Mrs. Friedman was a bit surprised when the boys crashed through the front door and ran straight up to their room

Fishel and Faivish were walking home from cheder, feeling sorry for themselves. The van driver refused to take them any longer. This was following a recent incident with a blow pipe and some paint. Now they were forced to figure out their own way.

“Dunno what all the fuss was about,” complained Fishel. “It was just as experiment, that’s all. The science teacher always tells us to have inquiring minds. Well, I was having an inquiring mind. You’d think people would be happy.”

“Exactly.” Faivish agreed with his brother for a change. “And I was helping you with your experiment. Helping’s a good thing, isn’t it? They’re always telling us to be kind and helpful. It wasn’t our fault that paint spattered all over the van. I think the van looked a lot better with paint splotches. Not so plain. You’d think we’d get a thank-you at least.”

Suddenly, Fishel stopped short.

“Look! There’s Tuki!”

“Where?”

“There, in the Rabinowitzes’ window.”

“What in the world is he doing in Raffi’s house?”

“Let’s go and ask.”

The brothers rang Raffi’s doorbell, but there was no reply. Fishel pressed his nose against the open window to attract Tuki’s attention, but was ignored.

“Bet he’ll look at me,” declared Faivish. “Tuki! Coochie-coochie! Look at Faivish!”

The parrot just stared at him.

“Yay! He likes me better!” yelled Faivish.

He reached inside the window, and fiddled with the cage. The door flew open suddenly. In a flash, the parrot stretched its wings, and flew off!