Day after day, not one bird came to sing in the Faigelbaums’ garden

The garden of Mr. Faigelbaum the bird expert always attracted lots of different birds. Every morning the air was filled with the sweet sound of birdsong.

At first, Mr. Krankowitz grumbled about the noise. All that changed one fine morning. He was in his garden, scowling, when he spotted a little robin perched on a branch. It looked straight at him.

“Humph!” spluttered the old man. “Haven’t you got anything better to do than sit and stare?”

The robin put its head to one side, and cheeped softly in response.

“Trying to charm me, are you?” growled the old man.

“Cheep, cheep,” went the robin. It looked at him, as if to say, I want to be your friend, if you’ll only let me.

Mr. Krankowitz turned grumpily back to his roses. But the next day, he looked for the little robin — and there it was again! As the days passed, he found himself becoming attached to the friendly creature. Also, his rosebushes were looking remarkably well for the time of year. He thought it might be linked to the robin’s company. His garden was sure to be especially magnificent this year.

One morning, though, Mr. Krankowitz went into his garden to check on his rosebushes. It struck him that it was strangely silent. The old man looked around. There wasn’t a single bird to be seen — not even the robin!

The old man wasted no time in going to bang on Mr. Faigelbaum’s door.

“Good morning,” the bird expert greeted him politely. “How are you, sir?”

“Me? Terrible. I want to know where all the birds have gone!”

Mr. Faigelbaum looked surprised.

“Gosh, it is quiet, isn’t it? I have no idea where they are, to be honest. Maybe they found some food they like somewhere. I’m sure they’ll be back in a day or two.”

But they weren’t. Day after day, not one bird came to sing in the Faigelbaums’ garden. Mr. Krankowitz was convinced his rosebushes were suffering. Not that you could tell by looking at them, but still, he knew.