Page 37 - A Hope Springs Christmas Tail

They have these funny parrots there called
Kea. They're known as the clowns of the

mountains. They are quite mischievous and
naughty. They’ll take things out of people’s

bags and cars, pull off their windscreen
wipers and other bits of their car and fly

off with their things.

I had a couple of them dive bombing me as

we hiked - pulling my hair out and flying off
with it - only to circle round and do it again.

When we stopped for lunch - I invited them to join us. I ascribe to the theory

that it is best to keep your friends close and your enemies closer, my dear pals
- and you catch more flies with honey. I figured I would get further with

these rascals by befriending them than I would by cursing them and yelling at
them. We had a sumptuous lunchtime feast in our backpacks anyway - so I was
more than happy to share it - though the human trekkers were not all

necessarily of the same outlook.

I introduced meself to them and
asked their names." "Scribble and

Dribble," Scribble replied. "Me Da
had a sense of humour, like" he went

on.

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