procession. They were silent, sullen, and all had black feathers. They didn’t like to fly and preferred walking in the shade. Otherwise, it would be too hot for them and they didn’t like that. Maybe their wings would discolor, and they thought that would be the worst thing there was.

One warm Sunday, Alex was bored. He wanted to chat and hang in trees. ‘I’m bored, I’m bored!’ Alex cried. He flew out of his cage, looking for Kate. She was by the fountain, her head bent towards the water.

Alex: ‘Hey, come with me, come with me! We’re going to fly in the sun!’

Kate: ‘I want to, but my mother won’t let me. You always get me into trouble. I’m not allowed to go with you anymore.’

Alex couldn’t believe it and shed a tear. How could he enjoy himself without Kate?

The only thing that could cheer him up now was his music. He walked back to the fountain and started rapping.

Alex, rapping:

‘Fly high, fly low,

fly fast, fly slow.

Sing while you fly.

Just give it a try!’

Windows around the village square opened. ‘Get out of there! Get out of there, you weird bird!’

Alex continued, dancing to his own beat. Birds came flying in and chirped, ‘You can’t do this! You have to whisper here! This is a fountain of silence.’

Alex didn’t listen and rapped on.

Simon: ‘Listen, Alex. You never come to meetings, and you sit here rapping in the fountain of silence. You’re ruining our reputation. We’re not rappers with crazy colours and stripes! You don’t belong here! We’ll give you a red card.’ The other birds nodded along.

Alex: ‘I’m not bothering anyone, am I?’

Simon: ‘It’s time to leave Kwaaiet.’

Parrot Alex was sad. He flew to his tiny cage at number eight. He gathered his things, took a big gulp of water, and flew away with his little box

Alex: ‘Goodbye, Kwaaiet.’

Hopefully, he’d find a new, friendly place soon.

Alex flew for two hours before he came across a zoo. He looked around for a place to rest, and found a glass building – it was a greenhouse! The door was open, so he went inside. It was damp and warm. Alex gasped for water and wiped the sweat from his forehead with his wing. He put his things by the trunk of a palm tree. Could there be other animals in the greenhouse?

Alex: ‘Is anyone there?’

The shrill sound echoed across the greenhouse. There was no reaction. For a moment, he was overwhelmed with fear. His gold chain felt heavier than ever, so he took it off and put it in his little box.

It was quiet in his head. He’d never not spoken aloud for so long. Would he be able to ask the Boring Bird Gang if he could come back to Kwaaiet?

He wiped the dirt from his feathers and thought of the old days. Alex used to have grey feathers. One day, he just decided it was time for a new look. He used leftover beets and carrots from the community garden to make a soup, in which he dipped his feathers. With some chalk he’d found, he drew blue and green stripes on his skin. When Alex looked in the mirror, he knew for sure. This had to be it. It looks beautiful, he thought. The other birds hated it and often laughed at him. ‘Ugly Alex! Did you fall into the paint?’

No, he wouldn’t go back to the Kwaaiet village. No way.