Flying Lessons Plus

The superb parrot carries Prawny back to his tree hole.

This is nice, says Prawny.

I like to think so, says the superb parrot.

Will you teach me to fly? asks Prawny.

After you teach me how to play Cannot But Be, says the superb parrot.

Flying lesson first, says Prawny.

No, says the superb parrot. You may not survive a flying lesson.

Why not? asks Prawny.  Aren't there safety provisions?

No, says the superb parrot. It's basically standing on the edge of the hole and launching yourself.

How is that even a lesson? asks Prawny.

It works for our babies, says the superb parrot.

Because they have baby wings, says Prawny. 

Now you see why I want my lesson first, says the superb parrot.

How about this? says Prawny. I give you half a lesson, then jump.

When do I get the other half of the lesson? asks the superb parrot.

When you catch me, says Prawny.

Unless you've flown off, says the superb parrot.

We'll have to trust one another, says Prawny.

The superb parrot agrees to trust Prawny.

He places Prawny on the edge of the tree hole.

First half, says Prawny. What if there are bees in the branches?

Is that it? asks the superb parrot. What do I do?

You think of an answer, says Prawny. But first you go down there and catch me.

The superb parrot flies down, and waits to catch Prawny.

Meanwhile thinking: This is an incomprehensible game.

But then thinking: But wait, it's called Cannot But Be.

And finally: So that might be the answer.

Prawny launches himself from the edge of the hole.

The wind takes him, and he lands gently not far from the superb parrot.

Sorry, says the superb parrot. I wasn't watching. Could the answer be Cannot But Be?

That is an unimaginative answer, says Prawny. A better answer would be Cannot But Bees in the Branches.

That's almost as unimaginative, says the superb parrot.

Prawny has to admit that it is.

The thing is, I was nervous, says Prawny.

You did well with the flying, though, says the superb parrot.