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Dexter Robin Learns to Fly

"Oh, I don't need to fly."

One summer day, Dexter Robin's mother decided to teach him how to fly. Dexter watched her take off, circle their tree, and land on the edge of their nest. It looked easy. Then Dexter hopped up on the nest edge and looked down at the grass far below.

"Oh, I don't need to fly," Dexter said, pretending not to be scared. "I don't even think I'll go south for the winter." He stepped back into the nest and sat down.

Mother gave Dexter a nudge with her beak. "Why, you'd be all alone until spring! How would you stay warm when it snows?"

"Well...I'll buy a television to watch, so I don't get lonely. And I'll build a fireplace to keep warm!"

Mother Robin laughed. "A fireplace and a television in a tree? Come now, you have to go south for the winter!"

Dexter had another idea. "OK. I'll go south, but I'm not flying there."

"I'm flying!"

"Oh?" Mother asked. "How will you get there? By bus?"

"No," Dexter said. "I'll ride a bicycle!"

"Where are you going to find a bicycle small enough for you to ride? I know you're afraid, but you need to learn to fly!" Mother Robin said gently.

Dexter knew he would have to try. He closed his eyes, opened his wings, and leaped.

"I think I'll just keep flying."

What was happening? Dexter looked. He had flown up higher than the tree! He circled around and swooped in front of Mother Robin. "I'm flying!" he sang.

"Great!" Mother Robin said. "Now come back and land on the branch."

Dexter was afraid to stop moving his wings. "I think I'll just keep flying," he said. "Maybe I'll get started on the trip south."

"It's not time yet! Dexter, I know you can do it. Wings out, feet down!"

"I knew you could do it!"
"Whew!"

Dexter did as Mother said. He missed the branch! Down he went, falling closer and closer to the ground. Then he remembered what to do. He flapped his wings hard until he began to rise. Up, up he flew and landed on the branch.

"Whew!" Dexter chirped.

"I knew you could do it!" Mother Robin said, smiling. "Now, why don't we fly down, and I'll show you how to hunt worms."

Oh no. Dexter thought about big slimy worms wriggling around in the ground. What if a worm wrapped around his feet and tried to pull him into its hole?

"I don't really care for worms," said Dexter. "Why don't we go out for hot dogs instead? Or call for pizza? Or..."