Jack Phoned Home

King Jack Appreciation Society Badge

Weekdays, at 3pm Jack grows very excited, bobbing up and down, singing and racing around his Castle. Shortly the school bell will notify everyone the King will soon suitably be covered in kisses, cuddles, have a head massage, be given a treat or a bouquet of flowers! Often there was a brigade of at least six admirers visiting in crisp white shirts.

We can only imagine last Friday, Jack’s first day of being lost was spent hiding in bushes, frightened and bewildered. Perhaps, he remained very well hidden in our own backyard. However, the local Rainbow Lorikeets wouldn’t have liked that! Jack belonged in his Castle, besides he looked different wearing a red collar instead of green.

Across the street is a Giant Lorikeet Tree, three times the size of ours. It’s hidden right up the back of a very large property owned by a Wicked Witch! Many times I eyed the Giant Lorikeet Tree, knowing it was the last tree left in the suburb that hadn’t been thoroughly searched. Every time we went outside we made sure our calls reached the tree from the opposite side of the road. However, no one was game enough to sneak past the Wicked Witch to stand beneath the tree itself.

Jack's Poster Image

The young posse of Jack’s Fans tried to enter the Wicked Witch’s property from the opposite side but thick gnarly bushes blocked their way and they were tripped by prickly vines wrapping around their arms and legs. Thank feathers it was a weekend and they weren’t wearing white shirts. They did hang Jack’s Poster all around the perimeter which disappeared!

I am convinced Jack was in that tree for an extended weekend! It was filled with a profusion of fresh Gumnut Flowers dripping with pollen. The Rainbows wouldn’t have noticed Jack betwixt the thick canopy and gorging themselves. A perfect well stocked hideaway with views of the entire suburb!

Monday afternoon, the 3.05pm bell resonated throughout the school, across the field, piercing the awry bushes, coiling around the grasping vines, and escalating to the very top of the Giant Lorikeet Tree. It was time to play!

Jack swooped downward into the playground but was accordingly alarmed by the hundreds of feet marching outwards! He hid, staying close-by, bemused by his portrait staring back from the classroom windows. Jack dared not venture out until the thunder of footsteps lessened to light skips. This was when he found hula hoops all colours of the rainbow just like himself and reminiscent of the hula hoop at home!

We all remember how much Jack loves twirling!

Jack joined in hanging on for a ride, resting on the shoulders of all those who wore white shirts between hopping amongst multihued twirls of plastic. At 5pm the autumn sun lowered behind the suburb’s hills and the After School Care children were supposed to move inside to play. Jack was also accustomed to moving from his Castle to indoors at this time. That same time our phone rang. With Jack’s Poster in hand, earlier pulled from a window, the After School Carer enquired whether our Parrot was still missing!!!

When Jack’s non feathered Brother arrived in the playground, there was a boy of equal size with same coloured hair and a white shirt standing midpoint an amused circle of Giggly Gerties. Furthermore, the boy had two brothers with the same names as Jack’s brothers! Jack was perched on the boy’s shoulder, cocking his head and greeting with a questioning “hello?” to each face.

The rest is history; bona fide history! Jack had his first drive in a car leaping from his Dad’s and Brother’s shoulders repeatedly whistling, “Hello!” When he arrived home he smelt like a million blossom flowers. He sang like he’s never sung before, apart from a short break when he saw his indoor cage being brought in from the tree outside. Jack mumbled, “Oh, bugga!” He was forgiven by all but mostly by AnonyBird because it was also the first night Jack called me “Mum”. Not once, but many times!!!

King Jack Appreciation Society Badge

PLEASE DOWNLOAD THIS BADGE OR THE ONE AT TOP OF THIS POST AND LINK TO JACK IN YOUR SIDEBAR SO HE CAN PAY HIS LOYAL SUBJECTS ROYAL VISITS!

Thankyou Bimbimbie for the King Jack Appreciation Society Badge idea!