Robby Stories

Note: These stories are here to be shared by lovers of children’s stories, but not to be published by others.  The copyright belongs to Robby Robin’s Journey, aka Jane Fritz.  For permission to print or copy parts of any story, please contact Robby Robin’s Journey through a blog comment.

No More Worms for Supper
No More Winters for Robby
A New Baby at Robby’s House

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No More Worms for Supper

Mama Robin took her basket to gather some juicy worms for Robby’s supper.

But when she brought them back for her son’s supper, Robby Robin wasn’t happy. “I don’t want my worms. I’m tired of worms. They’re wiggly. They’re squishy. They taste funny. I don’t want any more worms!”

“But Robby,” said his mother, “that’s what robins eat. That’s what I eat, that’s what Daddy eats. That’s what we know how to find. That’s what we learned from Grandma and Grandpa.”

“I don’t want my worms,” Robby Robin repeated. “I want seeds. That’s what my friend Sarah Chickadee eats and they look delicious.”

“Robby, robins don’t know how to get seeds. Seeds come from bushes and feeders, and they slip out of our beaks. But I ‘ll get some from Sarah’s mother.”

Mama Robin took her basket to find seeds. “Mrs. Chickadee, can you spare some seeds for Robby’s supper,” Mama Robin asked her friend as Mrs. Chickadee pecked for the choicest seeds in the feeder.

But when she returned with seeds in her basket and put them in front of Robby, he wasn’t happy. “Ugh. I don’t like these seeds,” said Robby. “They’re too hard. They slide around on my plate and fall out of my beak. I don’t want my worms and I don’t want my seeds. I want fish. That is what my friend Eddie Eagle eats and it looks delicious.”

“Robby,” said his mother, “robins don’t know how to get fish. Fish come from rivers and oceans and robins can’t fly down and pick up a fish with our feet like eagles do. But I’ll get some from Eddie’s father.”

Mama Robin took her basket to get some fish. “Mr. Eagle, can you spare some fish for Robby’s supper,” Mama Robin asked her friend as Mr. Eagle fished in the river nearby.

But when she returned with a fish in her basket and put it in front of Robby, he

wasn’t happy. “Blech. I don’t like this fish,” said Robby. “It smells funny and it’s hard to pick up with my beak.

I don’t want my worms and I don’t want seeds and I don’t want fish. I want bugs. That’s what my friend Nelly Nuthatch eats and they look delicious.”

“Robby,” said his mother, “Robins don’t know how to get bugs. We can’t walk on the side of a tree and peck at the bugs who live in them. We can’t walk upside down like nuthatches do. But I’ll get some from Nelly’s mother.”

Mama Robin took her basket to get some bugs. “Mrs. Nuthatch, can you spare some bugs for Robby’s supper,” Mama Robin asked her friend as Mrs. Nuthatch walked down a tree trunk carefully looking for bugs.

But when she returned with bugs in her basket and put them in front of Robby, he

wasn’t happy. “Yuck. I don’t like these bugs,” said Robby. “They’re too creepy. They fly away while I’m trying to eat them. I don’t want my worms, I don’t want seeds, I don’t want fish, and I don’t want bugs.

I want nectar. That’s what my friend, Hubie Hummingbird eats and it looks delicious.”

“Robby,” said his mother, “Robins don’t know how to get nectar. It comes from inside flowers and hummingbird feeders. You need to be small to get near the flower. You need to have a very long beak. But I’ll get some from Hubie’s father.”

Mama Robin took Robby’s sippy cup to get some nectar. “Mr. Hummingbird, can you spare some nectar for Robby’s supper,” Mama Robin asked her friend as Mr. Hummingbird sucked the fresh nectar from a popular hummingbird feeder.

But when she returned with the sippy cup full of nectar in her basket and put it in

front of Robby, he wasn’t happy. “Ick. I don’t like this nectar,” said Robby. “It’s too sweet and it’s too hard to drink. I don’t want my worms, I don’t want seeds, I don’t want fish, I don’t want bugs, and I don’t want nectar. I want fat. That’s what my friend, Wendy Woodpecker eats and it looks delicious.”

“Robby,” said his mother, “woodpeckers eat bugs and sap from trees and, you’re right, they love the fat that humans give them in special feeders. Robins don’t know how to get fat from these feeders or sap from trees. Robins can’t hold onto the side of a feeder or a tree with our feet and peck like woodpeckers do. But I’ll get some from Wendy’s father.”

Mama Robin took her basket to get some fat. “Mr. Woodpecker, can you spare some fat for Robby’s supper,” Mama Robin asked her friend as Mr. Woodpecker pecked for some juicy fat in the fat feeder.

But when she returned with fat in her basket and put it in front of Robby, he wasn’t happy. “Waaa. I don’t like this fat,” said Robby. “It’s gross. It is too smooth and it has no taste. I don’t want my worms, I don’t want seeds, I don’t want fish, I don’t want bugs, I don’t want nectar, and I don’t want fat.

I want french fries. That is what my friend, Simon Seagull eats and they look delicious.”

“Robby,” said his mother, “robins don’t know how to get french fries. French fries come from crowding around parking lots near fast food restaurants and robins aren’t good with crowds. But I’ll get some from Simon’s mother.”

Mama Robin took her basket to get some french fries. “Mrs. Seagull, can you spare some french fries for Robby’s supper,” Mama Robin asked her friend as Mrs. Seagull picked up another french fry dropped by a human outside a neighborhood fast food restaurant.

When she returned with french fries in her basket and put them in front of Robby, he

wasn’t sure. “Hmmm. These french fries aren’t so bad,” thought Robby. “They stay on my plate. They’re easy to eat with my beak. They’re a little squishy. They’re a little boring because they don’t wiggle. But they are almost as good as worms.”

Robby Robin thought about this.

He didn’t want seeds, he didn’t want fish, he didn’t want bugs, he didn’t want nectar, and he didn’t want fat.

French fries are OK, but they don’t wiggle and they are hard to get.

He wanted worms! They’re wiggly, they’re squishy, and they’re easy to find whenever you want one – if you’re a robin. No wonder Grandma and Grandpa taught Mama about worms! They’re the perfect food for me.

And Robby sat down and ate his supper.

THE END

Copyright 2008, Jane Fritz

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No More Winters for Robby

“Where is Hubie Hummingbird today?” Robby Robin asked his friends.  “He was going to play Hide and Seek with us.”

“He’s gone away with his family and can’t play with us anymore,” said Nelly Nuthatch.

Robby Robin raced home from playing with his friends.  “Mama,” he said, “Hubie Hummingbird has flown away and can’t play with us anymore!”

“Robby, that’s what happens when summer is over.  The children go back to school,           the leaves turn beautiful colors,  and birds like hummingbirds and robins fly away.  We’ll be going soon and you’ll see Hubie in our new home.” explained his mother.

“What’s winter?” asked Robby.  “Winter is when it gets much colder outside,” answered his mother.  “I’ve heard about it from other birds.  The flowers stop growing and the hummingbird feeders turn to ice, so hummingbirds can’t find nectar.

The ground becomes hard and covered with cold white rain called snow, so robins can’t find worms.

That’s why we go to Florida, the way Grandma and Grandpa taught us.”
Robby was upset. “No,” he said. “I don’t want to leave my friends. I want to stay here for the winter.”

“But Robby, Daddy and I are getting ready to our family to leave.  We need to have worms and warm weather.  You can’t stay here without us.  You won’t be able to find worms.        You’ll need to eat seeds from feeders. It will get very cold, so you’ll have to fluff out your feathers to keep warm.”

But Robby wouldn’t change his mind, so finally Mama and Daddy Robin reluctantly flew away and let him stay with Sarah Chickadee and her family.

At first everything was fine. Robby had fun playing with Sarah Chickadee and his other friends.  Robby practiced eating seeds for when the ground got too hard for finding worms.

Then the snow came. It was very white and very beautiful.  The children came out and built a snowman.

The children had fun in the snow, but not Robby.  He didn’t like to stand on the snow.  It was cold and wet.

The feeder was hard to stand on and it only had seeds.  Blech!  He missed the squishy, wriggly worms.

And then it became very, very cold.  Brrrr!!  Robby shivered and fluffed out his feathers.  This didn’t feel good at all!!

Sarah Chickadee liked winter.  Nelly Nuthatch liked winter.  Wendy Woodpecker liked winter.  They all liked their food.  They all had their families.  They all knew how to stay warm.

But Robby Robin didn’t like winter.  He was cold and hungry, and he missed his family.

Sarah’s father knew that there was only one thing to do.  Robby had to fly to Florida to join his family.  Mr. Chickadee explained to Robby that his family will bring him back when winter is over and summer returns.

All of Robby’s friends gathered to wave good-bye as he started his flight away from winter, towards Florida and his family.

When Robby arrived in Florida and saw his family waiting for him, he was so excited.

“Mama, I saw winter.  Mama, I saw a snowman.  Mama, I ate seeds.” exclaimed Robby as he was happily reunited with his mother.

Then he noticed that here in Florida it was summer.  The grass was green. There were flowers.  And there was Hubie!

Now Robby knew that his mother had been right, just as Grandma and Grandpa had taught her.  Robins don’t like winter.  They like warm weather and worms, right here in Florida.  No more winters for Robby!

THE END

Copyright 2009, Jane Fritz

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A New Baby at Robby’s House

“Hi Mama,” said Robby.  “I’m so happy to be back home. Florida is fine while it’s so cold and snowy here, but I like being back home playing with my friends.”

“Robby, I’m glad you’re happy.  And,” said his mother, “I have some good news for you.  You’re going to have a new brother or sister very soon. You’ll be a big brother.”

“I am?  You mean we’re having a baby? Can I name him?” asked Robby.

“First of all, it could be a girl, don’t forget.  But, sure, you can help choose a name.  Do you want to think about boys’ names first?” replied his mother.

“Yes, I already know what I want.  We should call him Santa,” exclaimed Robby with excitement.

“Santa?!” said Mama with surprise.  “Robby, I think we should leave Santa to Santa Claus.  How about Tommy, or maybe Henry?”

“No, I don’t want Tommy or Henry.  How about Barney?” asked Robby.

“Barney?!!  I’m not so sure about that,” replied his mother.  “Maybe we should leave Barney on TV.  How about Toby, or maybe Percy?”

“No,” said Robby, “I don’t want Toby or Percy.  How about Rudy?”

“Rudy?  Rudy.  Hmm.  You know what, I like Rudy.  Rudy Robin.  OK.  I think we’ve got a good boy’s name.  Rudy.”

“Now what about if it’s a girl?” asked Mama.  “How about Milly, or maybe Ella?”

“No, I don’t want Milly or Ella.  I want Rudy, even if it’s a girl,” replied Robby firmly.

“Well, “said Mama thoughtfully, “Rudy is a little unusual for a girl.  How about Ruby?  It’s almost the same, and sounds very pretty.”

“No,” replied Robby.  “Ruby is OK, but I like Rudy.  Please, please, can it be Rudy, no matter if it is a boy or girl?”

“It sounds like we have a decision from our new big brother.  OK,” said his mother, “let’s name our new baby Rudy Robin, boy or girl!”

Robby went out to play with his friends.

“Guess what?” he asked.  “I’m going to have a new brother and his name is going to be Rudy!”

“Hey, I have a new sister named Clara,” said Sarah Chickadee. “She doesn’t know how to eat seeds yet, so Mommy has to feed her.  She’s too little to play.”

“My new sister, Holly, doesn’t know how to fly, so Mommy and Daddy have to teach her.  She’s too little to play,” said Hubie Hummingbird.

“My new brother, Willy, wakes me up every night because he is hungry,” said Wendy Woodpecker.  “Mama has to keep feeding him, even in the night.  He’s too little to play.”

Robby wondered what things would be like for him when Rudy arrived.

Robby went back home to find out more.  On his way he saw his father sitting in a tree making loud noises.

“Mama, what’s Daddy doing outside?” he asked his mother.

“He’s guarding our egg from our neighbour’s cat, Samantha, Robby,” his mother replied.

“But Samantha won’t hurt the egg.  She’s just watching.”

“Robby, birds always have to watch out for cats.  Sometimes they just can’t help themselves.  Daddy guarded your egg, and now he’s guarding the new baby’s egg, just like Grandma and Grandpa taught him.”

“Mama, my friends say that new babies can’t feed themselves, or fly, or even play.  Can we get one who already can do everything?” asked Robby.

“Robby, of course not.  But this baby will be lucky because he or she – Rudy – will have a big brother to help him – or her – learn.”

Robby wasn’t so sure.

Before long the egg broke open and baby Rudy appeared.

“Oh, Robby, look, Rudy is a girl.  You have a little sister!” exclaimed his mother in excitement.

Mama started feeding her right away with some mashed worms she had ready.

“Mama, I’m going out to play now,” he announced.

“Before you go, please ask Daddy to get some more worms for me,” said Mama.  “I need more for Rudy.”

Robby could see that things were going to be different.

The days went by and Rudy grew.

She took a lot of Mama’s attention.  Mama seemed to be feeding her and talking to her all the time.

And Rudy still couldn’t do anything.

“Mama, can Rudy play with me yet?” asked Robby every day.

“Not yet, Robby, she needs to fly first,” was Mama’s standard reply.

Sigh. Robby wondered how someone who couldn’t do anything could take so much of his mother’s time.

But he had to admit that she was very cute.

More days went by and Mama and Daddy seemed to spend all their time mashing worms, feeding Rudy, and watching out for the cat.

“Mama, can I go out and play?” asked Robby.

Mama replied, “First please do me a favour and watch your sister while I finish mashing these worms.”

“OK,” said Robby, who didn’t really think this is what he wanted to do at all.

“Mama,” he said after thinking about it for a few minutes, “can you do me a favour and watch Rudy while I go out to play?”

Mrs. Robin was not happy with Robby’s attitude and Robby was not happy with a new sister who couldn’t do anything and took all of his mother’s time.

One day Robby noticed that Rudy was paying more attention to him.

She seemed to like his songs.  She liked it when he acted silly.

She tried to do everything she saw him do.

And then Robby noticed that Rudy was flapping her wings more.

“Mama, Mama, I think Rudy wants to fly,” he reported.

“Why, Robby, I think you might be right,” said his mother after watching her. “Would you like to help teach her to fly?”

Robby nodded his head in excitement.

“You go stand on the ground near the big tree next door.  I’ll take Rudy with me and help her jump off the low branch.

I’ll have her flap her wings hard and she should land on the ground near you.  Then you can show her how to fly back up to me and we’ll start over again.”

They practiced all day.  Rudy loved flying with her big brother.

Robby decided that having a little sister might be OK after all.

He went to bed tired and happy.

The next day Robby and his friends had planned to play hide-and-seek.  He could tell his friends that Rudy could fly.

“Mama, I’m going out to play now,” called Robby.

“OK,” said his mother, “and why don’t you take Rudy with you?  She’s too little to play hide-and-seek because she could get lost, but maybe she could play ring-around-the-rosie.”

Robby sighed.  This wasn’t going to be perfect by any means.

He and Rudy went out together.  Robby wondered what his friends would think.

When they found Robby’s friends, everyone had their little brothers and sisters with them!

“My mother said that I had to bring Willy and that he is too little to play hide-and-seek,” said Wendy Woodpecker.

“My mother said that I had to bring Clara and that she is too little to play hide-and-seek too,” said Sarah Chickadee.

“My mother said that I had to bring Holly and that she is too little to play hide-and-seek,” said Hubie Hummingbird.

They all wondered what to do.

“Hey,” said Robby, “my mother said it might be OK to play ring-around-the-rosie with my sister.  Do you want to try?”

Everyone stopped and thought about that.  “OK, that will work” said Sarah.  “We can all teach our new brothers and sisters how to play their first game.”

So that’s what they did.  Everyone had a great time, and everyone went home tired and happy.

Robby learned that playing with little sisters and brothers isn’t bad at all.  And that being a big brother can be fun.

THE END

Copyright 2009, Jane Fritz

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