In Search Of A New Property

Once upon a time, high above the forest floor, all the little forest birds were bustling with excitement. It was nesting season, and everyone was busy claiming the best trees to build homes and start their families.

Everyone, that is, except one bright, cheerful little red bird.

He had one small problem: he was a terrible early riser. By the time he rubbed the sleep from his eyes and fluttered out to go house-hunting, all the cozy nooks, sturdy branches, and leafy penthouses were already taken. All his friends had already snagged the best spots in the woods, leaving him far behind.

The little red bird flew up and down the forest, searching high and low, until he spotted it—a magnificent, lush green tree standing all by itself. It had big, umbrella-like leaves and thick, sturdy branches.

"Jackpot!" he gasped, fluttering his tiny wings in delight. "How on earth did everyone miss this absolute dream home? It’s perfect for starting a family!"

He flew down and perched happily on a thick, yellowish branch right near a large hollow in the tree trunk. "The nursery will go right here," he chirped, picturing a cozy nest filled with little chirping chicks. "And the balcony view is incredible!"

He was just about to start gathering twigs when he noticed something rather odd about his new "branch."

First, it didn't feel like wood. It felt... smooth. Second, it had bold, dark spots painted all over it. And third, it was slowly—very slowly—waving back and forth.

The little red bird blinked. He leaned over, peering closer and closer until his tiny beak was practically touching it.

Suddenly, the spotted "branch" uncurled, loops swinging down from the leaf canopy. A pair of sleepy eyes blinked open right in front of his face, followed by a long, flickering tongue.

"Sssss-uppp, neighbor?" a low voice hissed pleasantly.

The little red bird froze. His feathers puffed up into a big red fuzzball.

It wasn't a tree branch at all! Living right inside the cozy tree hollow was a huge, bright yellow snake with black spots, wrapped snugly around the limbs of the tree!

"Oh... OH!" the bird squawked, his voice going three octaves higher. "That's why nobody built a nest here!"

Now he understood completely why everyone had left this beautiful tree completely untouched. Nobody wanted a giant, yellow, spotty neighbor living right downstairs from the baby nursery!

"Wait, don't go!" the snake called out, giving an awkward, friendly wave with its tail. "I'm actually a vegetarian! I just came for the shade!"

But the little red bird didn't stick around to check the snake's grocery list. With a loud SQUEAK!, he did a complete U-turn in mid-air and zoomed off like a tiny red rocket, deciding that maybe living a little further down the road wasn't such a bad idea after all!