Page 72 - Up Up and Away

The boat slowed down, and sure enough, there was a

small pelican standing on a chunk of ice.

"Joe! Joe! Over here!" Joe looked up, swallowed the

fish he was eating, and flew over to the railing.

"Hi! Hi, apple of my eye. Swell, swell, Mirabel. I am

so glad to see you. So many hours I flew. I was fishing in

the bay and to my dismay, two huge herons chased me

away. They each have a sharp pointed beak and a scary

way to speak. I thought I was here without a friend and

that it would be my end, although there is no wishing for

better fishing."

Mirabel gathered her little friend into her arms and

told him how glad she was that he had been found. He

asked her for a poem. She thought for a minute and

sang him her poem:
"Little Joe, little Joe, I sing to you my poem.

My feathered friend, we have to get you home."

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